Page 86 - Women’s Health - Australia (February 2020)

INFLAMMATORY

RESPONSE

First, a little science. Inflammation
is more than something that
happens to your toe when you stub
it. Normally, it’s a positive thing;
Overpromising and underdelivering. the process by which your immune
True of politicians and eating plans system fights infection and repairs
that pledge to overhaul your life, damage. It switches on when it’s
body or general future happiness. needed, and off when it’s done.
How often, back in the day, did you But inflammation has a murkier
embark on a diet that guaranteed side, one that scientists refer to as
a quick fix, only to be left just two low-grade or chronic inflammation –
weeks later with nothing to show the kind that doesn’t switch off. “The
for it but kitchen cupboards full
of bizarre ingredients never to be effects of low-grade inflammation
used again? In these happier times are being linked to practically all
of balanced eating and tuning in major diseases in the Western
to your hunger, there is, however, world,” says Borelius. “So you have
a new kid on the block. A diet plan increased inflammatory markers
that promises to overhaul your connected to certain cancers, heart
health and happiness, based on disease, lung disease, skin disease,
solid science with no downsides. joint disease and mental health.”
The woman behind it is Swedish Research has shown that low-
science journalist Maria Borelius, grade inflammation wreaks havoc
whose book Health Revolution in a number of ways. A recent study
claims that anti-inflammatory
eating can deliver on the promise. from Emory University School of
In it, she says that following an Medicine in the US found that it
anti-inflammatory diet – albeit by reduces levels of dopamine – the
accident – transformed her physical chemical that drives you – with
and mental health, changing her body researchers believing the body
composition, yes, but also banishing switches it off when it detects
her backache and depression. Heard the
claims before? Probably. However, while
the foods in this diet are anything but
revolutionary, what anti-inflammatory
eating can actually teach you could be.

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