{"id":13714,"date":"2026-06-25T10:49:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T09:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.caixaresearch.org\/?p=13714"},"modified":"2026-06-25T10:51:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T09:51:45","slug":"the-age-of-inflammation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.caixaresearch.org\/en\/the-age-of-inflammation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Age of Inflammation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Lemon water; ginger, turmeric and cinnamon \u2018shots\u2019; a Mediterranean diet with matcha tea and kombucha; sleep routines and daily exercise; intermittent fasting; ice baths; even <\/span>red light devices<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>walking barefoot<\/span><\/a> to reconnect with the earth.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are just a few from the long list of anti-inflammatory strategies that seems to be growing by the day. They promise to ward off not only <\/span>cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer<\/b> but also more everyday complaints such as <\/span>tiredness, stress and general malaise<\/b>. In recent years, inflammation has moved outside the laboratory to take its place in public discourse as one of the most recurring \u2013 and perhaps most promising \u2013 concepts in the health debate.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what do we really know about inflammation? And, above all, what does it actually mean to say that something is \u2018anti-inflammatory\u2019? What scientific evidence supports these techniques? We spoke to <\/span>Manuela Ferreira<\/span><\/a>, a researcher specialising in the impact of diet on the immune system, to understand the current state of scientific research, the myths that are circulating, and how this concept is <\/span>transforming both research and society\u2019s perception of health<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A historical definition<\/b><\/h4>\n

The word \u2018inflammation\u2019 comes from the Latin verb <\/span>inflammare<\/span><\/i>, meaning \u2018to set alight\u2019. \u201cThe word itself is highly illustrative\u201d explains Manuela Ferreira, \u201csince inflammation usually manifests as <\/span>heat, redness, swelling and pain<\/b>, almost as if the tissue were on fire\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But, beyond its symptoms, inflammation is essentially a defensive response. \u201cIt’s triggered when the body detects a threat: an infection, an injury or the presence of cells that need to be controlled or eliminated by the immune system\u201d notes Ferreira.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Manuela Ferreira<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

There are two types of response depending on the duration: <\/span>acute inflammation and chronic inflammation<\/b>. \u201cThe former is a rapid, self-limiting response\u201d explains Ferreira. It’s caused by wounds, mouth ulcers, infections, etc. \u201cIt appears within minutes or hours of the danger being detected and, once the problem is resolved, gradually subsides\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChronic inflammation is different\u201d points out Ferreira. \u201cIn some cases it can be <\/span>almost silent<\/b>, as is the case in certain metabolic conditions (such as obesity or diabetes) or cardiovascular disorders, when there’s a persistent, low-intensity state that can persist for years without any obvious symptoms being manifested but which, over time, ends up damaging tissues and causing disease. In other situations, however, chronic inflammation is highly symptomatic and clearly affects everyday life, as is the case with inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn\u2019s disease and ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, in some contexts chronic inflammation can also promote the development or progression of certain types of cancer”.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In a contemporary context<\/b><\/h4>\n

Nutrition is probably one of the fields where the concept of \u2018inflammation\u2019 has gained most traction, albeit not always accompanied by advances in our biological understanding of it. This is logical, since diet is one of the most direct ways in which the environment interacts with our biology and influences our health.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cScurvy is a clear example of this phenomenon\u201d explains Ferreira. \u201cIn the past, during maritime expeditions, sailors would develop this serious disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. However, although it had already been observed that citrus fruits could prevent and treat scurvy, this nutritional explanation was ignored for centuries\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rather than asking whether certain foods directly \u2018cause inflammation\u2019 or \u2018reduce inflammation\u2019, current research is focusing on a more complex question. In their laboratory, Ferreira\u2019s team is studying a specific aspect of this process, namely <\/span>the role played by nutrients in the development of the gut\u2019s defences during childhood<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sample of intestinal tissue preserved in a test tube.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Specifically, we’ve observed how these cells need to \u2018read\u2019 signals derived from vitamin A, such as retinoic acid, in order to develop correctly and perform their function\u201d, she explains. \u201cIf these signals are not detected, the immune cells fail to establish themselves properly in the gut and, as a result, this tissue may be less able to control infections efficiently\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

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On everyone\u2019s lips<\/b><\/h4>\n

According to Ferreira, there are two complementary reasons for this rise in popularity of the term ‘inflammation’: on the one hand, the growth in scientific understanding of <\/span>the importance of immunology in the body <\/b>and, on the other, <\/span>the power of inflammation as a popular concept<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s a process of great biological importance. However, there’s a risk that the word becomes so useful that it starts to be used as a catch-all term for any ailment or imbalance\u201d she warns. \u201cAnd subsequently as something that seems to have a quick or even commercial solution\u201d. This oversimplification gives rise to some of the most widespread myths in the field:<\/span><\/p>\n