A Silent Fire: The Story of Inflammation, Diet and Disease

A radical new vision of human health and illness revealing the hidden but most significant cause of death in the world today Inflammation has traditionally been thought of as the body's response to injury and foreign microbes. But as the threats we face have evolved, what if it were now the root cause of modern disease? New science has revealed low-level, smoldering inflammation, simmering quietly and undetected, behind everything from heart disease and cancer to mysterious autoimmune conditions. Hidden inflammation even weakens our immunity, increasing the likelihood that our immune system will mount an overwhelming, inappropriate attack against infections such as COVID-19. In this beautifully written story of scientific discovery by a doctor at the forefront of this field, A Silent Fire brings together the science of immunology, nutrition and the microbiome to explain what we know of this elusive phenomenon. With fascinating case studies, Ravella debunks common myths about 'anti-inflammatory' lifestyles - adding or eliminating any one food, for example, is not a cure-all - and reveals how we can live not only long, but well.