About 29% of U.S. adults have undiagnosed chronic inflammation (another 125 million live with some form of chronic inflammatory disease). That's a lot of hot spots, not to mention cases of autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, dementia, and certain cancers.

That's why it is so important to recognize the (often subtle) signs of chronic inflammation, and take steps to tamp it down straightaway.

The Cleveland Clinic says that if you're contending with the following issues, you need to have your doctor do a blood test for inflammation markers, examine you, and help you banish any inflammatory diseases you may have:

• Weight gain (that makes highly specific and nonspecific inflammation markers go up)

• Frequent infections (chronic inflammation weakens the immune system)

• Fatigue and insomnia (sleeplessness is associated with inflammatory factors)

• Depression and/or anxiety (antidepressants can tamp down inflammation)

• Body pain (localized or general)

• Constipation, diarrhea, and acid reflux (which are associated with inflammatory bowel disease)

You can help tamp down the inflammation yourself if you lose weight, eliminate unhealthy fats and processed foods, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, enjoy fatty fish multiple times a week, drink black coffee and/or black and green teas (they reduce CRP), and get plenty of exercise (it clears inflammatory substances from the body).

For more on how to tamp down inflammation and improve management of related conditions, read "The Great Age Reboot."

And for amazing recipes that fire up flavor while they cool inflammation, there's my "What to Eat When Cookbook."