It was a typical Sunday evening, and I was sitting on the couch after cleaning up dinner, rubbing my aching knees, which always seemed to flare up after being on my feet all day. My mom was across the room, wincing as she stretched her hands. “These fingers of mine just don’t work like they used to,” she muttered, trying to twist the cap off her water bottle.

My dad wasn’t any better. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his face tightening with every slight movement. “This back of mine,” he groaned, half-joking but unable to hide the pain.

And then my youngest son caught my eye. He was hunched over his homework at the kitchen table, his head in his hands. “I can’t focus, Mom,” he said, his voice filled with frustration. “I just feel… tired.”

My heart sank.

This wasn’t just about me anymore. My mom struggling to open a bottle, my dad wincing from his back pain, and now my 10-year-old son—my vibrant, energetic boy—was too wiped out to finish his homework.

I thought back to how things used to be. My mom, who could sew and bake for hours, now avoided even simple tasks because of her hands. My dad, once the guy who could fix anything around the house, had stopped helping with projects altogether. And me? I used to pride myself on juggling work, the kids, and keeping the house running, but now, even simple chores felt like a marathon.

But seeing my son slump in his chair, his bright energy dulled by constant fatigue, was the final straw. How was this happening to him? He’s just a kid.

For months, I’d brushed off my own symptoms as just “getting older.”. But now, seeing these patterns in my family—the constant exhaustion, the discomfort that lingered day after day—it felt like something bigger was at play.

I brought it up at my next doctor’s appointment, desperate for some kind of explanation.

“It sounds like chronic inflammation,” she said after listening carefully. “It’s more common than most people realize, and it often creeps up on us without warning.”

“What causes it?” I asked, feeling both worry and relief at having a possible explanation.

“Well,” she said, “a major factor is diet. The typical North American diet—high in processed foods, refined sugars, and low in nutrients—is a big contributor. These foods create oxidative stress in the body, which fuels inflammation.”

I felt a pang of guilt. In our busy households, quick and convenient meals had become the norm. Frozen dinners, takeout, sugary snacks—they were easy, but clearly not harmless.

She continued, “Your family’s symptoms—joint pain, fatigue, difficulty concentrating—are all signs that oxidative stress and inflammation are taking a toll.”

“So, what can I do to stop it?” I asked.

“Start small,” she advised. “Making drastic changes overnight can be overwhelming, especially with kids and aging parents. Begin by introducing antioxidant-rich foods and beverages into your family’s diet. Reducing oxidative stress is the first step to combating chronic inflammation.”

Hearing her words gave me a glimmer of hope. The idea that our shared struggles had a root cause—and that we could fight back together—was empowering.

But it also left me wondering: How do you start making small changes for better health that everyone can embrace?