Inflammation in the Aging Process

As we get older, problems associated with inflammation increase dramatically. Most of us experience increasing aches and pains. The likelihood of heart problems increases. The chance of being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes skyrockets.

What do these conditions have in common? Inflammation.

Why Do We Get Inflammation?

Like most body processes, inflammatory reactions have an important place in how your body functions. Usually it results from your body's response an injury or infection. In other words, it's there to help promote healing by bringing blood and oxygen to the injured area.

Of course, when the infection is gone or the injury healed, the inflammation should go away. After all, it's no longer needed.

The problems occur when your body experiences ongoing reactions to something. For example, processed foods are often the culprits in creating minor, but chronic inflammatory responses in your cells and tissues. This leads to other problems when it goes on long enough.

What Signs of Aging Involve Inflammation?

Numerous chronic diseases and so-called 'signs of aging' have a very strong inflammatory component. Here is a short list of them:

• Excess weight and obesity
• Type II diabetes
• Hypertension
• High cholesterol
• Some cancers
• Arthritis

What Can We Do About It?

Ironically, the most powerful medications to reduce inflammatory processes in the body can aggravate other problems in your system. A case in point is the recent discovery that a major arthritis drug dramatically increased the chance of a heart attack.

This makes it all the more urgent for all of us to take whatever natural steps we can to reduce or eliminate this problem in our systems.

This process requires a multi-prong approach:

First, we need to reduce the factors that contribute to creating inflammatory conditions in the first place. Here are some ways you can help your system clear itself:

• Eat primarily whole, fresh, natural foods. Ideally, these will also be organically grown. How can you tell if it's whole, fresh and natural? Easy. It won't have been processed. If it comes in a bottle, a jar, a can, a package, or a box, it's been processed to some degree. Learn more about dietary ways to decrease inflammatory responses.
• Discover how something as simple as water clears inflammation from your system.
• Take specific anti-inflammatory supplements.