What is inflammation and why should I care?

Everywhere you go these days there is a lot of talk about anti-inflammatory diets and to be honest the information is developing so quickly, it takes work to keep current. Lets start at the beginning. What is inflammation and why should I care?

Allow me to geek out for a moment. The word inflammation comes from the Latin “inflammo”, meaning “I set alight, I ignite” and there are times when inflammation can actually be a good thing. It helps our bodies heal when we get sick or injured. Inflammation increases blood supply to the damaged area…bringing infection-fighting heat and signaling the brain to send white blood cells to fix the damage. Unfortunately sometimes the body is constantly inflamed and when it is and there are no foreign “invaders” to attack, it is no longer helping but instead may actually be causing poor health. Many conditions have been proven to be related to this silent epidemic, including some cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Are you highly inflamed?

Does this make you curious to see if you have high inflammation? While not everyone needs to be screened, a doctor can order a test called hs-CRP (high sensitivity c-reactive protein test) to check your levels. Typically this test is given if there is a family history of heart disease or some other conditions such as a history of auto-immune diseases. But keep in mind, while the docs can run that test, it is usually late in the game to start reducing inflammation.  It can be done, but would be a reactive approach.  A preventive approach would be to know that each of us need to limit the amount of chronic inflammation in our bodies by getting plenty of sleep, reducing stress, and limiting inflammatory foods.

Chronic inflammation can destroy your health. Use the inflammation checklist  to uncover how many inflammatory factors are currently affecting your life and whether an anti-inflammatory diet could make a difference in your health.

Are the foods you eat taking charge of your health?

Studies have shown that there are foods that trigger inflammation and foods that help reduce inflammation. Being overweight in itself may contribute to chronic inflammation, especially extra fat carried in the stomach area, and studies have shown losing weight can cause inflammation numbers to decrease. By modifying your diet to limit the “bad” foods and increase eating the “good” foods you have the opportunity to take charge of your health. Download our FREE Anti-Inflammatory Foods List and get started today.

Both the SHAPE ReClaimed and the Paleo/Anti-Inflammatory diets, as well as many others, stress the importance of these “good” foods.  Vitality Consultants can help by teaching you to prepare meals that are made with real ingredients, very minimal processing, easily digested and naturally appealing to your senses. Give us a call at 314-799-0216 or send us an email at info@VitalityConsultantsLLC.com to get started.

How about an anti-inflammatory recipe so you can see how easy and delicious this lifestyle can be.

Rustic Beef Ratatouille

This recipe came right out of our recipe file from Feed Your Vitality.  Ratatouille is a well-known vegetable stew hailing from France, famous for the bounty of its produce. Ratatouille is considered a healthy and very filling dish. It’s a favorite eaten with an anti-inflammatory lifestyle because it is high in nutrients and low in calories.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Main Course, Soup

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 2 ¼ lbs ground beef
• 1 ¼ lb eggplant peeled and cut into 3/4 in cubes
• ½ lb zucchini chopped
• ½ lb yellow squash chopped
• ¼ lb red onion halved and sliced 1/4" thick
• 22 oz diced tomatoes drained
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• ¼ Tbsp garlic minced
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1 tsp minced fresh thyme or 1 pinch dried
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ⅓ cup tomato paste
• 2 cups 16 oz beef broth
• 2 cups water
• ¼ Tbsp dry basil

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Add eggplant, zucchini and squash to a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast, stirring every 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
• In a large skillet, prepare ground beef until cooked through.  Drain any grease. Add tomato paste, broth, water and basil. Simmer until all flavors are well blended.
• In a separate large skillet, heat oil until almost smoking. Add onion to the pan and reduce heat to medium-low, stirring until golden brown. Add garlic, cooking until fragrant. Add tomatoes and cook 5 minutes. Stir in herbs and salt & pepper to taste. Add ground beef mixture, eggplant and zucchinis and toss.

Keyword Anti-Inflammatory, Beef, Complete Meal, Entree, Soup, Squash, Tomato

#FeedYourVitality #AntiInflammatory #FightDisease

Want free anti-inflammatory recipes, downloadable resources and efficiency tips and tricks from a professional chef?  Of course you do!  Click here for the secret sauce!