Inflammation is playing an ever-increasing role in many of today’s chronic diseases, and, at first glance, its bad reputation seems well deserved. For example, chronic inflammation is thought to contribute to the development of many modern illnesses, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, cancer, chronic respiratory and digestive diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and even the process of aging itself.

These food supplements may help you to achieve a healthy inflammation response:

1. Herbs

Many herbs can reduce inflammation - individual and combinations of herbs can both do this. Our best selling herbal combination for inflammation - New Chapter's Zyflamend - combines many herbs into one effective formula.

Every one of us has experienced acute inflammation - redness, heat, swelling, and pain that is the immune system's normal response to infection or injury. Immune cells congregate at the site so that they can overwhelm and dispose of infectious organisms or debris from injury. Thus healing takes place.

But there's another kind of inflammation-low-grade, chronic, and "systemic." This kind of inflammation may underlie a kind of "unified field"

Processed sugars and other high-glycemic starches increase inflammation, just as they raise blood sugar, according to an article in the March 2002 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

We think following this diet in conjunction with anti-inflammatory supplements will surprise you by its powerful effect on your symptoms. You can eat fat and oil on this diet - but only if you reduce your sugars and starches - if you do

When inflammation occurs, chemicals from the body are released into the blood of affected tissues. This release of chemicals increases the blood flow to the area of injury or infection and may result in redness and warmth. Some of the chemicals cause a leak of fluid into the tissues, resulting in swelling. This process may stimulate nerves and cause pain.

Modulation of the inflammatory process is an important and useful strategy for maintaining healthy joint function. A

1. Shiatsu

WHAT IT IS: Shiatsu-which means finger pressure in Japanese-helps loosen energy, which can alleviate pain. "We press on specific points on the body, called tsubos or energy-gathering points, and hold those until you feel them opening and the energy flowing," says Shirley Scranta, of the International School of Shiatstu, in Doylestown, Pa. Practitioners use thumbs, knuckles,

The COX-2 enzyme controls the creation of a hormone-like substance that creates "inflammation." And not just the common inflammation many experience in a knee or shoulder, but also inflammation throughout the body, even in the brain of an Alzheimer's sufferer. Scientists now have convincing evidence, from decades of research, that the unchecked activity of this enzyme is responsible for many forms of cancer (including colon, skin, bladder, esophagus, and pancreas),

The homeopathic medicine, Traumeel^®, is a safe and effective remedy for the "weekend warrior."

The drive to "run faster and jump higher" (as the old sneaker ad said) is now interpreted on a monumental scale by every age group in the American population from toddlers to mature Olympic athletes to geriatrics -- and we've got the sports injuries to prove it! According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, sports-related ER injuries in

Lorna Vanderhaeghe is author of Get a Grip on Arthritis and Other Inflammatory Disorders, a discussion of inflammation and suggestions for natural relief, available now from The Vitamin Trader; order item code BO0230.

Arthritis, cancer, heart attacks, allergies, bowel disease, Alzheimer's, and dozens of Read More