What is inflammation, and why should I care about it?
Headlines declare “Our Greatest Enemy? Inflammation” and “Inflammation in Midlife Tied to Brain Shrinkage Later in Life.”
Scary stuff. But what exactly are they talking about, and what can you do about it?
Those are good questions, and they’ve made us realize that we often mention inflammation without really explaining the nitty gritty of it. And that, unfortunately, may make it harder for you to take (and keep taking) steps to become your healthiest self and achieve a younger RealAge. So here’s a short course in inflammation and how you can help put out the destructive fire that may be glowing inside you.
Acute, short-term inflammation is your friend. It signals that your immune system has been called into action to fight off invading viruses and bacteria (or to help heal an injury).