When you’ve cut out the processed stuff, what’s left? whole foods, of course! “a whole food is a one-ingredient food, an entire entity: an apple, an orange, a cucumber,” zumpano says. In addition to fruits and vegetables, other examples include: brown or wild rice. That means choosing breads and pastas that are minimally processed, minimally preserved and made with whole grains. March 26, 2024 reviewed by howard e. Lewine, md , chief medical editor, harvard health publishing; editorial advisory board member, harvard health publishing what does an anti-inflammatory diet do? your immune system becomes activated when your body recognizes anything that is foreign—such as an invading microbe, plant pollen, or chemical. This often triggers a process called inflammation. Intermittent bouts of inflammation directed at truly threatening invaders protect your health. However, sometimes inflammation persists, day in and day out, even when you are not threatened by a foreign invader. That's when inflammation can become your enemy. Many major diseases that plague us — including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and alzheimer's — have been linked to chronic inflammation. A little inspiration never hurts when you’re considering making a healthy lifestyle change. Here are some benefits you may experience from consuming a
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