09/07/2026
Inflammation isn’t just for joints!
Many of the conditions that worry us most as we get older-heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and certain types of arthritis-have one thing in common: chronic, low-grade inflammation.
Unlike the redness and swelling you notice after a cut or sprain, this type of inflammation can smolder for years without obvious symptoms, gradually damaging tissues and blood vessels.
The good news: you don't need to immediately reached for a pill! But usually you do! It masks, the symptoms, but doesn’t control or cure the problem.
If you want to push inflammation in a healthier direction. Research continues to point to the same simple pattern:
More whole and minimally processed plant foods (vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts, and seeds).
Healthy fats from sources like olive oil, nuts, and avocados.
Less red meat.
Avoid processed meat, refined grains, and sugary drinks or fried foods.
This way of eating supplies fiber, vitamins, minerals, and thousands of naturally occurring plant compounds called phytochemicals. Phyto means plant! Plants have good natural occurring “chemicals” - the kind God gave them!
Many of these act as antioxidants and help the body dial down inflammatory processes that can contribute to disease.
But if you’d still rather pop a pill, go for it.
