Diet, Inflammation, and Health is written by world leaders in inflammation, diet, and health who have been guided by a wide expanse of the most rigorous and up-to-date scientific literature. The book traces the evolutionary journey of our inflammatory and immune response systems from the ancient history of our planet up to now. The ability to mount a quick and appropriately aggressive immune response is necessary to maintain optimal health. By contrast, chronic low-grace, systemic inflammation and tissue-specific, "simmering" inflammation increases the risk of virtually all chronic diseases and disability. Diet is the most important modulator of inflammatory response, with plant-based diets improving response and an ultra-processed meat-based "Westernized" diet decreasing responsiveness. This book chronicles the causes and mechanisms that link a pro-inflammatory diet to a wide variety of human ailments including the "itises;" metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular disease; cancer; mental health and stress; conditions related to aging; and maternal and child health. This book also addresses important moderators of the diet-inflammation association including physical activity; the microbiome-health link; and chrononutrition and circadian disruption. Finally, the book describes anti-inflammatory diets and follows the long arc of history to define where the field might go in the future. Researchers and allied health care professionals working in dietetics and medicine, as well as students studying related fields, will benefit from this reference. Key features Inflammation and related immune responses are a universal feature of life - necessary to prevent disease and damage and optimize health. A warming climate, and industrialization have increased the inflammatory potential of our food. The increasingly pro-inflammatory properties of our diet over the past 50 years is driving inflammation and increasing incidence of chronic disease. There is a symbiotic relationship between diet, the microbiome, inflammation, and health;and modern technology and smart thinking has allowed us to delineate the molecular underpinnings of this relationship. Book jacket.