What is Inflammation? Is it good or bad? When one hears the word inflammation; heat, redness, swelling, and pain most likely come to mind. Not the most positive of adjectives right? Although inflammation may be tied to negative connotations or connected to memories of fevers and stubbed toes, it is a very healthy response by your body to help fight off stress, infection, and injury. In other words, inflammation helps your body heal and that’s a good thing! It is only when inflammation becomes a regular deal and starts affecting your whole body that it becomes a problem.
How Inflammation affects your body
According to Body Ecology; whole body, chronic inflammation is most likely the result of genetics, an abundance of stress, exposure to toxins in the environment, lack of sleep or poor quality of sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, food allergies or sensitivities, and eating too many refined, processed and manufactured foods.
All of these situations upset your body’s natural balance and make it a magnet for many diseases and health problems such as Type 1 diabetes, acid reflux, acne, psoriasis, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, lupus, Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, and any condition ending in “itis” for example hepatitis, arthritis, bursitis, etc. just to name a few. Advanced aging is another consequence of troublesome inflammation and who wants more wrinkles?
Signs and Symptoms of Inflammation
Not sure if you are suffering from inflammation? Here are a few red flags.
- Allergies
- A diagnosed autoimmune disease
- Red, itchy skin
- Being overweight
- Fatigue
- Aches in muscles, joints, or all over
- Plantar fasciitis
- Pain when getting out of bed
- Increase in bacterial, fungal, or viral infections
So now that you’ve learned about inflammation in the body, all of the chaos it can create in your body, and if you are suffering from inflammation…what can you do about it?
Reducing Body Inflammation
1. Change your diet:
If you want to dive right in and make major changes check out Dr. Weil’s website. He is a well- known mind/body/spirit doctor who often appears on PBS. On his site, you can find his anti-inflammatory diet and food pyramid, 10 top anti-inflammatory foods, 5 easy ways to get started on the diet, and some simple recipes! Dr. Weil Anti-Inflammatory Diet
If changing your whole diet seems daunting, Dr. Axe, another well-known doctor, and author focused on natural healing and medicine has a nice list of 15 superfoods to incorporate into your existing diet which are proven to fight inflammation. Dr. Axe Top 15 Anti-Inflammatory Foods and Herbs
An even easier way to make changes to your diet is to try some delicious anti-inflammatory smoothies. Check out this Pinterest link for recipes.
If changing your diet does not seem appealing in any way, this article, 8 Daily Habits That Could Help Naturally Reduce Inflammation on Mind Body Green may be of interest to you! Included in this list are sunshine, better sleep, massage, regular exercise, mind-body connection, and avoidance of toxins, antibiotics, antacids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as much as possible.
2. Herbal Therapy:
While many herbs have been proven to have anti-inflammatory properties, you will get the most bang for your buck with Turmeric. Turmeric and especially its most active compound curcumin have many scientifically-proven health benefits, such as the potential to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.
Check out our article 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Turmeric and consider trying some turmeric teas, a turmeric smoothie, finding some delicious recipes using turmeric, or incorporating a turmeric supplement into your diet.
3. Omega-3-Fatty Acids:
Life Extension Magazine states that omega 3s not only fight against future inflammation but stop current inflammation as well. You can find Omega 3 Fatty Acids naturally in walnuts, salmon, tuna, olive oil, and avocados but the best way to ensure your body is getting what it needs every day, an Omega 3 supplement works best. Dr. Oz recommends taking a supplement that has at least 600 mg of DHA.
4. Probiotics:
There is some debate on the benefits of using probiotics to fight against inflammation but more and more studies are proving it to be effective. The Arthritis Foundation explains that probiotics create more good bacteria in your gut which in turn reduces inflammation and promotes a healthier immune system. They suggest looking for probiotics with a USP label. You can also introduce probiotics into your body by increasing your intake of certain yogurts, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, kombucha, and Shakeology.
5. Cannabis Oil:
Highly controversial, it cannot be denied that medical marijuana is reaching increased popularity. Cannabis oil has all the medical benefits without the “high”. If you are interested in just how it works, Medical Marijuana Inc. explains the process on their website as well as provides links to studies proving its anti-inflammatory effects. Medical Marijuana Inc. If you are interested in giving them a try, Amazon is a great place to start. You can even purchase oil for your pets!
Remember, small daily steps lead to big changes over time with your inflammation! That’s especially true when it comes to fighting long term inflammation. Start with just one of these suggestions and see how you feel. I bet you’ll start to notice a difference and want to build from there!
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