1. Stop smoking. Smoking hardens the arteries and increases inflammation. Research shows you can reverse all the damaging effects to your arteries within 10 years of quitting.

2. Think olive oil, fish, and nuts. People who stick with a Mediterranean-style diet based on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil can lower their levels of inflammation. It works by increasing omega-3 fats to fight inflammation.

3. Get active. Exercise is a great way to lower inflammation without any of the side effects. Shrink your waist size. If you’re a woman with a waist of over 35” or a man with a waist of over 40”, you probably have high inflammation.

4. Get enough sleep. A new study shows that elderly people with high blood pressure who sleep less than 7.5 hours a night have dramatically elevated chances of having a stroke or heart attack.

5. Reduce stress. High levels of stress hormones can lead to the release of excess inflammatory chemicals.

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