What is the relationship between inflammation and aging?
Acute inflammation is a necessary response to illness and injury which turns on and off under normal circumstances. This balance can be altered when the body is subjected to too many toxins and poor lifestyle choices, and the result is chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is the root cause of many degenerative diseases including coronary artery disease, Type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, lupus and asthma. As we age, the body’s ability to turn off the inflammatory process diminishes and the effects are exacerbated by an unhealthy lifestyle. Reducing chronic inflammation through lifestyle modifications such as stress reduction, exercise, and a balanced diet and replacing deficiencies in hormones and nutrients can dramatically alter or reverse the effects of aging.
