Inflammation is a complicated topic. Short-term inflammation plays an essential role in fighting infections and healing injuries. But too much inflammation can be a catalyst for chronic ailments, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and obesity.What we eat can influence our inflammatory responses and contribute to chronic, low-grade inflammation.In today’s episode, Prof. Philip Calder helps us understand the science behind inflammation, how it impacts our health and what food has to do with it.Philip is head of the School of Human Development and Health, as well as a Professor of Nutritional Immunology, in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. He’s also an internationally recognised researcher on the metabolism and functionality of fatty acids. His work focuses on the roles of omega-3 fatty acids and the influence of diet and nutrients on immune and inflammatory responses. If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to zoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your membership.Follow ZOE on Instagram.Timecodes00:00 Introduction01:20 Quickfire questions02:55 The role of inflammation in immunity05:30 Chronic inflammation and disease08:30 How to measure inflammation09:53 Low-grade inflammation and disease risk12:30 What causes blood vessel inflammation?15:23 What creates the narrowing of blood vessels?17:20 How inflammation can cause blood clots, heart attacks and strokes19:15 Inflammation and aging21:40 Inflammation and lifestyle factors25:07 Obesity and inflammation28:45 Muscle loss and inflammation (sarcopenia)30:52 The impact of meals, sugar and fats on inflammation33:35 How diet could reduce inflammation34:42 Why we all respond to food differently38:42 Dietary choices to manage inflammation40:00 What are omega-3s?41:17 Anti-inflammatory foods43:40 Health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids45:55 Challenges with farmed salmonMentioned in today's episode:Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory processes: Nutrition or pharmacology? in the British Journal of Clinical PharmacologyOmega-6 fatty acids and inflammation in PLEFAOmega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes in Nutrients Another relevant study:Health relevance of the modification of low-grade inflammation in ageing and the role of nutrition in Ageing Research ReviewsIs there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it. Episode transcripts are available here.