Inflammation is a natural defense mechanism our bodies activate to protect us against foreign substances or injuries and repair any damages. Simply put, this process is done by inserting more white blood cells and other cells into your blood and your tissues – the affected area – in order to start the healing process. In children, inflammation usually occurs as a result of injury, infection, or allergies.
There’s two types of inflammation: acute inflammation which is short-term and can act as a necessary response, and chronic inflammation. Symptoms of acute inflammation include redness, swelling, pain, fever, or itching. Chronic inflammation can be linked to conditions such as cancer, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, and other diseases. Other conditions include dermatitis, bronchitis, and psoriasis. For children in particular, inflammation can happen due to obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise. These long-term conditions can last for years or forever, depending on each person and severity.
In order to reduce inflammation, we should maintain a healthy weight through our diets, manage stress, get physical exercise, and take supplements if necessary. Some anti-inflammatory foods include oranges, spinach, olive oil, and tomatoes. We should also avoid smoking, environmental toxins, and consume anti-inflammatory supplements such as turmeric and omega-3 such as fish oil.
