Reducing Inflammation Naturally

Bottom Line:

Reducing inflammation starts on your plate. Yes, that's right! The choices you make about what you eat can play a huge role in your body’s hormone balance, immune response and inflammatory state. Each meal is an opportunity to turn up, or turn down, inflammation. And with inflammation leading to pain and even chronic disease, it's best to make good decisions now to reduce your risk of health challenges in the future.

Why it Matters:

Creating an anti-inflammatory diet doesn't mean you need to make massive changes. As a matter of fact, some simple additions in terms of spices can make a big difference. Adding flavorful spices like turmeric, ginger, and even leafy green vegetables, can improve the health and taste of your next meal.

•        Tumeric has been shown to reduce inflammation in people suffering from painful arthritis.

•        Ginger can limit the production of inflammatory mediators like cytokines.

•        Leafy green vegetables are high in antioxidants.

Next Steps:

Next time you're getting ready to cook a meal, look for an opportunity to add some anti-inflammatory spices. If you aren't into food that's spicy, don't worry! Spices like turmeric and ginger add more flavor than heat. One final tip is to reduce carbohydrates like bread and increase the amount of green vegetables. These small changes to your meals and diet can pay substantial health dividends down the road!

Science Source(s):

Which herbs help reduce inflammation? Medical News Today. 2019.

The Link Between Chronic Disease and Inflammation

Bottom Line:

Studies have shown that chronic inflammation is directly linked to many of the most common chronic diseases we encounter in our lives. Over 60% of people are affected with at least one condition associated with chronic inflammation. The number of people with heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer continues to soar as a result of the stress and dysfunction caused by chronic inflammation.

Why it Matters:

The process of chronic inflammation begins with your body doing the right thing. Hormones are released due to injury, stress or your diet which causes your immune system to react. If the injury doesn't heal, the stress doesn't end or the diet doesn't change, this normally healthy process can turn into chronic inflammation and disease. If your immune system doesn't "turn off," a vicious cycle of tissue damage can lead to long term inflammation & future health issues.

•        Chronic inflammation results in an imbalanced immune response, which can lead to chronic disease.

•        When inflammatory mediators are overproduced, it can lead to tissue damage.

•        Taking a pro-active approach to your health now can lower your risk for developing chronic disease later.

Next Steps:

A few of the most common risk factors associated with chronic inflammation include age, obesity, diet, smoking, hormone imbalances and sleep disorders. While age is something you can't control, nearly all the other risk factors can be altered with your daily habits. Be sure to attend our upcoming workshop - Don't Burn Out: The Truth About Inflammation - to get practical tips on how to reduce or eliminate chronic inflammation!

Science Source(s):

Chronic Inflammation. StatPearls. Pubmed. 2018.

Inflammation and Your Health

Bottom Line:

Researchers have identified inflammation as one of the most beneficial and harmful processes in your body. How is that possible? Well, acute inflammation is your body’s natural repair and healing response to an accident or injury. However, chronic inflammation is a different matter. Many major diseases, including coronary artery disease, diabetes, and cancer, have a common cause: chronic inflammation. 

Why it Matters:

All the systems in your body are balanced and regulated by your hormones and nervous system. This balance, or intelligent design, can activate your immune system to fight a cold or heal after a fall.  However, if your lymphocytes keep producing antibodies, then this process can become very destructive. The key to good health and to reducing chronic inflammation is to make daily lifestyle choices that don't result in a constant state of stress, which is known to be a trigger for chronic inflammation.

•        Acute inflammation is your body’s natural healing process, while chronic inflammation is a destructive process linked to many chronic diseases.

•        Lymphocytes are white blood cells responsible for your immune system.

•        Making healthy decisions each day around your stress level can help your nervous system maintain a balance that reduces chronic inflammation.

Next Steps:

The decisions you make now will determine your health later. Your body is designed to manage stress effectively; chronic inflammation only begins as the last resort. We want you to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and a high quality of life for decades to come. If you have questions about how you can reduce the stress in your life, ask! We are here to be your partners in health!

Science Source(s):

Inflammation: A unifying theory of disease. Harvard Health. 2006.

What is Inflammation?

Bottom Line:

If you've ever cut your finger or twisted your ankle, then you have first-hand experience with inflammation. The redness, swelling, pain and heat are all hallmarks of the inflammatory process. In some ways, this is the first step of the healing process as your body begins to repair the injured tissue. However, there is another side to inflammation that can be extremely damaging to your overall health…chronic inflammation.

Why it Matters:

Chronic inflammation occurs when the body is unable to complete the healing process. Your immune system may continue to produce white blood cells that create oxidative stress for months or even years. This long-term stress, or chronic inflammation, has been linked to diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Some of the risk factors for developing chronic inflammation include smoking, obesity, poor diet, stress and sleep disorders.

·        Chronic inflammation is a long-term inflammation that can last for months or years.

·        Diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease have been linked to chronic inflammation.

·        Reducing stress through exercise & diet can help reduce chronic inflammation and create a healthier you.

Next Steps:

You can reduce or eliminate chronic inflammation naturally with a few simple steps. Researchers have discovered that daily exercise and weight loss can cause a dramatic reduction in chronic inflammation. Additionally, reducing the stress on your muscles and joints through Chiropractic care may provide additional benefits on your way to curbing chronic inflammation.

Science Source(s):

Understanding Inflammation. Harvard Health Publishing. 2019