Natural Inflammation Treatment Clio MI

Reducing Inflammation

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Stopping Inflammation
Q I’ve heard that inflammation of the arteries can raise my risk of heart problems. Can I reduce inflammation naturally?

A Yes, you can—and most of the things that lower inflammation are good for you in all sorts of other ways, too. (In fact, if we didn’t know better, we’d think the whole inflammation story was cooked up by researchers trying to give people yet another reason to take up standard good-health practices. But we digress.)

Begin with a diet high in fruits and vegetables, says Christian Dodge, a naturopath at Bastyr University in Seattle. They’re rich in flavonoids, anti- oxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. Also, be sure to get a lot of beneficial fatty acids. “Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish, flaxseed, canola oil, and walnuts, all have potent anti-inflammatory effects,” he says.

Exercise has also has been shown to reduce the body’s levels of C-reactive protein, one marker of inflammation. Taming the effects of stress may help, too, since—you guessed it—researchers suspect that stress hormones promote inflammation. Anything you can do to ease the stress in your life—taking up yoga, practicing deep breathing—is likely to be beneficial.

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