Are Your Favorite Foods Causing Inflammation?

There is always a good reason to eat yummy foods. Life's celebrations - birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, vacations, you name it, we can find a reason to indulge in our favorite, delicious foods that makes us want more and more! Let's remember when life gets hectic and we have no time to cook, there's a solution for that, too… restaurants! I'm not talking about the ones on everyone's corner, no. I'm referring to the ones we have on speed dial - the places that know us by name when we call or walk in. So, how do we break the cycle of consuming what's bad for us physically but brings us joy emotionally? One way is to embark on a lifestyle of balance by imploring moderation in what, when, and how often we eat.

Did you know that some of your favorite meals can be a direct link to inflammation in the body, which may be why you or your loved one may be experiencing certain illnesses?

Yale Medicine describes inflammation as a defensive response governed primarily by the immune system, dispatching white blood cells to the affected sites, resulting in redness and swelling or symptoms such as fever.

The common reasons for inflammation include autoimmune disorders, where your body attacks healthy tissue, toxic chemicals, or an infection or injury.

Multiple Sclerosis Learning Center

Neuroimmunological Disorders are diseases that impact the immune and nervous symptoms. Some conditions that fall under neuroimmunological disorders include acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica, and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Of the four mentioned, let's look deeper at MS and how it thrives in the body. The National Society of Multiple Sclerosis defines it as "an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and body."

A deeper look at how MS thrives in bodies

Stanford Medicine says, "Multiple Sclerosis is the most common immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system."

To be diagnosed with MS, targeted diagnostic testing must be executed before it can be identified in the body. Once diagnosed, it's imperative to know that MS can thrive in the body based on the foods we eat.

Some foods that are high in inflammation and keep MS active include processed foods, red meat, bacon, chips, cookies, pastries, bread, pasta, white rice, sweet carbonated beverages, alcohol, and fried foods.

Five things you can do right now to help balance your hormones and reduce inflammation:

Get adequate sleep - what is rest anyway? In today's culture, sleep for some has become taboo. People searching for success have accepted the expression, "I'll sleep when I'm dead!" But the truth is sleep deprivation is quite damaging to our health. Conversely, getting enough sleep allows the body to rejuvenate, heal, and rest for mental and physical acuteness. It's also imperative to note that simply lying in bed and closing our eyes isn't "sleep." We have to ensure that we're getting quality sleep - the kind when we awake, we're not sluggish but refreshed.
Manage gut health - they say good health starts in the gut - the real question is why? An imbalanced gut can cause many issues. When we have more harmful bacteria in our guts vs. good bacteria, our bodies store more fat, struggle to regulate blood sugar, and do not absorb the necessary nutrients from foods or supplements we consume.
Reduce stress - stress has been known to manifest symptoms of sickness that isn't there. Stress alone can be detrimental; some might call it "the silent killer." When managing our stress levels, we ensure that our mental, emotional, and physical health functions as intended.
Exercise regularly - exercise is a stress reducer. Not only does it reduce stress, but it also helps to manage a healthy weight, improve mental stability, and balance hormones.
Reduce sugar intake - the truth is, this high fructose corn syrup and sugar are hidden in many of our favorite foods and drinks, from the cheapest products to those listed as the "healthiest." Eliminating or reducing sugar alone is a solid start for us being healthier!

MS is an inflammatory disease. It's also a disease of the central nervous system. Can we live healthy lives with MS? Sure. Will there be challenges? Absolutely! But the good news is, we're already ahead because we can shift how MS impacts us with a healthy diet and exercise. As we move forward, let's think of moderation as the key to a more prosperous lifestyle - one where MS doesn't destroy us, but we destroy it.