Expert Column
Amy Bader, ND, practices naturopathic medicine in Portland, Oregon, and will soon begin practicing...read more
Articles In This Column
- How 'Bout Some Good Press for Cholesterol?
- The Trouble with Heart Disease
- Stomaching Stomach Acid: A Simple Solution
- Sit Down, Oil Up, and Heal Your Body: The Wonder of Castor Oil Packs
- Peripheral Neuropathy: Treating it the Natural Way
- The Skinny on Type 2 Diabetes: Part 1 of 2
- The Skinny on Type 2 Diabetes: Part 2 of 2
- What’s Bugging You? (The One Supplement You Can’t Do Without)
- Inflammation: Good, Bad or all Hype?
- How the 6 Principles of Naturopathy Transformed a Science Geek into a Doctor



i read a lot online about the anti-inflammation diet (eating more fish, less sugar and refined grains) and its health benefits so is this what you mean by reducing chronic inflammation? or can you do more than just change your diet?
I moved to a new area and got a new physician from a list of my in-network doctors. I knew I was in the wrong hands when he seemed not to listen at all to how I feel very stressed (I care for my mother and that was the main reason for the move and I also work full-time). My new doctor now does although. How things are in your life affect your health. I saw how my sister-in-law had colds and flus while trying to take care of her father. You can get sick from being rundown and it doesn’t take a doctor to know that!
Rita,
You read my mind. My posting for July will be a discussion of chronic inflammation. Diet affects the level of inflammation in your body profoundly. You are right-- fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes work to decrease inflammation. On the flip side, food allergies, trans fats, sugar, and processed “foodstuffs†(my nickname for things which are technically edible yet shouldn’t be eaten due to additives, preservatives and overall low nutrient value) are damaging. The immune system wages an inflammatory war against them in the digestive tract. Ultimately, this war spills over into the liver and the rest of the body. Other factors which create inflammation include smoking, insulin resistance, the wrong mix of gut bacteria, chronic infections, environmental toxins and stress. Given this list, you can see why holistic practitioners promote healthy lifestyle decisions on every level. I look forward to sharing more information next month regarding this important topic, including steps you can take to reduce the inflammatory burden on your body.
I just loved the article above (written by the self-professed geek) and I do not think you are a geek! (only people who don't know they are, are, right?!)...
this is a great website! I liked the cakeplate article, as well as the caregiver tips. I have been struggling with a few family issues and liked reading such supportive words. thank you!
I really enjoyed your articles. As a fellow geek and naturopath, I love to see articles that use and explain the basics of our medicine.