Inflammation, Part 2: Anti-Inflammatory Foods, Better Sleep, and Smart NSAID Use

Inflammation isn’t just “swelling” it’s a powerful biological process that can protect you in the short term, or quietly hurt you over years when it becomes chronic.

In Part 2 of our inflammation series, Dr. Caleb Davis and Nicole get practical: what to eat, what to avoid, how sleep and stress hormones tie into inflammation, and how common pain meds (NSAIDs) actually work — including when they help and when they can cause real harm.

In this episode, we cover:

Anti-inflammatory foods: omega-3s (fish, flax, walnuts), whole fruits & veggies, and why juice ≠ fruit

Curcumin/turmeric: what it is, why dosing matters, and why food alone often isn’t enough

The “best diet” principle: the diet that works is the one you can consistently follow

Lifestyle drivers of inflammation: smoking, vaping, and the downstream effects on blood vessels and cancer risk

Sleep and inflammation: CRP, IL-6, cortisol, and why sleep deprivation increases injury risk

Practical sleep fixes: consistency, bedroom environment, screens, and blue-light strategies

NSAIDs explained: COX-1/COX-2, prostaglandins, and how ibuprofen/naproxen/aspirin differ from Tylenol

Side effects that matter: stomach bleeding/ulcers, kidney risk, platelet effects, and why “no free lunch” applies to meds

Alcohol: the nuance between minimal use vs heavy use and inflammation