What's Inflammation?

"Inflammation has been implicated in allergies, arthritis,
even heart disease. But inflammation is both positive and negative.
On the positive side, inflammation is your immune system's natural
response to infection or injury. Here's an example: When the area
around a bee sting becomes red, swollen, and painful, it's because
white blood cells inside the body are converging on the site, releasing
chemicals to help your body get rid of the bee's toxin.
On the negative side, inflammation can be harmful. In rheumatoid
arthritis, for example, which leads to inflammation in your joints,
the body's white blood cells mistake joint tissues for infectious
invaders."

-Healthy Living Magazine, Fall 2011