Inflammation is the process by which the body defends itself against pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, and repairs wounds.  We experience redness, pain, swelling and heat at the involved site, and if severe enough fever and toxic symptoms.  The immune system sends white blood cells and manufactures antibodies to fight antigens.  Normally once invading pathogens are dealt with and healing has occurred the inflammation subsides.  The problem arises when this vital complex process doesn't shut down when it is supposed to, resulting in chronic silent inflammation, as stressed by Barry Sears.  You don't feel discomfort so it is silent.  Your immune system, instead of fighting external pathogens, is waging war against your tissues.  Inflammation has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, as well as cancer.  There is a strong relation between inflammation and heart disease and stroke.

    With silent inflammation your diet is most important.  Eating a diet rich in omega 6 fatty acids (found in vegetable  oils like corn, soybean, sunflower, safflower etc.) increases inflammation, while eating a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids (found in fish and fish oil supplements) reduces inflammation.  About 80 years ago the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 in our diets was about 3 or 4:1, and now it is about 20:1, resulting in increased inflammation and attendant diseases.

    In anti-aging medicine the two "hormones of death" are insulin and cortisol; it is critical to keep both down.  Excess insulin increases  inflammation. As you age your cells become less responsive to insulin, called insulin resistance.  The more excess body fat you have (especially intra-abdominal or visceral fat that has venous drainage into the liver), the more insulin resistance you have and your pancreas will have to produce even higher amounts of insulin, causing more inflammation and leading to diabetes.  Fat cells produce a protein that leads to inflammation and elevated C Reactive Protein. Cortisol is an anti-inflammatory hormone from the adrenal glands which suppresses inflammation.  This is fine in the short run when stress is temporary, but chronic inflammation leads to chronic cortisol elevation causing increased insulin resistance, shortening telomeres and reducing longevity. 

    Tests should include high sensitivity C Reactive Protein and the Arachidonic acid (omega 6)/EPA (omega 3) ratio test.  See tests.  

Prevention

    You can reduce inflammation by 1.) reducing excess body fat, especially visceral intra-abdominal fat, which directly causes inflammation and leads to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's, 2.) reducing excess insulin by reducing calories and reducing high glycemic load meals which raise insulin, and eating protein with each meal.  Protein stimulates glucagon which lowers insulin and glucose.  See diet: CRON, 3.) Avoiding omega 6 fatty acids found in vegetable oils (corn, soybean, sunflower, palm, safflower etc.) which increase inflammation, and 4.) Taking high dose fish oil supplements of omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA which reduce inflammation. See Supplements.

    All diet changes, exercise and drugs and supplements have risks so please consult your health care provider before following any ideas from this website; no specific medical advice is given to any individual.