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Inflammation-Busting Foods: A Review by Nutrition Professionals

Expert opinion from Carl Bender

Master of Science: Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition · 6 years of experience · USA

I would consider alfalfa to have some anti-inflammatory properties because it contains beneficial minerals and also chlorophyll. However, I wouldn't add it to your diet unless you like the taste of it. There are plenty of other foods with anti-inflammatory properties that are much more common. Some of these would be berries, salmon, broccoli, avocado, green tea, and there are so many more. Yes, alfalfa does have some anti-inflammatory properties and could potentially benefit your health.

Expert opinion from Iyanuoluwa Oyetunji

Dermatologist's insight on shower frequency without harming skin

Some take a shower every morning and evening, while others only have water procedures a few times a week. It's worth knowing how often to shower to prevent dryness, itching, and skin irritation, according to the Express website.

What will happen if you shower frequently?

Dermatologist Jenny Liu mentions that many believe frequent washing, especially with soap or gel, can strip the skin's protective layer, leading to dryness, irritation, and itching.

However, she notes that daily showers or baths are very beneficial for the skin. This is recommended for people with dry or eczema-prone skin.

Soaking in a bath also helps moisturize the outer layer and improves exfoliation.

Many people, for various reasons, are accustomed to showering daily. Some enjoy the feeling of freshness and cleanliness after a shower, while others consider it a way to wake up or relax after a tough day at work.

Best ways to cleanse the skin

A daily shower or bath without using a moisturizer can damage the skin, especially if you aggressively cleanse and use harsh soap.

The dermatologist advises the following way of cleansing the skin:

Limit water contact to less than 15-20 minutes.

Use comfortably warm water, not too hot or too cold.

Apply moisturizer to damp skin immediately after showering or bathing to help retain moisture in the outer layer and prevent additional water loss.

Cold water

Naturopath Dr. Janine Bowring recommends finishing showers with cold water.

She explains that cold helps our leptin receptors, and addressing leptin resistance is necessary to balance hormones.

Washing the hair is recommended every 2-3 days, with oily hair possibly requiring more frequent washing and dry hair less often.

Earlier, we reported on four reasons why taking hot showers in winter might not be advisable.

We also covered five body parts that everyone tends to under-wash. 

Meat is crucial for human health, scientists warn

Meat is crucial for human health, scientists have warned, as they called for an end to the “zealotry” pushing vegetarian and vegan diets.

Dozens of experts were asked to look into the science behind claims that meat eating causes disease and is harmful for the planet in a special issue of Animal Frontiers.

They warned that it is difficult to replace the nutritional content of meat, arguing that poorer communities with low meat intake often suffer from stunting, wasting and anaemia driven by a lack of vital nutrients and protein.

In recent years, there has been a widespread societal push towards plant-based diets, with schemes such as Veganuary and meat-free Mondays encouraging the public away from meat.

The major Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factor Study, published in The Lancet in 2020, also suggested that a diet high in red meat was responsible for 896,000 deaths worldwide, and was the fifth leading dietary risk factor.

But researchers argue that unprocessed meat delivers most of the vitamin B12 intake in human diets, plays a major role in supplying retinol, omega-3 fatty acids and minerals such as iron and zinc, as well as important compounds for metabolism, such as taurine and creatine.

‘Fatally scientifically flawed’

In one paper published in the issue, experts found no good evidence to support red meat being dangerous below intakes of 75g per day, and argued that the link between red meat and disease vanished when part of a healthy diet, suggesting it was the rest of the diet that was fuelling health problems.

Dr Alice Stanton, of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, one of the authors of the review, said: “The peer-reviewed evidence published reaffirms that [the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Risk Factors Report] which claimed that consumption of even tiny amounts of red meat harms health is fatally scientifically flawed.

“In fact, removing fresh meat and dairy from diets would harm human health. Women, children, the elderly and low income would be particularly negatively impacted.”

The NHS also advises that red meat – such as beef, lamb and pork – is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals and can form part of a balanced diet, although it warns that eating more than 90g per day can raise the risk of bowel cancer.