If you suffer from fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune conditions, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes—or if you’re concerned about cancer—there’s one thing these all have in common: inflammation.

Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation itself isn’t the enemy. It’s a natural part of your body’s healing response—your built-in first aid kit.

When you sprain an ankle or cut your finger, your body increases blood flow, bringing heat, redness, and swelling. This acute inflammation is short term and protective. Think of it as the angel that helps you heal.

But there’s another side—chronic inflammation. This is the evil villain that will turn your body into a living nightmare. Instead of protecting you, it silently damages tissues, disrupts systems, and even alters DNA, which opens the door to cancer and other life-threatening conditions.

It’s invisible, symptomless at first, and it quietly attacks your most vital organs: your heart, brain, and immune system.

Left unchecked, chronic inflammation becomes the root cause of countless diseases: high cholesterol, hardened arteries, diabetes, arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and more.

My Story

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1997. And while they don’t technically classify it as an autoimmune disorder, chronic inflammation makes it worse.

Through lifestyle changes, I’m happy to say I now live symptom-free 99% of the time. That’s the power of tackling inflammation head-on.

Where Does It Come From?

Some inflammation is genetic, but most is fueled by lifestyle choices—especially excess body fat and poor diet.

Here’s the cycle:

• Fat cells aren’t just “storage.” They act like an organ, releasing hormones.

• In healthy amounts, fat helps regulate appetite, energy, and metabolism.

• But in excess, fat cells turn toxic, pumping out inflammatory signals that shut down your metabolism, increase cravings, and make it nearly impossible to lose weight.

• High insulin levels (thanks to sugar and processed foods) literally “insulate” your fat cells, protecting them from being burned, shutting down your metabolism, and making it harder and harder to lose fat.

The more sugar you eat, the more insulin your body produces. The more insulin you produce, the more locked-in and protected your fat cells become.

👉 This is why dieting often feels hopeless—you’re not broken, your fat cells are just on lockdown.

It’s a vicious cycle—but one you can break.

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Eat to Heal

The good news? You can stop feeding inflammation and start healing by choosing foods that calm your system instead of triggering it.

Anti-Inflammatory All-Stars:

• Fruits & vegetables (antioxidants)

• Olive oil, avocado, nuts (healthy fats)

• Cold-water fish, fish oil, walnuts (omega-3s)

• Poultry, eggs, grass-fed beef (lean proteins)

• Whole grains, beans, veggies (fiber)

• Spices like turmeric, ginger, cayenne, oregano

Foods to Avoid (Pro-Inflammatory Triggers):

• Refined grains (white flour, pasta, rice)

• Processed meats and fast food

• Oils high in omega-6 (corn, soybean, safflower)

• Foods loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients

• Anything hydrogenated, deep-fried, or “long shelf life”

Think of how your grandparents ate: real food, smaller portions, fewer additives. Compare that with today’s packaged, processed, Frankenfoods.

It’s no wonder we’re sicker, heavier, and more inflamed than ever—and sadly, our children are inheriting these habits.

The Bottom Line

Inflammation doesn’t have to be your life sentence. You can heal and protect your body through the food you eat every single day.

If you can pick it from a tree, dig it from the ground, or it has a mother, it’s most likely a disease-fighting powerhouse. (And you know as well as I do—cookies don’t have a mother. 😉)

Choose foods without labels or those with just a few simple ingredients—fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish, eggs, brown rice. These are nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory, and life-giving.

The power to reverse inflammation is in your hands—and on your plate.

As always, to your success — invest in yourself, you’re worth it.
Shelly