Reducing inflammation through diet ...

A key concept in health is the proper management, regulation and control of inflammatory processes in the body.

Inflammation is a naturally occurring response to tissue damage and to infection (from viruses, bacteria etc.).

Healthy people produce appropriate inflammatory responses, and resolve or control them (healing) properly.

A wide variety of health problems ranging from headaches, depression, gut problems, spinal problems, arthritis and so on, appear to be related to the improper control and regulation (dis-regulation) of inflammatory processes. For an example of the possible link between Parkinson’s disease and inflammation, see this. 

So any dietary approach that helps this problem is going to be a good idea!

See this article.

Milk Fats Interacting with Gut Bacteria to Inflame the Bowel?

An interesting article from the BBC, which sheds some light on why those with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) might benefit from cutting back on dairy products …

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18432652

Nuts!

Eating more nuts every day (walnuts, hazelnuts and so on) is an excellent way to control your appetite and help pre-diabetes states …

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102125348.htm

Multi Vitamins and Minerals - do we need them?

This recent research (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531115323.htm) illustrates again the dilemna as to whether - if we have a good diet - we need a broad spectrum multi-vitamin/mineral supplement.

In my practice, I only tend to suggest these to patients who are health compromised and / or who do get a poor diet (e.g. a young man living on his own, eating a lot of fast good).

And for those ‘normal’ people, who are broadly healthy and do eat a good (ish) diet, then I tend to focus on the all important single supplements such as fish oil and vitamin d3 (which I believe we should all be taking long term).

But this research (see the link above) raises the possibility that small deficiencies in certain key vitamins / minerals such as K and selenium may actually have subtle, gradual and important effects on our long term health and on how fast we actually age!

Will have to re-think my advice …

Update on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 2:32PM by Michael Smith

A European recent update on recommended levels of Vit D3 for the population …

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110102058.htm

Occasional Fasting IS good for you!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110403090259.htm

If you don't like hospitals, here is another good reason to lose excess weight!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2009/0108-more_weight_equals_longer_hospital_stays.htm

When you eat as important as what you eat?

Researchers have already shown how timing your meals on an intercontinental flight can have a big effect on how much jet-lag you experience, but this interesting article also illustrates why not eating too early or too late in the day may well help you lose weight and feel better ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091125094321.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

Sugar - a modern evil?

Sugar may well be taking years off your life ... check out this article.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091103121605.htm

So as well as making you fatter, causing diabetes etc., sugar may literally be making you age faster!

Getting rid of visceral fat through exercise really lasts!

The effect of exercise in getting rid of visceral fat seems to last a lot longer than the exercise itself ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029102740.htm

Another reason why a diet with a high meat content may be bad for us ...

Check out the following article - http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091020192206.htm - which is yet more evidence that high protein diets may be bad for us over the long run.