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Page 8 | Abby's Magazine | www.AbbysMag.com Trying to decode the signals our bodies send us can feel like a giant puzzle some mes. Why do we feel great some days and crappy on others? And what do those nagging symptoms really mean? I know how frustra ng this kind of uncertainty can be. You want (and deserve!) to feel great. And you can. It all starts with connec ng the dots between your lifestyle choices the foods you eat, how much sleep and exercise you get, the stressors you face on a daily basis and your overall well-being. Because the truth is, those internal and external influences have the power to nourish us, but they can also trick our bodies into thinking they're under a ack and send our immune systems into total chaos. That's the root of chronic inflamma on, which is exactly what I want to talk with you about today! Over the past decade, I've renovated everything from my grocery cart, makeup bag to my mind in an effort to upgrade my immune system. And as I moved from a stressful life full of fast food, toxins and bad boyfriends to a more balanced existence filled with plant-based nourishment, inner growth and conscious living. I started experiencing the perks, my chronic inflamma on decreased and my body started working with me to heal and rebuild. Want to start connec ng the dots in your own life? First, let's learn about acute and chronic inflamma on, since they play very different roles in our everyday health. What is inflamma on? Simple Ways to Reduce Chronic Inflammation By Kris Carr Acute inflamma on is your body's natural and helpful immune response to ssue damage. When you fall off your bike, the cut swells, reddens and feels… inflamed! These are all signs that your immune system is busy at work sending white blood cells to the site of your injury to repair the ssue. In this situa on, inflamma on is our friend we couldn't live without it. Chronic inflamma on is your body's confused and damaging immune response to a barrage of environmental, physical and mental invaders, which come in the form of things like poor diet, toxic chemicals and stress. I've wri en about chronic inflamma on in all of my books because it's such a major (and o en unrecognized) factor in our health challenges. It's also the type of inflamma on we're focusing on today. The dangers of chronic inflammation Over me, chronic inflamma on wears out your immune system, which may lead to chronic diseases and other health issues, including cancer, asthma, autoimmune diseases, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, arthri s, osteoporosis and even (gasp!) appearing older than your years. Unfortunately, these challenges are o en only treated with drugs and surgery, which may provide temporary relief from the symptoms, but do not treat the root of the problem. In addi on, these drugs (and their side effects) some mes only add to your health problems. Could it be that many of the pills in your cabinet are just band- aids and that the key to health lies in your daily diet and lifestyle choices? That's certainly what I've found to be true. But I've got good news! There are plenty of simple prac ces you can incorporate into your daily life to fight chronic inflamma on. Here are my top 5 an -inflammatory ps to get you started. 5 simple ways to kick chronic inflamma on's bu : 1. Eat more whole, plant-based, nutrient-dense foods. Crowd out the foods that cause inflamma on (refined sugar and flour, processed junk, animal products, etc.) by ea ng a beau ful cornucopia of whole, plant-based foods. Dark leafy greens, tomatoes, nuts, berries (cherries in par cular), olive and flax oil, hemp seeds, turmeric (or more specifically, curcumin, which is a naturally occurring chemical with an -inflammatory proper es), and ginger are all an -inflammatory powerhouses. Ea ng them on a regular basis will flood your body with the vitamins, minerals, cancer-figh ng phytochemicals, an oxidants, fiber and other goodies it needs to recover from chronic inflamma on.