Put out the Fires of Inflammation! Inflammationhas been around as long as man. Early Egyptian, Chinese and Greek writing used symbols of heat to describe it. Fire pretty much describes the heat, tenderness and swelling that accompany an inflamed wound. Acute inflammationis a process that protects us against infection and injuries. But it has a beginning and an end.Chronic inflammationis where inflammation is prolonged, as if the “off” switch has quit working. Arthritis, asthma, allergies, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eczema, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, Crohn’s disease and psoriasis all have inflammation as a common denominator. Floyd H. Chilton, PhD, writes, “These are all inflammatory diseases that occur when the body’s own defense system turns against itself.”1 In his book, Inflammation Nation, Chilton states that “approximately half of all Americans suffer from an inflammatory disease, and even more of us are at risk.”2 What Causes Chronic Inflammation? Chilton argues that affluence plays a key role in the pandemic of inflammatory diseases. If that sounds absurd to you, there is evidence to back up this theory. Epidemiological statistics following the reunification of East Germany showed that both children and adults who lived in poverty in East Germany with poor health care suffered less asthma, allergy and hay fever than the children of more affluent West Germany with a higher standard of living and better medical care.3,4One small country, some might argue. How about a study of 56 countries? The International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) followed of half a million children ages 6 and 7 and 13- 14 finding that the highest prevalence of asthma symptoms was found in affluent, English-speaking countries. The poorer countries of Eastern Europe, Russia, China, Indian and Ethiopia had the least symptoms. These findings also held true for hay fever and eczema.5Some researchers believe that diet plays a huge role in inflammation and that the more affluent nations have more access to unhealthy foods—fastfoods, for instance.It is finally recognized in the mainstream media that our diets are out of balance between omega 3 fatty acids and the prevalent omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. Dr. Joseph Mercolahas long commented that:“Generally our diet contains far too much omega 6 fats. Experts looking at the dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids suggest that in early human history the ratio was about 1:1. Currently most Americans eat a dietary ratio that falls between 20:1 and 50:1. The optimal ratio is most likely closer to the original ratio of 1:1. For most of us this means greatly reducing the omega-6 fatty acids we consume and increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids. (True)Please recognize that we get ALL the omega-6 and omega-9 fat we need from food. We do NOT need to take any supplements for these fats. “6 (Western diets have an overabundance of omega 6 fats.)The refined carbohydrates that are at the core of the Standard American Diet (SAD in more ways than one!) are quite similar to the corn fed cattle to “fatten them up.” “Diabesity?” A Newsweek special health issue stated that the “correlation between type 2 diabetes and obesity is so well established that some researchers refer to the two collectively as ‘diabesity.’ “7 Those who know how fat cells produce messenger hormones like leptin and adiponectin will not be surprised to find out that fat cells also produce inflammatory messengers that increase inflammation in the body. The more fat cells one has, the more inflammatory messengers will be produced. The Newsweek article stated that “exercise and weight loss work to reduce inflammation in the fat cells and liver. And a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids tones down inflammation overall.”8 Dr. Ron Rosedale, world-renowned expert on leptin, suggests that people should feel free to “eat good quality fats such as avocados, raw/dry-roasted nuts, olive oil, etc., along with non-starchy vegetables, such as salad greens, kale, cucumbers and broccoli. Eat adequate amounts of protein for your lean body size . . . and minimize your intake of starchy and sugary foods.”9 The Role of Antioxidants NeuroscientistJames Josephof Tufts University says that “inflammation is the evil twin of oxidation. Where you find one, you find the other.”10 Along with increasing omega-3 fatty acids (found in wild salmon not farmed), increasing antioxidants into your life is vitally important.Duane Graveline, MD, MPH,is a former USAF Flight Surgeon as well as a former NASA astronaut. He had to “unlearn” much of his medical training when it came to understanding the real cause of cardiovascular disease. He wrote:“Now we find that cholesterol seemingly has little to nothing to do with cardiovascular disease. It is the most important biochemical in our bodies. Our brains and cells are absolutely dependent upon abundant supplies of cholesterol. Inflammation it now appears is the true cause of cardiovascular disease, according to many researchers.Longitudinal studies have shown that statins seem to work their magic not because of cholesterol manipulation but by an inherent and previously unsuspected, anti-inflammatory action. Inflammation and oxidation are the latest buzz-words. Inflammation is associated with a tendency for “free radical” formation. Antioxidants are necessary to neutralizethese free radicals by giving them an electron or two.”11 Eating right, exercise and proper supplementation—could it really be this simple? We think YES! MaxGXL&Max N-Fuze ! Learn more! References 1. Floyd H. Chilton, PhD, Inflammation Nation, Fireside Book, published by Simon & Schuster, 2005, page 4. 2. Ibid, page 16. 3. Von Mutius E, et al., “Prevalence of asthma and atopy in two areas of West and East Germany,” Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1994 Feb;149(2 Pt 1):358-64. 4. Nicolai T, von Mutius E, “Respiratory hypersensitivity and environmental factors: East and West Germany,” Toxicol Lett. 1996 Aug;86(2-3):105-13. 5. Asher MI, Keil U, et al., “International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood,” Eur Respir J. 1995 Mar;8(3):483-91. 6. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/ archive/2002/03/16/omega3-part-one.aspx 7. Ann Underwood, “Quieting the Body’s Defenses,” Newsweek: Your Health in the 21st Century, Summer 2006, page 27. 8. Ibid, page 28. 9. Ron Rosedale, MD, The Leptin Connection, 2008, Max International publication, page 28. 10. Newsweek, Summer 2006, page 26. 11. http://www.spacedoc.net/statins_ inflammation_heart_disease.htm Medical disclaimer Information here is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any health conditions, disease and illnesses. Important Notice: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended for use in the treatment of any disease.
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