"Inflammo" is a Latin word that means "to set on fire". Have you been feeling like you're on fire lately? No, I don't mean the good kind of fire - I mean inflammations.

An inflammation is actually a good thing. Basically, it is your body's natural defense mechanism against infections and traumas. The real problem comes when your immune system starts to overdo it, and too much inflammation occurs. Inflammations gone wild can slowly destroy a person's organs and different functional abilities. They have been found to be the root causes of deadly conditions like heart disease, dementia, diabetes, and cancer. These chronic inflammations can also be caused by low physical activity, a poor diet, and the stress of everyday life.

So how exactly do you prevent this from happening? Usually people resort to prescription drugs such as ibuprofen or advil. Unfortunately, these drugs can have serious and dangerous side effects. The answer to a chronic inflammation-free life is a healthy lifestyle. This includes exercising regularly, getting all your needed rest and relaxation, and of course, eating healthy. This includes the consumption of anti inflammatory fruits.

For you to have a well-balanced diet that helps fight against inflammation, you need to keep eating real food. This means fresh, unprocessed, natural food that isn't full of additives, preservatives, artificial ingredients, sugar, and trans fats. The main food categories that health experts usually list to help inflammation are omega 3 fatty acids, herbs, vegetables, and anti inflammatory fruits. From now on, start eating a lot of oily fish like salmon and tuna. These contain omega 3 fatty acids, which have been found to have powerful anti inflammatory properties. Nuts, seeds, and olive oil also contain omega 3.

• Fill your meals with herbs. There are many herbs that help against inflammations. Some of these are basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, ginger, and turmeric.

• Stop drinking soda and make green tea your regular beverage. Other healthy drinks would be fruit juices such as apple and pomegranate juice.

• Your parents were right when they told you to eat your veggies. Start piling vegetables like broccoli, carrots, radishes, kale, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, beets, and sea vegetables on your plate. Remember not to overcook or fry them. It's best to cook them slowly or eat them raw, lightly simmered, or steamed.

• And then of course, there are the anti inflammatory fruits. There are many varieties of fruits that you can eat that contain anti inflammatory properties. However, all the darker, more vividly colored fruits are somehow the ones packed with the antioxidants and phytochemicals needed to combat chronic inflammations. Also, the best fruits to eat are those with the least amount of natural sugar. The following are the usual recommended anti inflammatory fruits by health experts: Blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, apples, cherries, citrus fruits, papayas, pineapples, plums, grapes, and pears.

It is recommended for you to have at least 5-10 servings of combined fruits and vegetables every day. A lifetime of healthy eating with all these anti inflammatory fruits and vegetables in your diet will surely prevent you from having serious health issues.

So what are you waiting for? Start changing your lifestyle right now and throw away that bag of chips on your lap. Anti inflammatory fruits, omega 3 fats, and antioxidant veggies are the way to go.