conscious eating


Cooling the Fire Within HEALTHY EATING TIPS TO


EASE CHRONIC INFLAMMATION by Tom O’Bryan


P


utting more thought into what we eat and why may be among the most important factors in


determining how long we live. Researchers in Norway recently compared the long- term effects of a typical Western diet to an optimal one, and their findings can be a source for inspiration. Te optimal diet had a substantially higher intake of whole grains, legumes, fish, fruits, vegetables and a handful of nuts, while reducing red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and refined grains. According to their results, a sustained


change from a typical Western diet to the better plan can make a big difference on life expectancy. Here are their predicted impacts on longevity for people aſter starting—and sticking to—an optimal diet:


Start at age 20—women add 8.4 to 12.3 years; men add 9.4 to 14.3 years


Start at age 60—women add 6.2 to 9.3 years; men add 6.8 to 10 years


Start at age 80—women and men add 3.4 years


So, it is never too late to start a positive activity. Tis improved diet gets to the underlying


causes of most of the reasons Americans die. According to the National Institutes of Health, 14 of the top 15 causes of death in 2019 were chronic inflammatory diseases. Tis means it is more than likely that the cause has existed for a long time under the surface (chronic), with too much inflammation for too long (inflammatory), affecting the brain, cardiovascular system, blood sugar system or wherever there is a genetic weak link (disease). Rather than


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