L’supply it plays a very important role in our health, and that is why adopting a varied and balanced diet is the first step to stay fit and reduce the risk of developing various diseases. This time, scientists are targeting the relationship between food and inflammation of the organism, a condition that can lead to heart disease.
Inflammation is a defense mechanism that our immune system puts in place to protect the body from pathogens or to repair damaged tissues (as happens, for example, following a trauma). When the immune response lasts a long time, it can be talked about chronic inflammatory state, which can be the cause of numerous diseases – including those involving the cardiovascular system.
Also in this case, nutrition plays a fundamental role: there are foods that have anti-inflammatory properties, which therefore act to protect the entire body and, in particular, the health of the heart. A recent study, the results of which were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, analyzed this very important correlation between anti-inflammatory diet and heart problems.
The research involved over 210,000 subjects in a span of 32 years, so as to also study the long-term effects eating foods that can increase inflammation. And it emerged that apro-inflammatory nutrition has a clear link with an increase in risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
“The 20% of the study population who consumed the most pro-inflammatory foods is 46% more likely to develop heart disease and 28% more likely to develop stroke “- explained the Dr. Jun Li, a Nutrition Research Fellow at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston and lead author of the study.
So what are the foods we should avoid, a anti-inflammatory diet? Processed foods are those most at risk: refined grains, processed meats, and sugary drinks increase inflammation in the body, as do cheeses (mainly due to their fat content).
On the contrary, a diet rich in Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods help us protect the heart. More generally, these foods are an excellent source of fibre, antioxidants and other substances important for the health of the whole organism, and for this reason they should never be missing in our diet.
– .
