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photo credit: https://pragmaticobotsunite2018.com/thursday-afternoon-thread-after-the-itis/

Family gatherings, cookouts, celebrations, nights, weekends… when do you get the itis? Is there ever a tastier buffet selection than a family gathering at a major holiday?  When I was kid I used to dream about how much food I was going to eat on Thanksgiving. Yams, Mac n’ cheese, collard greens, turkey, chicken, meatloaf, honey baked ham, dressing, cornbread and more are all things I dreamt about putting into my stomach at one time, plus dessert. After eating all of that food and such accomplishing an incredible feat of strength and gluttony proceeded the loosening of the belt loop, the raising of the shirt, and swift entrance into the proverbial food coma.

The term “itis” is most commonly used to refer to that sleepy feeling you get after having a large meal. In my experience, the itis has always occurred whenever I consumed a meal that was greasy, processed, dairy, and/ or full of animal protein. At the time, I did not realize that the ”Itis” also came with long term effects. Foods that are often associated with the “Itis” are typically linked to inflammation. It should be no coincidence that the term “Itis” also happens to be the suffix of many inflammatory diseases such as the ones listed below:

Appendicitis	Inflammation of the appendix
Arthritis	Inflammation of a joint
Colitis	Inflammation of the colon
Dermatitis	Inflammation of the skin
Diverticulitis	Inflammation of the colon wall
Encephalitis	Inflammation of the brain
Gastritis	Inflammation of the stomach and intestines
Hepatitis	A disease caused by a blood-borne virus and marked by inflammation of the liver
Tendonitis	Inflammation of a tendon
Tonsillitis	inflammation of the tonsils

When dealing with inflammation, most health associations will tell you to avoid processed meats, sugary drinks, fried and processed foods, and white flour products such as bread and pasta. This shows that there is a connection between these types of foods and inflammation meaning they either cause inflammation or at least increase the severity of the inflammation. Unfortunately, many consume these inflammatory foods meal after meal, day after day. This type of diet is known as the Standard American Diet or SAD diet. This is the diet that leads to many preventable and curable diseases such as those called out above.

According to the Harvard Health Medical School, “Our diets play an important role in chronic inflammation because our digestive bacteria release chemicals that may spur or suppress inflammation.” They also go on to mention that the types of bacteria that populate our gut and their chemical byproducts vary according to the types of foods we eat. Some foods encourage the growth of populations of bacteria that stimulate inflammation, while others promote the growth of bacteria that suppress it. This means that we actually have control on the inflammatory health in our bodies – call it crazy. With that being said, let food be your medicine!  

What is the best way to introduce foods that will promote the growth of inflammatory suppressing bacteria? Well, the good news is that you may already be enjoying some of the foods that help to suppress anti-inflammation. The key is to increase these types of foods and to decrease and ultimately eliminate the foods that cause inflammation. The foods that support anti-inflammation according to the Harvard Medical School are listed below:

• Fruits and vegetables. Most fruits and brightly colored vegetables naturally contain high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols — potentially protective compounds found in plants.
• Nuts and seeds. Studies have found that consuming nuts and seeds is associated with reduced markers of inflammation and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
• Beverages. The polyphenols in coffee and the flavonols in cocoa are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea is also rich in both polyphenols and antioxidants.

Article reference: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/simple-tips-to-fight-inflammation