“What we’re talking about is systemic, low-grade inflammation where the body’s barometer for this inflammatory response is turned up just modestly. This contributes to a whole host of diseases. Diseases of chronic inflammation that range from type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease with heart disease and stroke, neurodegenerative disease, fatty liver– which is now epidemic in our society– as well as autoimmune disease. So, now these diseases which are non-communicable– you can’t catch them– they are the leading cause of death on our planet right now and they’re being driven by chronic, systemic low-grade inflammation” – Dr. Leonard Calabrese Dr. Leonard Calabrese, is a rheumatologist, immunologist, and doctor of osteopathic medicine. He is the head of Cleveland Clinic’s Section of Clinical Immunology and manages the Clinical Immunology Clinic. After graduating from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Dr. Calabrese completed his internal medical training at Cleveland Clinic, followed by a fellowship in rheumatic and immunologic disease. Over the course of his career, Dr. Calabrese has authored more than 300 publications and become an internationally recognized HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C researcher. He is also passionate about utilizing lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, sleep and stress management to reduce inflammation, control disease, and bolster immunologic function. Based on growing scientific evidence that environment and behavior play a large role in immune function and gene expression, Dr. Calabrese is leading the charge in educating physicians and empowering patients so that they can feel confident in using wellness behaviors to help strengthen their immune function and improve their overall health and happiness. Dr. Calabrese and I recently sat down to chat about the basics of the immune system and what practices we can implement in our day-to-day lives to reduce inflammation and lower our risk of chronic disease. In this episode we discuss: Dr. Calabrese’s medical background and what drew him to immunology How the field of immunology has changed over the years The role of our immune system: how it interacts with our body and our environment How the immune system can become overactive What inflammation is, and what causes contributes to it What we can do to reduce our inflammation Diet, intestinal permeability and their effect on the immune system The role of diet, exercise, sleep and stress on the immune system Social genomics and how we can influence which genes express themselves Dr. Calabrese’s thoughts on the impact of gratitude practice Habits that Dr. Calabrese implements in his own life to manage stress, diet, exercise and sleep Dr. Calabrese’s vision for the Immune Strength program and how he hopes to help patients on a broader scale Three things Dr. Calabrese does on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on his health One thing he struggles to implement that could have a big impact on his health What a healthy life looks like to Dr. Calabrese You can follow Dr. Calabrese on Twitter and via his CME courses. Links: How Your Immune System is Affected by Diet, Stress and Exercise with Dr. Leonard Calabrese National Institutes of Health Nurses’ Health Study The Institute for Functional Medicine Interview with Dr. Alessio Fasano Our health is on your plate, Dr. Roxanne Sukol Why Sleep Is Important for Health: A Psychoneuroimmunology Perspective, Dr. Michael R. Irwin Effects of Sleep and Sleep Deprivation on Interleukin-6, Growth Hormone, Cortisol, and Melatonin Levels in Humans UCLA Norman Cousins Center for Pyschoneuroimmunology Human Social Genomics Stress Free Now 10% Happier, Dan Harris Headspace The VB6 Diet, Mark Bittman Pacer Go! To Sleep The Role of Gratitude in Spiritual Well-Being in Asymptomatic Heart Failure Patients Healio Rheumatology Related episodes: Ep 22 – Brigid Titgemeir on Functional Nutrition Ep 42 – Against All Grain’s Dani