2019-08-01_Mindful

By Sara Altshul

Inflammation. Since the

early 1990s, when

researchers began con-

necting the dots between

a plethora of chronic

illnesses and a previously

unrecognized form of

inflammation—properly

called “metainflamma-

tion”—it’s been identified

as a glaring health concern,

a subcategory of wellness

unto itself, about which

headlines are made and

books are written.

Since then, doctors and

healers of all stripes have

advised countless (often

questionable) treatments

to fight inflammation, from

diet changes and exercise to

drugs, herbs, and supple-

Cooling the Flames of Inflammation

Complex and far-reaching, inflammation has been identified as the “slow burn” that fuels

disease. And meditation may be one key to putting out the flame.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Altshul is an

award-winning journalist

who has covered natural

and alternative healing

for over 20 years. Her

articles have appeared

in magazines including

Prevention, AARP,

Arthritis Today, and

Health. She is the author

of Kitchen Cabinet Cures.

ments. Clearly inflamma-

tion is a battle we have yet

to win.

Yet in this still-new ter-

rain, researchers have also

sussed out a possible com-

mon denominator in this

complex condition: stress.

And meditation is showing

promise as an accessible and

effective way to combat it. →

20 mindful August 2019

mindful health

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