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Consume a variety of healthful foods that are high in anti-inflammatory properties.

Your food is a potent weapon in the fight against chronic inflammation, a state of persistent immune system activity. Consuming nutritious foods contributes to the reduction of chronic inflammation and promotes your health in various ways (like lowering cholesterol levels). Chronic inflammation is frequently associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive loss, and may contribute to their development.

 
Where can you find anti-inflammatory foods? They are all components of a Mediterranean-style diet that includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean proteins, and tiny amounts of dairy and olive oil.
 
Plant-based foods provide us with vitamins, minerals, fibre, and phytochemicals—plant chemicals that appear to fight free radicals [molecules that cause cell damage] and may protect our cells from inflammation, cancer growth, and viruses, explains Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Fish, nuts, and plant oils all include unsaturated fats that are beneficial to the blood vessels, heart, and brain."
 

Here are some foods that aid in the fight against inflammation.

 
Berries
Pexel photo


Strawberries, raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry may appear to be just delightful delights. However, berries are also effective anti-inflammatory agents. Berries include compounds called anthocyanins, which impart a red or purple color to the fruits. Anthocyanins have anti-inflammatory properties in cells and have been linked to a decreased risk of heart disease, cognitive decline, and diabetes.

Ask the doctor


Q. I’ve been taking blood pressure pills for 20 years, but I just turned 75. Do I still benefit from taking them?

A. There is no doubt about the benefit of treating high blood pressure in people younger than 75. But some doctors have wondered if, in people older than 75, the benefits might be less and the chance of bad reactions to medicines might be greater. So, you’re asking a question that we doctors have asked ourselves.



A study published online on Aug. 26, 2021, by The Lancet is the best one I’ve seen on this question. It indicates that the value of blood pressure treatment continues in people over 75 years old. Scientists pooled the results of 51 randomized clinical trials involving 358,707 people, who ranged in age from 21 to 105 years old. Nearly 59,000 people were ages 75 or older. With so many people in the analysis, the results are more likely to be valid.

Randomized trials are the best type of study for judging the benefits and the risks of treatment. Such trials randomly assign some people to take a real blood pressure pill and others to take a placebo (inactive pill). Since the people in the two groups are very similar except for the kind of pill they are taking, any differences in their subsequent health are likely to be explained by whether they took the real medicine or the placebo. So, because of the large number of people in the analysis, and the fact they were all in randomized trials, we can trust the results of the analysis.

Q. I manage my high blood pressure with hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) and long-acting metoprolol (a beta-blocker). I feel fine, but my heart rate doesn’t go up like it used to before I started taking the metoprolol. Does that mean I am not getting as much health benefit whenever I exercise?



A. All beta-blockers slow down your heart rate. The slower rate happens at rest and also when you exercise. To get the most from aerobic exercise, you would normally want your heart rate in a moderate-intensity zone for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Moderate intensity means exercising at a heart rate that is 60% to 75% of your maximum.

An easy formula to find your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. So, if you are 60, your maximum heart rate is 160. Therefore, moderate-intensity exercise measured by your pulse is 96 to 120 beats per minute. While this formula usually works well to help gauge the aerobic intensity of exercise, it doesn’t work for people who take a beta-blocker. And unfortunately, there is no simple way to adjust for the slower rate of the drug.

Instead, you can use your breathing to gauge your effort. With moderate-intensity exercise, you should be able to talk, but with pauses to catch your breath. If you are breathing very hard and unable to speak during exercise, you are at high intensity.

Can beta-blockers affect your ability to work out? Studies that have addressed your question have not provided a definitive answer. A competitive athlete’s performance likely could be diminished by taking a beta-blocker. However, for most of us who exercise to stay healthy, the evidence tilts toward no decrease in benefit, even though you may not hit the standard heart rate goals.

The difference between fruits

 
As with other foods, different fruits include a variety of nutrients. In general, whole fruits are high in fiber, whereas fruit juices are not. And a cup of fruit juice, even 100% fruit juice, contains far more sugar than a single piece or serving of real fruit. Additionally, whole fruits provide greater satiation than juices. When consuming the appropriate amount of fruit and vegetables, it is preferable to eat them whole rather than drink their juice. However, one should not completely avoid juice—if it is 100 per cent juice—but consumption should be limited to no more than 4 to 8 ounces per day.
 
The freezer department of the supermarket is frequently supplied with an array of frozen fruits. These are frequently already peeled and chopped (like mango), making them handier and frequently less expensive than fresh fruits. Frozen fruits are typically selected and quickly frozen near the point of harvest, which preserves the nutrients. Additionally, certain seasonal fruits, such as blueberries, are easily accessible frozen. The key to selecting is choosing unsweetened frozen fruits.
 
Numerous fruits are available dried, including raisins, apricots, and pineapple, to name a few. Additionally, they have high nutritional content, maintain their freshness for an extended period of time, are handy to carry, and are abundant in calories, making them a favorite of hikers and campers. Some, particularly mango and pineapple, are frequently sweetened throughout the drying process. Dried cranberries nearly always contain extra sugar due to their naturally sour flavour. Even without added sugar, the small size and sweetness make it fairly simple to consume a large quantity in one sitting, and the calories can soon pile up.
 
Sulfur dioxide is also used to maintain the freshness and color of some dried foods, such as raisins and apricots. While this is not a worry for the majority of people, certain individuals, particularly those with asthma, are sensitive. Because sulfur dioxide treatment is clearly labelled on the container, it is easy to avoid if necessary.

 
Consider purchasing organic.

 
We have a variety of organically and conventionally cultivated fruits to choose from, whether they are fresh, frozen, or dried. There is insufficient nutritional difference between the two to warrant choosing one over the other, yet consumers may prefer one over the other depending on growing practices and environmental impact. Although the United States has pesticide laws, some fruits have more residual pesticides than others. It is therefore always advisable to properly wash fruits before eating them.

Products with plant stanols are an alternative to butter, but the health claims might not stand up.

To keep your arteries clear, nutritionists frequently recommend limiting your daily intake of butter, which is high in saturated fat. Is it true that butter substitutes made from plant stanols are a superior option?

Plant stanols are generated from the membranes of plant cells. Nuts, beans, fruits, and vegetables are examples of foods that contain them naturally. Supplements containing these naturally occurring chemicals have been proven to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol by up to 14 percent in adults taking 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams (mg) per day in previous trials. However, butter-replacement products frequently lack sufficient plant stanols to achieve a therapeutic effect.

 

cholesterol improvement

 
According to Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, you'd need to take at least four tablespoons each day to notice a reduction in cholesterol levels. A tablespoon of a butter substitute containing plant stanols, on the other hand, contains roughly 70 calories. Using that arithmetic, you'd need to ingest 280 calories' worth of the alternative to show a benefit. It's probably not a good idea to eat so much unless you're underweight, "McManus agrees.
 

Types of plant stanols

 
Plant stanols are available in pill form. However, like with other supplements, the quality and quantity of the active components is always a concern. Some plant stanols are available in chewable form; however, keep in mind that these products have a significant drawback: each serving contains approximately 10 grams of added sugar. "It's like candy," McManus says. "As a result, people should be aware of that." According to McManus, the greatest method for lowering cholesterol is to rely on tried-and-true strategies. These include following a plant-based diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods, lowering saturated fat consumption, and aiming to maintain a healthy weight. If you want a healthier alternative to butter, try using liquid oils llike olive or avocado oil, or nut butter as a spread. According to McManus, peanut butter and almond butter are two good possibilities.
 
Traditional butter can still be used, but only for rare events or recipes that require a pure butter flavour, she advises.
 


No content on this site, regardless of date, should be used to replace direct medical advice from your doctor or another trained practitioner.
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