Are You Suffering From Chronic Inflammation?

Inflammation is often the underlying cause of many health conditions and diseases; however, it is not inherently a bad thing. Inflammation is the body’s way of signalling to the immune system to begin repairing or getting rid of damaged tissue, as well as a way of defending the body against harmful invaders such as bacteria and viruses. It does this by increasing its white blood cell count and surrounding the inflamed area. There are two types of inflammation: Acute and Chronic. Acute inflammation is the body’s response to injury and is completely natural and necessary. It’s a healthy sign that the body is fighting off something harmful and trying to heal. This typically happens in response to an injury or sickness. Chronic inflammation happens when this response lingers, leaving your body in a constant state of alert. It can persist from weeks to months and even years, and have a major impact on your health and well-being. Chronic inflammation can eventually start damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs, and is linked to the development of various diseases such as heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as neuro-degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.

What Causes Inflammation?

There are many factors that can contribute to inflammation in the body such as:

• Acute and chronic conditions
• Recurrent acute injuries or infections
• Exposure to irritants or foreign materials your body can’t easily eliminate (heavy metals, some beauty products, air/water pollution etc
• Certain Medications
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Consumption of foods such as: Red meats, processed/refined foods, sugar, dairy, trans-fats, and foods one is sensitive to
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Too much intense exercise with inadequate rest (over-training)

It is important to note that everybody is unique, and what might cause inflammation in one person may not affect another.It may require an elimination protocol in order to pinpoint what is negatively affecting your health.

Symptoms of Inflammation

Long-term inflammation can lead to a number of symptoms and affect your body in many ways. Common symptoms of chronic inflammation can include:

• Muscle pain and severe soreness
• Joint pain
• Constant fatigue, brain fog, insomnia
• Increased food sensitivities
• Depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Weight gain
• Frequent infections

Lifestyle Tips to Fight Inflammation

The good news is that in most cases, it is possible to manage inflammation in the body by making simple dietary and lifestyle changes such as:

• Reduce or eliminate pro-inflammatory foods such as: Refined sugars and carbohydrates, trans-fats, some cooking oils (ex. corn, sunflower, soybean and canola), synthetic additives and artificial sweeteners, pasteurized dairy, nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, white potatoes) and processed or commercially raised meats.
• Include more anti-inflammatory foods, for example: Most fruits and vegetables (especially dark leafy greens), Turmeric, Green tea, Wild fatty fish, kelp, walnuts, and flaxseeds.
• Eliminate any known food allergies or sensitivities.
• Eliminate alcohol and tobacco.
• Manage stress and ensure you get sufficient, good quality sleep.
• Get more Exercise. However, be sure to allow sufficient recovery time and do not over do high intensity workouts.

Supplements to Help Fight Inflammation

Many supplements can help lower inflammation and support other systems in the process that may improve your quality of life, reduce pain and aches, and help prevent further conditions to develop.

Here are few suggestions for supplements that reduce inflammation:

• Omega-3’s- Great for joints, mental health, and skin conditions
• Turmeric or Curcumin- Great for joints, pain, digestive health, and skin conditions
• Glucosamine, and MSM- Great for joints, pain, liver, skin and digestive health conditions
• Probiotics- Great for digestive inflammation, skin conditions and mental health
• Antioxidants or Berry Formulas – Great for overall inflammation, mental health, immune health, heart health, skin health and pains and aches

These are just a few general recommendations to help fight inflammation. In the next article we will go more in depth about how certain supplements and dietary changes actually work and how to decide what the best choices are for you.

At OptimizeNutrition.ca we try to source the best supplements found in Canada, and choose each product we carry based on its merits to our customers. Use the hyperlinks to connect directly to our site for a few products we carry to help lower your inflammation and help you feel your best!

Written by Hayley Dickenson, Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN)