There are some buzz words you probably hear so often that you end up tuning out when they come up.
I’m going to guess that “inflammation” is likely one of those words.
Not only is it bit of a buzz word, it’s also a bit ambiguous if you aren’t really familiar with it. This is why marketers use it a lot!
Inflammation is part of your body’s immune response and occurs when your body tries to heal damaged cells and fight off irritants and pathogens.
Your arteries dilate, blood flow increases and white blood cells, hormones and nutrients flow freely. The injured area is swarmed by white blood cells, along with fluid that causes the often-painful swelling.
It can be uncomfortable but it’s usually a good sign that your body is working to heal itself. We live in a society that see all inflammation as a bad thing.
Remember this though…you can have inflammation without healing but you can’t have healing without inflammation.
For example, if you injure your toe, it gets red, swollen and inflamed. If you get a bee sting, you experience inflammation in your skin. If you have a cold, you experience inflammation as your body heats up to fight the infection.
But there are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute is what happens when you have a sudden injury, as in the examples above.
Chronic inflammation, however, occurs when the body thinks there is an internal threat, that doesn’t really need an inflammatory response. Then the swarming white blood cells have nowhere to go and sometimes attack other organs or tissues.
Just like that bee sting, inflammation is your body’s response to stress, whether that stress comes from your environment, diet or lifestyle. Chronic inflammation occurs when your body or environment get, and stay, out of balance in some way.
If you are under constant stress, emotional or physical, it raises your cortisol levels, which creates a cascade of events in your body. Increased cortisol is how your body prepares for fight-or-flight; it inhibits some body functions, like insulin production and increases other body functions like the heart rate.
Some of the possible results of long-term stress due to increased cortisol levels and inflammation include: suppression of your immune system; digestion problems; heart problems; obesity; and fertility problems. Chronic inflammation may also cause diseases such as endometriosis, allergies, asthma or even cancer.
Many people who suffer from chronic inflammation are not careful with their diet or lifestyle. If you eat too much fat, sugar, protein, drink too much soda or caffeine, and don’t get enough exercise, sleep, and water, it can cause all kinds of inflammation problems.
If you have chronic inflammation, you may experience symptoms like these:
● Acid reflux
● Skin conditions like psoriasis or acne
● Arthritis
● Bronchitis
● Diabetes
● High blood pressure
● Signs of aging, like wrinkles
● Frequent illness due to colds and flu
● Chronic pain
● Urinary tract infections
● Fatigue
● Mouth sores
● Chest or abdominal pain
● Rashes
● Joint pain
How do you prevent chronic inflammation?
Some things you can’t control but some things you can. It’s all about the choices you make, every day. Here are a few things you can do to give your body a fighting chance to avoid chronic inflammation and the resulting problems:
Watch what you eat. Don’t overeat, especially sugars, fats, proteins and caffeine. Eat more “real foods”. In fact, as a general rule the fewer ingredients in your food, the better. The best thing is one ingredient: carrots; celery; apples; etc.
Figure out if you have some food sensitivities. Many people suffer from inflammation due to a sensitivity to wheat products (bread, pasta, etc.). Cut down on them drastically – or even cut them out completely. If you did have a sensitivity to these foods, reducing or eliminating them can mean you’ll likely have less joint pain and more energy as well as clearer skin. This isn’t to say these foods are bad, or that carbs make you fat (they don’t!) but if they’re not right for your body then look to reduce your intake.
Floss your teeth. Just like your dentist tells you to. Gingivitis is a form of inflammation, and can actually contribute to inflammation in the heart and blood vessels; not a good thing.
Get more sleep. Your body needs this time to repair and restore. It’s when your body “takes out the trash”. It’s such a simple and FREE thing to do with so many benefits.
Watch your substance use. Smoking, recreational drugs and excessive alcohol will definitely harm your health. If you over-indulge when you’re stressed, you’re not just calming yourself down, you’re putting extra stress on your body.
Lose weight. Obesity actually creates more inflammation, which in turn, makes it harder to lose weight. Reduce inflammation in other ways and it will be easier to lose weight.
Reduce stress in your life. Yes, easier said than done. Do meditation, yoga, and daily exercise, and develop stress-coping strategies.
I know this seems like a tall order. Many people don’t even know they suffer from chronic inflammation. So I’d really like to speak with you about the changes you can make easily, right away, that will help you feel better and have more energy.
Please contact me here and we’ll schedule a time to talk!
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