06/02/2026
Inflammation is caused by many thing such as stress, poor eating habits, aging, smoking, and drinking alcohol. And chronic inflammation leads to headaches, digestive disorders, stiff joints, autoimmune disorders, insulin resistance, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer. It might seem overwhelming, but choosing to remove bad habits and replacing them with good habits, can make a real difference in your quality of life.
So diet and exercise play key roles. Look at your diet as medicine and strive to include leafy greens, tomatoes, fruits and berries, fatty fish, whole grains, nuts and olive oil. Look at adding turmeric, cayenne, garlic and ginger to your dishes as you cook your meals.
While we can't change the fact we are aging, we can keep stiff joints at bay and also reduce stress at the same time. Inserting little bits of exercise and movement into your day, avoid elevators and take the stairs instead, ride your bike to work or to short shopping trips, do some back and yoga stretches when you get up and before bed. And take up strength exercises like rowing, swimming and lifting weights. Variety keeps it from being boring. Keep a journal and compare how you feel when you start to how you feel 3 months later. This habit will keep you accountable. Here is an article to get you started:
https://bit.ly/4dMNLDi
And let me know your thoughts and ideas.
PS...I will start. Yes-I have started on this path. I do ride my bike to work...I do cook most of my meals using natural ingredients, and I avoid processed food and alcohol. And 3 years go I moved into a house with lots of stairs. (My knees feel much better!)
-Kathy Oliver
NCLP Director
