Acquiring a small paper cut on your finger or catching a cold may seem like a simple occurrence that time will take care of. But any trauma or illness will set off a complicated cascade of responses called the inflammatory response. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, low-grade inflammation is responsible for atherogenesis or the formation of plague in the arteries. Getting the right nutrition that provides certain vitamins can help reduce inflammation.
Inflammatory Response
On one level the inflammatory response is necessary in order to activate the immune system to fight off infection or heal trauma. According to the Merck Manual Online Library, the inflammatory response is like traffic control, it directs the immune system to the site of injury or infection. Once activated, the immune system increases the blood supply to the injury and allows various chemotactic peptides and white blood cells to move to the area. Antibodies are produced as well as oxidative chemicals that kill microbes. Cytokines result in fever and an increase production of white blood cells called neutrophils from the bone marrow. All of this is normal when you have an injury or are ill. But chronic systemic inflammation can lead to disease.
Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, diseases such as asthma, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, gingivitis, celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease are inflammatory diseases. In addition, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease have inflammatory components. The Institute also notes that obesity is a pro-inflammatory state.
Inflammatory Foods
Diets that are high in saturated fats and trans fats are pro-inflammatory in nature, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Also diets that high in cholesterol were also found to increase inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, or CRP. High blood glucose also causes inflammation. Diets that are high glycemic load diets stimulate inflammation. Glycemic load or glycemic index is the blood glucose raising capacity of the carbohydrates in different foods.
Vitamins for Prevention
The amino acid arginine is associated with lower levels of CRP. Foods with arginine include poultry, fish, cereals and peanuts. Adequate magnesium is necessary to protect against inflammation. Vitamin B-6 is associated with lower levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory marker for heart disease. The Linus Pauling Institute also notes that adequate amounts of vitamins C and D are necessary for the prevention of many inflammatory diseases. Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables. Vitamin D is synthesized in the body with exposure to sunlight or through fortified food products.
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