Inflammation – root of disease

The below information is taken from Dr. Mark Hyman’s blog:

http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/ultramind-solution-cool-inflammation 

 Today, the fires of inflammation are raging all   over the body. That’s why we are seeing an   epidemic of diseases including autoimmunity (24  million people), allergy (50 million), and   asthma (30 million), as well as cardiovascular   disease (60 million), cancer (10 million), and
  diabetes (14 million). These, it has been   recently discovered, are primarily inflammatory   conditions.

What causes inflammation in our bodies…

1. Our inflammatory diet, which consists of enormous amounts of sugar (158 pounds per person per year) and refined flours, as well as trans fats and saturated fats 

2. Food allergens—mostly delayed reactions to food or hidden allergens that lead to “brain allergies” (allergic reactions in the body that cause inflammation in the brain—more about these in a moment)

3. Imbalances in digestive function and the gut immune system that produce widespread systemic effects

4. Toxins such as mercury and pesticides (and the 85,000 mostly untested toxins in our environment), which have been linked to immune dysfunction and autoimmune diseases

5. Low-grade, hidden, or chronic infections such as HIV-associated dementia, syphilis, and Lyme disease, which can cause many neurologic and psychiatric “diseases”

6. Stress—emotional or physical, such as trauma

7. Sedentary lifestyle

8. Inadequate sleep—less than 7 hours a night

9. Nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, and omega-3 fats