Why Lowering Inflammation Is the Secret to Losing Weight

You may remember a recent blog I wrote about how sugar is the primary contributor to inflammation of the heart. So, you may already be thinking that of course if you eat less sugar you’ll lose weight.

But there’s actually more to the inflammation equation. There’s also an important connection between weight gain, inflammation, and a hormone called leptin.

Leptin regulates your body’s level of fat by controlling your appetite and metabolism. So, as you add more fat tissue, your body produces more leptin. In healthy people, the production of additional leptin signals the brain to suppress appetite and speed up metabolism—leading these people to feel less hunger, burn more calories, and lose the excess fat.

The problem is that chronic inflammation impairs the brain’s ability to receive leptin’s appetite suppressing message. The good news is that by eating an anti-inflammatory diet you will not only improve your heart health, but improve your body’s responsiveness to leptin—making it far easier to take off unwanted pounds.

So, how can you reduce inflammation and take off the pounds? Just remember these three simple things.

• Enjoy Often: leafy greens and other colorful vegetables; lentils; berries; citrus fruits; low-fat dairy products; “hot” spices like garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and curry; wild-caught fish; lean cuts of red meat such as pork, beef, and buffalo; olive oil.
• Eat in Moderation: whole grains, beans, tropical fruits, poultry, eggs, nuts and seeds, white potatoes, cheeses.
• Limit or Avoid: organ meats; veal; high-fat dairy; farmed fish; margarine, and shortening; vegetable oils; refined flours and sugar; fatty and fried foods.

Another tip is to season your foods with cinnamon, which contains the antioxidant cinnamaldehyde, which reduces arterial inflammation as well as blood clots.

Now it’s your turn: Which of these dietary changes are you resolving to make in the New Year?

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