INFLAMMATION & WAYS TO REDUCE IT NATURALLY

What is inflammation? 
When your body encounters a foreign invader such as viruses or chemicals, or suffers an injury, it activates your immune system to send out its first responders: inflammatory cells and cytokines.
Sometimes this is to heal an injured tissue, and can be seen visibly, other times, inflammation affects body systems that are not visible to the eye.
Chronic inflammation is when your body continues to send inflammatory cells -- even when there is no outside danger. Auto-immune disorders and exposure to toxins are the most common reasons for chronic inflammation, however, various lifestyle factors such as drinking alcohol in excess, eating too much of certain foods, smoking and having a high body mass index also play a key role and contribute to inflammation in the body. 
The good news is that developing a healthy lifestyle and adopting healthy habits can make a difference! Doctors now encourage following an anti-inflammatory diet to reduce inflammation in the body, and we are happy to let you know that your favorite Sunny Fruit snacks can also play a part!

How Dried Fruits Lower Inflammation
Fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, apples, figs and leafy greens are high in natural antioxidants and polyphenols — a protective anti-inflammatory compound found in plants.
Studies state that dried fruit, raisins and figs in particular, reduce levels of an inflammatory marker called cytokines when combined with other healthy lifestyle habits such as exercise. Figs, packed with phytochemicals, a bioactive compound that is known to have anti-inflammatory effects, are also key to reducing inflammation. Particularly due to high levels of flavonoid, called luteolin, figs have very specific anti-inflammatory actions in the body. With strong antioxidant capabilities luteolin is very effective at neutralizing free radicals, working to ease existing inflammation and to prevent free radicals from triggering new inflammation.

What else can we do?