I tried an anti-inflammatory diet for a week. This is what I learned

Chronic inflammation is associated with, though not necessarily the cause of, many major chronic diseases … Illustration: Rita Liu/The Guardian

Inflammation is a familiar health concept, but it can be hard to understand how it connects to what we eat.

Eating to avoid inflammation isn’t a strict “diet” – it’s simply about eating healthy, in a Mediterranean style that emphasizes whole grains, vegetables and heart-healthy fats, says Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic who specializes in disease prevention and management. “It’s just replacing processed foods with whole foods,” she says.