Despite the fact that we have reduced the fat content of our diets, more Americans will die this year of heart disease than ever before, with statistics showing 75 million people with heart disease. The culprit is not fat content, but rather inflammation.

Inflammation is the body’s natural defense to an unknown invader such as a bacteria or toxin. The cycle of inflammation protects the body from these invaders when done in small amounts; however, if we repeatedly expose the body to foods it was not designed to process, a condition occurs called chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is just as harmful as acute inflammation is beneficial. Without chronic inflammation, cholesterol would move freely throughout the body as nature intended, instead of accumulating in the blood vessels and causing heart disease and strokes.

The primary offender of chronic inflammation is the surplus of simple, highly processed carbohydrates—sugar, flour and all the products made from them—and the excess consumption of omega-6 vegetable oils like soybean, corn and sunflower, found in many processed foods. The more we consume highly processed foods, the more we flip the inflammation switch a little each day.

To quiet inflammation, the best method is to return to foods closer to their natural state. To increase muscle, eat more protein. Choose complex carbohydrates such as colorful fruits and vegetables. Remove inflammation-causing omega-6 fats like corn and soybean oil and the processed foods in which they are found.

Lynda Witt is a certified thermographer and owner of Proactive Health Solutions, LLC. Connect with her at 855-772-3935 or ProactiveHealthSolutions.org.
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