A key to living longer is reducing inflammation and foods can help by calming the immune system, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. The article mentions dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone and Zone Diet creator Barry Sears as two proponents for a diet rich in foods that reduce inflammation.
These diets can do more than reduce pain; the article states eating this way can reduce the occurrence of life-threatening diseases as well.
Anti-inflammation diets are designed to fight chronic silent inflammation, when the immune system does not know when to shut itself off. After an invading bacteria or virus is gone, some immune cells do not go dormant and instead, attack the body causing pain, heart disease, neurological disorders or cancer.
The anti-inflammatory diet is high in antioxidants and includes vegetables, whole grains, nuts, oily fish, protein, spices such as ginger and turmeric and brightly colored fruits such as blueberries, cherries and pomegranates. Foods to avoid are saturated fats, trans fats, corn and soybean oil, refined carbohydrates, sugars, red meat and dairy.