The talk around the brunch table today was about inflammation and, specifically, the finding that the cholesterol-lowering drugs may actually work to reduce heart disease because they reduce inflammation in the body. There are ways to reduce inflammation without the use of pharmaceuticals and certainly without the use of expensive pharmaceuticals. After all, aspirin reduces inflammation.
It reminds me a bit of my discussions with a vendor last week at Expo West about an anti-inflammatory product they carry. I am always interested in learning about anti-inflammatory foods or supplements because of the role of inflammation and depression. The woman was selling a high-priced supplement and I asked her a question that shocked her just a bit: is your product more effective than aspirin at reducing inflammation? Walking outside my front door and taking in some deep breaths on a spring day reduces inflammation too.
I posted a list a couple of times in the last month about things I was going to do to stay healthy in the midst of work stress. What strikes me is that these activities (particularly the first four), will reduce inflammation in my body. I could take drugs to reduce inflammation, but unless the drugs are sleeping pills, they will not give me the sleep I am lacking. They will not help me get sunlight and exercise.
Today for Easter I sat on a hammock with my friend Galina and said, “This is the way to reduce inflammation.”
“The List”
1) Sleep a lot more. If I count sheep, I will try not to think about the bacteria colonies in their rumen.
2) Cut the coffee. A friend of mine recommends Tylenol for this task. I usually put myself through some sort of obsessive weaning program.
3) Move around a little bit. For numb shoulders and for general health, a wise person once told me that exercise can be healthy. Finger movement at the keyboard is not the best source of exercise.
4) Eat real food. Coffee is not a food group. Salads are a nutritious and easy option. I will keep my fingers crossed that the lettuce was not watered with dairy run-off. (See, there I go again.)
