Chronic inflammation is a type of inflammation that silently attacks the body causing disease and degeneration, and is also known as "silent inflammation".

Green leafy vegetables are a great way to start. Greens are rich in iron, fiber, protein, vitamin K, lutein, and folate. Not to mention they have a lot of vitamin C. Other types of vegetables include Nightshade varieties, Cruciferous, Allium, Gourds, Morning glory and a host of others. Varieties of fruit include Pepo, True berries, Hesperidium, Aggregate, Accessory and Multiple fruit.

Generally we want about 4 servings of vegetables per day, and 2-3 servings of fruit. We always want to buy organic when possible. Organic fruits and vegetables are usually a bit more expensive, but the increased cost is well worth keeping harmful chemicals and pesticides out of our bodies.

Silent inflammation has been linked with the buildup of cholesterol deposits in the arteries which can lead to heart disease. In a similar way, the risk of Alzheimer's disease increases with inflammation of brain tissue, as this results in the buildup of amyloid plaque deposits in the brain.

Having type 2 diabetes, or eating sugary foods contributes to silent inflammation in the body as a result of elevated blood sugar and insulin levels. Recent studies have also confirmed the link between inflammation and several types of cancers. Making the necessary lifestyle changes to fight inflammation, can protect you from it's devastating effects.

Legumes are recommended at 2 servings per day. They are a very versatile food and are high in protein, folate, potassium, iron, magnesium, essential amino acids and fiber. The legume or bean is actually the fruit or seed of a plant. Examples of legumes are the soybean, peanut, lima beans, kidney beans, and black beans.

When there is an imbalance in the body between these prostaglandins, inflammation can result. Prostaglandins are made in the body from essential fatty acids. You can assist your body in making anti-Inflammatory prostaglandins by eating vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds such as sesame and sunflower seeds. On the other hand, foods that cause a spike in insulin levels, such as sugary foods, or foods with a high Glycemic load promote production of PG-E2 and increase inflammation.

A typical anti-inflammatory diet focuses on fighting inflammation through the consumption of foods that lower insulin levels. To actively reduce inflammation, you should therefore eat foods that have a low Glycemic load, such as whole grains, vegetables and lentils, and consume healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, fish, extra virgin olive oil and fish.

The first step is to make dietary changes to reduce food based inflammation. Processed foods, fast foods and prepackaged foods can cause increased inflammation in the body. Replacing these foods with lean meats, whole grains and healthy fats will make a tremendous different in how the body reacts to inflammation. In addition, if weight is a problem, reducing weight while changing to an anti-inflammatory diet can increase the benefits exponentially.

Sugar is a key culprit in inflammation, and therefore you should also cut back on sugary foods. Inflammation can also be reduced by taking supplements such as fish oils which are high in Omega 3 fatty acids.