Health News Update: Quality Really Matters

Mark Smith • August 26, 2024

Hello again everyone:

 

Here is a very interesting study that reveals that not only do plant-based diets lower inflammation, it also shows that poorly chosen plant-based food patterns raise inflammation. As you know, inflammation causes, aggravates, and/or perpetuates every known chronic health condition…you cannot name one health condition in which inflammation is not a key player. Food consumption patterns are the leading cause of inflammation as well as being recognized as the leading cause of death and disability in our country.


Currently, there is enormous interest in plant-based dietary models that reveal significant health benefits. As the science progresses, they are now teasing out the differences between healthy and not-so-healthy food choices. And guess what? The healthier plant-based food choices lowered inflammation while the unhealthy choices did not.


Conclusion: Higher scores of HEI-2015 (Healthy Eating Index) and increased intake of a healthy plant-based diet were associated with lower inflammation, while an unhealthy plant-based diet was associated with higher inflammation. A greater adherence to the 2015 dietary guidelines may reduce the risk of mortality associated with inflammation and may also benefit individuals with obesity who had low and moderate inflammation.


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10468921/pdf/394_2023_Article_3191.pdf


Bottom Line:

 

So, what is a healthy plant-based food plan? It was a Mediterranean style diet. This is simply the healthiest way to go as it lowers inflammation and protects and lowers your risk of all-cause mortality. Enjoy!!


A Mediterranean-style diet typically includes:

  • plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds.
  • olive oil as a primary fat source; and
  • dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry in low to moderate amounts.


Fish and poultry are more common than red meat in this diet. It also centers on minimally processed, plant-based foods. Wine may be consumed in low to moderate amounts, usually with meals. Fruit is a common dessert instead of sweets.


https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/mediterranean-diet

 

PS: I strongly disagree with the wine statement. Read more here:


https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551


By Mark Smith March 23, 2026
Health News Update: How To Fight Inflammation and Chronic Disease 3.23.26 Hello again everyone: You might wonder why I keep focusing on food…so here are some of the reasons: food choices are the leading cause of death in the U.S. and spreading around the world. Poor food choices lead to inflammation which slowly destroy health. It is that simple, plain, and clear and backed by research. The next question: how do we fight back? Introduction The positive impact of food on health was postulated by the ancient Hippocrates, father of modern medicine with his famous quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” [1]. In the 21st century, scientists have focused on the effect of nutritional habits in diseases. Nowadays, it is well documented that food plays a noteworthy role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases namely cardiovascular diseases (CVD), metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, and cancer [2–5], as it correlates with others with the lipid pattern, the blood pressure, and the endothelial function. The scientists examine the effect of nutritional habits on disease emergence and progression in both individual nutrient intake and dietary patterns models. Worldwide, two dietary patterns are usually compared—the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the Western diet (WD) [3,6]. The Mediterranean diet reflects the food culture of most Mediterranean countries based on olive oil consumption, seasonal fresh vegetables, cereals, and plants in balance with low consumption of meat [7]. The Western diet, on the contrary, is dominated by high-fat dairy products processed and red meat [8]. However, discordance in the different MD patterns and consumed food doses had been recognized. Without any doubt, those discrepancies could confine and restrict our knowledge on the health benefit mechanisms of the MD [9]. Due to the above, the medical community along with nutritionists and dieticians take a keen interest in MD and its traits [7]. https://www.academia.edu/45378994/biomedicines_Mediterranean_Diet_as_a_Tool_to_Combat_Inflammation_and_Chronic_Diseases_An_Overview?email_work_card=view-paper food choices can fight inflammation and chronic disease Bottom Line: This is a 2020 paper and since then literally hundreds of papers on the MD have emerged showing how the food plan lowers inflammation and the risk for developing multiple chronic illnesses. Even still, lots of research needs to be done to elucidate the many mechanisms of how food impacts our system and how to optimally individualize dietary recommendations. At this point, our best strategy to prevent and/or recover from any chronic condition is to eat as clean and natural as possible. It has become rather obvious that the further away from a natural diet we get, the sicker we become. On top of that, I have yet to see a full recovery from any health issue without the foundation of a predominantly plant-based, unprocessed, whole foods approach…which is why I keep posting about this subject. All the best to you and yours!
By Mark Smith March 16, 2026
New Title
By Mark Smith March 2, 2026
New Title
By Mark Smith February 23, 2026
New Title
By Mark Smith February 22, 2026
New Title
By Mark Smith February 16, 2026
New Title
By Mark Smith February 2, 2026
New Title
By Mark Smith January 26, 2026
New Title
By Mark Smith January 19, 2026
New Title
More Posts