Raw Veggies Fight the Silent Killer

Inflammation is at the root of a wide array of health issues, and may fester in the body unnoticed for years. Inflammation is a necessary initial immune response, however, if it is allowed to continue beyond its short-term protective function, inflammation can be devastating.

The word ‘inflammation’ comes from the Latin word inflammare, which means to set on fire. When the body detects an injury or a foreign invader, white blood cells rush to the scene of the damage, causing swelling, heat, redness and pain. It also interferes with the normal functioning of the organs involved in the inflamed areas. Dr. Sangeeta Pati calls inflammation ‘the silent killer,’ and the term is apt.

When inflammation does not recede after an injury is healed, or after a foreign invader, such as bacteria, is expelled, a number of ailments can be set into motion. These include allergies, Alzheimer’s, anemia, arthritis, fibromyalgia, kidney failure, pancreatitis, eczema, heart attack, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome and a variety of cancers, to name only a few.

According to Dr. Barry Sears, author of The Zone, which details ways to control the body’s hormonal responses through proper diet, persistent inflammation may be the root cause of insulin resistance, which in turn leads to diabetes.

He also states that telltale signs of underlying inflammation include being overweight, being on cholesterol medication, taking birth control pills, awakening groggy, always craving carbs, having brittle fingernails, or always being tired.

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