While you can’t stop aging, you can take steps to ensure that you’re doing it as well as possible. One way is to manage inflamm-aging, an age-related inflammatory process that increases the chance of chronic conditions.
“Inflamm-aging” or “inflammaging” is a type of inflammation that happens as you age. Research suggests that this mild form of age-related inflammation may be why we’re more likely to develop health conditions as we get older.
Acute inflammation is vital for the body’s healing process, but chronic inflammation can trigger a variety of common diseases that appear as we get older, including Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
By managing chronic inflammation with healthy lifestyle habits, you may be able to avoid or slow the progression of inflammation-related chronic conditions.
We’ve partnered with C60 Power to bring you this guide on how to make reducing inflammation part of your roadmap for aging well.
Modifying your diet to include foods packed with antioxidants and polyphenols can play a positive role in managing inflamm-aging.
Foods you may want to avoid, that can cause inflammation include:
- refined carbohydrates, like white bread and pastries
- high fat dairy
- fried foods
- red and processed meats
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- fruits, such as blueberries, cherries, oranges, and strawberries
- fatty fish, such as salmon and sardines
- leafy greens, such as kale and spinach
- nuts, such as almonds and walnuts
- olive oil
- tomatoes
- whole grains
It’s important to note that not all medical experts agree on the concept of an anti-inflammatory diet. But most do agree that it’s a good idea to eat lots of whole foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and to avoid high sugar and processed foods.
We already know that exercise can help prevent or even reverse the effects of certain diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity.
A large body of research has also looked at the correlation between physical activity and inflammation. A 2020 study suggested that regular exercise is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that can prevent or delay chronic inflammation as you age.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that older adults strive to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week, plus muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days of the week.
But any exercise is better than no exercise, so any amount you can manage is positive.
Here are a few ideas for staying active:
- Take a brisk walk or bike ride with a friend.
- Do some stretching or gentle yoga.
- Go for a swim or try water aerobics.
- Follow along with one of the thousands of free workout videos on YouTube.
Keep in mind that it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting a new workout routine.
Managing stress can help tamp down inflamm-aging. Chronic stress may trigger the fight, flight, or freeze response, causing the body to release pro-inflammatory cytokines (small proteins) that promote inflammation throughout the body.
A few stress-reduction activities to try:
- Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness meditation has a reputation for stress reduction. Turn down the volume and focus on your senses with a quick guided meditation or mindful walk.
- Spend time with supportive loved ones. Surrounding yourself with a positive and strong social network has numerous positive effects, including reduced stress and increased longevity.
- Engage in enjoyable activities. Finding activities that bring you joy can help offset daily stress. A few options: Volunteer, take up a new hobby, play a team sport, or explore nature.
- Focus on deep breathing. This relaxation technique can be done anywhere. The 4-7-8 breathing technique is a popular deep breathing exercise that involves inhaling slowly through the nose for at least 4 seconds, holding for 3–7 seconds, and deeply exhaling for 4–8 seconds.
While eating a colorful, whole-food diet is important for your overall health, some people swear by supplements to ward off inflamm-aging.
Some people take other supplements to reduce inflammation, but there’s limited or inconclusive evidence to support their use as anti-inflammatories. These include:
C60 Power’s C60 avocado oil is made with organic avocado oil and delivers 25.6 mg of active carbon 60 (C60) per ounce. The USA-made oil has also been tested for purity, quality, and concentration.
C60 may help you fight free radicals in the environment and reduce the chance of chronic conditions.
Always consult your doctor before trying vitamins and supplements since they may interact with medications or not be right for you if you have a certain medical condition.
Read more about supplements that may help with inflammation.
Research has shown that chronic inflammation can lead to arthritis as well as other types of degenerative joint disease. Inflamm-aging can cause joint swelling, increased joint fluid, bone and cartilage damage, and muscle loss.
Luckily, many of the same things that tame inflamm-aging also benefit your joints, including:
- eating a healthy, whole-food diet
- doing a combination of aerobic exercise and strength training
- practicing relaxation techniques to calm your mind and slow down your body
Inflamm-aging refers to inflammation related to the aging process. You can start making changes to prevent age-related conditions today.
But you don’t need to completely revamp your routine. Start small. For example, commit to a morning walk or start a 5-minute meditation practice.
If you’re concerned about how inflamm-aging is affecting you, talk with a healthcare professional for more tips on reducing inflammation and easing some of the effects of aging.