In the last post, we talked about how important insulin resistance was in your risk for breast cancer recurrence.  Insulin resistance is also associated with a condition known as chronic inflammation.  This is different from acute inflammation.  You are all probably familiar with what happens with acute inflammation since that is a normal body response. Let’s say you cut your hand.  Your immune system sends out its army to create an inflammatory response which results in cells that stop the bleeding, fight any potential infection, and start healing the damage.  Once the damage is healed, the inflammatory response dies down.  That’s acute inflammation and it keeps us healthy. 

Chronic inflammation is another story.  It happens when there is a low grade irritation that smolders along in your body.  The cells that were so useful at fighting infection and healing damage from a cut can actually start to cause damage in chronic inflammation. 

There have been a few studies in breast cancer survivors that measured markers of chronic inflammation in the blood.  Those survivors with increased inflammatory markers showed an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence and reduced overall survival.

What kinds of things cause an increase in chronic inflammation?

You can probably guess at some of them.  Bad health habits like poor nutrition, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, stress, and inactivity just to name a few.

Foods whose sugars are quickly absorbed into the blood stream without fiber to slow them down also cause an inflammatory state.  These are high glycemic index foods.  Too many of these foods all the time can lead to chronic inflammation.  In fact, having insulin resistance is an inflammatory state. 

Chronic inflammation is associated with many chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke.  Reversing chronic inflammation can dramatically reduce your risk of developing those diseases.

 What are the best ways to reduce chronic inflammation?

• In general, this involves eating lots of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables.
• Stress reduction.
• Weight loss (if you are overweight or obese).
• Don’t smoke at all, and don’t drink alcohol to excess.