Inflammation is a complicated topic. Short-term inflammation plays an essential role in fighting infections and healing injuries. But too much inflammation can be a catalyst for chronic ailments, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and obesity.
What we eat can influence our inflammatory responses and contribute to chronic, low-grade inflammation.
In today’s episode, Prof. Philip Calder helps us understand the science behind inflammation, how it impacts our health and what food has to do with it.
Philip is head of the School of Human Development and Health, as well as a Professor of Nutritional Immunology, in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. He’s also an internationally recognised researcher on the metabolism and functionality of fatty acids. His work focuses on the roles of omega-3 fatty acids and the influence of diet and nutrients on immune and inflammatory responses.
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Timecodes
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Quickfire questions
02:55 The role of inflammation in immunity
05:30 Chronic inflammation and disease
08:30 How to measure inflammation
09:53 Low-grade inflammation and disease risk
12:30 What causes blood vessel inflammation?
15:23 What creates the narrowing of blood vessels?
17:20 How inflammation can cause blood clots, heart attacks and strokes
19:15 Inflammation and aging
21:40 Inflammation and lifestyle factors
25:07 Obesity and inflammation
28:45 Muscle loss and inflammation (sarcopenia)
30:52 The impact of meals, sugar and fats on inflammation
33:35 How diet could reduce inflammation
34:42 Why we all respond to food differently
38:42 Dietary choices to manage inflammation
40:00 What are omega-3s?
41:17 Anti-inflammatory foods
43:40 Health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
45:55 Challenges with farmed salmon
📚 Books from our ZOE Scientists:
Mentioned in today's episode:
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory processes: Nutrition or pharmacology? in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Omega-6 fatty acids and inflammation in PLEFA
Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes in Nutrients
Another relevant study:
Health relevance of the modification of low-grade inflammation in ageing and the role of nutrition in Ageing Research Reviews
Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here
Episode transcripts are available here.
