Inflammation is the major root cause of almost all chronic diseases, including autoimmune disease. Yes, that means rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and others.

How do you reduce your inflammation and prevent, reverse, or reduce symptoms of an illness?

Much of inflammation comes from our diets. Here are a few guidelines to follow to reduce inflammation-inducing items in your diet:

• Eat whole foods and steer clear of processed junk foods. An easy way to do this? Shop the outside edges of the grocery store and avoid the interior aisles where the processed food lurks!
• Get rid of sugar – sodas, candy, desserts, cake…(spoiler alert: we’ll talk more about this next week!)
• Eat anti-inflammatory foods like healthy oils, salmon, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and more.

Another thing to consider when evaluating your diet is whether you are getting enough omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3s can work wonders in reducing inflammation and lubricating your joints. You get this through food or supplement. As always, talk to your healthcare provider to check your levels and discuss whether you need a supplement.

Making dietary changes will have a great impact on your overall health. Chronic inflammation is a huge stressor to your immune system, and left unchecked, it can lead to autoimmune disease.

If you do not have an autoimmune disease, be proactive now to avoid developing one and maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you do have an autoimmune disease, make healthy changes now and possibly reverse or reduce your symptoms.