Want To Reduce Your Inflammation? Study Says Take An Active Commute To Work

We all need a little inflammation for our immune systems to work and help us heal, but when it comes to chronic inflammation, it can have disastrous consequences on our health and well-being.

For this study, researchers wanted to better understand the associations between commuting habits (i.e., driving, taking the bus, biking, walking, etc.) and inflammation.

They analyzed existing research from the FINRISK study, a large Finnish population survey, which included over 6,000 middle-aged working adults across a number of years.

Through their analysis of cross-sectional data, they saw that adults who walked or biked at least 45 minutes a day for their commute showed lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) than those who didn't have active commutes.

If you've never heard of it, CRP is an inflammatory protein produced primarily by the liver, and it's one of the strongest markers of inflammation in the body. CRP is strongly associated with a host of autoimmune diseases1, as well as brain inflammation2, cancer3, chronic fatigue4, and even depression5.

As the study's lead author Sara Allaouat, MPH, notes in a news release, the team's findings indicate that regular active commuting may reduce inflammation among adults.

And not only that, but Allaouat adds that an active commute is better for the planet too. "Promoting walking and cycling to work can lead to population-level health benefits as well as reduced emissions from motorized traffic," she explains. Talk about a win-win!

It is worth noting, however, that since this study is a reflection of the Finnish population, there's no guarantee these findings would translate to other countries. However, given that there's plenty of additional evidence to back up physical exercise for combating inflammation, taking an active commute to work is a great place to start.

But of course, fear not if you don't live close enough to your office for an active commute. There are plenty of other lifestyle habits that could help reduce inflammation, like staying adequately hydrated, limiting refined sugar, and leaning on powerful anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric.