damaged cells, bacteria, toxins and irritants. The white blood cells then begin to release hormone-like chemicals called cytokines and eicosanoids, whose job it is to increase blood flow to the area, causing swelling, redness and warmth. If the wound is seri- ous, cleanup can take a while, with multiple rounds of white blood cells, eiconsanoids and other immune cells rushing to the scene to prevent infection, repair tissues and create a blood clot to seal the wound. But when the job is done, if your immune system is healthy, things start to calm down, inflammation is reduced and the pain is eased. But that scenario plays out differently if your body
YOUR SHOPPING LIST To help fight inflammation, you should stock your refrigerator with colorful fruits and vegetables, many of which are powerhouses of vitamin C and beta carotene, two types of antioxidants that block, scavenge and scoop up free radicals that damage cell membranes, proteins and genetic codes and cause problems from aging to heart disease and cancer. To get started on an anti-inflammatory diet, turn to pages 42-43 to see six types of foods that should be in your grocery cart every time you shop.
is dealing with chronic, or long-term, inflammation. In that case, the immune cells never finish their task and over time they actually start to make things worse: They don’t stop calling in reinforcements, resulting in an intense and prolonged inflammatory response that can, over time, lead to painful and se- rious health conditions. In short, the longer your body stays in this heightened state, the more destruc- tion it causes. If the inflammation is in the arteries, for instance, it can lead to heart disease, stroke and dementia. Chronically inflamed tissues in the joints can develop into rheumatoid arthritis, and inflam- mation in the digestive tract sets the stage for celiac disease, or, if it’s in the eyes, for mac- ular degeneration. “Inflammation is a first line of defense when the body senses some danger, like the invasion of pathogens [such as bacteria] or dam- aged tissues,” explains Siddiqui. “It can start as the result of a scratch, tissue damage in the case of a wound, disease, illness—and even a bug bite. Bad life- style choices, such as eating unhealthy food, complicate inflammation and lead to pain and complex diseases.”
The anti-inflammation diet This silent, insidious potential killer
isn’t unbeatable, though, especially if you catch it early enough. Inflamma- tion’s kryptonite is straightforward: