Whenever your immune system is damaged, i.e. when you experience an injury or infection, inflammation will be the first signal that your body needs healing and tissue repair. Inflammation is also an indication that the body needs to defend itself against viruses and bacteria. If inflammation didn’t exist, as a physiological response, the body wouldn’t be able to heal in time, meaning that wounds would fester, and infections could become deadly. Inflammation can be acute, which happens when you have a sore throat for example, and it can be chronic which can have long-term consequences and is more persistent than acute. Fortunately, you can fight inflammation in several ways.
Anti-inflammatory diet
While acute inflammation is quickly cured, chronic inflammation produces steady inflammation throughout the body and can cause various disease. When chronic inflammation stays in the body for too long, it can contribute to heart attack and stroke. Low-grade inflammation has also been linked to cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Since inflammation can contribute to the development of various diseases, you should consider fighting inflammation by regulating your diet. Namely, the choice of foods you eat will significantly affect the degree of inflammation, so it’s crucial that you eat more fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Corn, safflower and sunflower oils and margarine are high in omega-6 fatty acids so it would be best if you cut back on those foods. Turmeric, devil’s claw and willow bark are some of the dietary supplements said to have anti-inflammatory properties. Making curcumin tablets a part of your diet supplementation would be a good way to increase the intake of anti-inflammatory substances. Curcumin can reduce inflammation in diabetes, cancer, heart disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflammasome and adenine effects
According to a study done at the Stanford University and the University of Bordeaux on 114 elderly people between the ages of 60 and 89, caffeine intake can block the effects of the molecule adenosine which contributes to blocking inflammatory molecules. The study showed that older people tend to ramp up the production of immune molecule inflammasome which activates important molecules for fighting off infection. One group of people made more molecules than the other, but the one that made fewer molecules was also healthier. Not only did they have lower blood pressure, more flexible arteries, and more relatives who lived past the age of 90, but thanks to coffee, they had lower levels of the molecule called adenine, known to stimulate inflammasome. Caffeine has been shown to block the effects of adenosine in the brain (which is why we stay awake after having coffee), and it’s also quite possible that caffeine can block the effects adenosine and adenine have on immune cells, thus reducing the cause of inflammation.
Have coffee in moderation
While coffee has been proven to fight off inflammation, it’s very important to consider the way you have your cup of joe. Your body will respond differently if you add sugar or sugar-laden nondairy creamers into a cup of coffee than if you had it straight black. Even though coffee will reduce inflammation, you shouldn’t drink too much of the energizing brew because you’ll risk having high blood pressure and start feeling jitters. The recommended dosage of caffeine your body should have is less than 50 grams a day which you’ll get in a 12-ounce cup of coffee. Also, to get an extra anti-inflammatory boost from your coffee break, you can add turmeric and make curcumin an even bigger part of your metabolisms’ self-defense kit.
We’ve been indulging in coffee for centuries now, but you’ve probably never thought it could benefit you in more ways than one. Aside from keeping you awake when you need to do all the work, or stay up because your kids won’t stay asleep at night, coffee can also have anti-inflammatory properties. Aside from coffee, to reduce inflammation, make sure you regulate your diet and cut back on foods that promote inflammation and stick to healthier food choices.