What is inflammation?

Whether you have a sports injury, suffer with a condition like arthritis or have an infection, your body will respond with an inflammatory reaction. This is a natural immune response and helps your body defend itself, protect you from infection and minimise tissue damage following injury. However, issues arise when this inflammation becomes low-grade and long-term – it’s then that a process designed to protect you can actually go on to cause disease and poor health.

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While no food has sufficient, substantive evidence to carry an approved ‘anti-inflammatory’ health claim, studies suggest that certain ingredients may help, at least in part, to manage the effects of inflammation.

These foods contain components like plant chemicals that have protective properties, or beneficial oils that help inhibit some of the effects of inflammation. Eating a varied diet that incorporates these foods may prove helpful.