The past couple of posts have been about inflammation. Inflammation that hangs around and won't go away is chronic inflammation and it can cause a lot of problems. If the following symptoms hang around and you or your doctor can't find out why, ask your doctor to do blood work looking for inflammation:
Following up with yesterday's post on inflammation, here is something to think about. More than half of all deaths are thought to be attributed to diseases related to inflammation. However, our bodies can't function without inflammation. It is the body's first line of defense in healing injuries and fighting off infections. Doctor Sadiya Khan, M.D. a professor of Cardiology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, describes it this way. "If you come down with a cold or a bacterial infection, this process happens inside the cells and tissues, where you usually can't see it.
This immediate response to a trigger, known as acute inflammation, is meant to be short-lived. After the white blood cells have done their job, your wound heals, or the fever breaks, you feel better and the inflammatory process winds down.
But sometimes the body can't quite figure out when or how to stop it and inflammation becomes chronic -- and that's when the process goes from helpful to harmful. Unfortunately, all autoimmune illnesses involve chronic inflammation.
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My own dad used to say, "Getting old is not for sissies." He was not wrong, but I often say, "He died too young to know." After all he died at 66. Since I am basically 13 years past that, I am realizing the value of his words. Having said that, Dr. David Brownstein, M.D. says the aging process is not kind to the immune system. By midlife, the bone marrow produces fewer immune-enhancing stem cells. In addition, the thymus gland shrinks, reducing T-cells. Worn out immune cells accumulate, leading to inflammation. Inflammation is a frequent topic on this blog, as it is and has been for years, a major problem for me. And, know, you don't have to be old to be affected by inflammation. I have dealt with it most of my life. If you click on inflammation in the labels to the right, you will find many bits of information on what inflammation is, how it affects the body and how to deal with it.
It is estimated that 2.5 million Americans carry MRSA, an often deadly, antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria, in their nasal passages without showing symptoms. People who drink hot coffee or hot tea are 50% more resistant to the disease.
Do you like to make your own granola (which is a good idea, by the way)? We are sharing a tip to help you make some granola clusters. Beat an egg white until foamy then stir in the oats, nuts, fruits, etc before baking. The protein in the egg white will bind the oats so you will get pieces of granola, your own homemade granola clusters.
A study out of North Carolina State University a couple of years ago, found that bird-watching lead to less psychological distress and thus, enhanced well-being. When bird-watching was compared to nature walks, the bird-watching for 30 minutes led to the most significand improvement in stress and happiness. This might be worth trying the next time you feel stressed and set out to relax.
Limequats have been around since 1909 when they were hybridized in Florida. They are high in potassium which is known to help lower blood pressure. Investigators at UCLA assert that potassium calms the entire nervous system to prevent blood-pressure surges when life gets hectic. Limequats also contain vitamin A and vitamin C, calcium and fiber. All are heart-protecting nutrients.
Research from John Hopkins University showed adults who ate a mushroom-based version of beef dishes such as lasagna and chili felt just as full as when they ate the same dishes with beef. Not only were they just as full they ate around 420 fewer calories and 30 less grams of fat. It might be a good idea to replace beef in dishes such as the above along with casseroles, etc with mushrooms once or twice a week. Mushrooms are a good protein source.
