Chronic inflammation plays a key role in many serious long-term diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer by continuously producing harmful molecules that worsen these conditions and contribute to aging, immune decline, obesity, and infections such as COVID-19.
Unlike short-term inflammation that heals over time, chronic inflammation disrupts the immune system's balance, leading to more severe health issues.
Diet significantly influences inflammation levels in the body. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is highly effective in reducing inflammation due to its high content of monounsaturated fats, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats like olive oil, and moderate amounts of fish and dairy.
Source: Serra-Majem, Lluís et al. “Updating the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid towards Sustainability: Focus on Environmental Concerns.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 17,23 8758. 25 Nov. 2020, doi:10.3390/ijerph17238758 This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license
A meta-analysis of 21 randomized, controlled studies found that the Mediterranean diet lowers inflammatory markers, including CRP and several inflammatory cytokines.
In contrast, the Western diet, which is rich in refined sugars, processed meats, unhealthy fats, and low in fruits and vegetables, promotes chronic inflammation and increases the risk of developing various chronic diseases by disrupting immune and metabolic balance and negatively affecting gut health.
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