Is Inflammation damaging your body?
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is part of the bodies immune response.
Infections and wounds would not be able to heal without an inflammatory response.
What Types of Inflammation are there?
Acute
Short-term inflammation, in response to tissue injury, usually appearing within minutes or hours. You will notice redness, pain, warmth and/or swelling in the area but once all the cells from the inflammatory response have done their job and the injury is healed, that inflammation disappears.
This is a helpful kind of response you want your body to have in order to heal you.
Chronic
Long term unnoticed, untreated inflammation leads to conditions and diseases such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.
Inflammation has been found to play a part in almost every chronic disease. It is a major part of autoimmune diseases as they are directly caused by the immune system. It even plays a role in hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) and depression.
So if the more dangerous long term effects can go unnoticed, how can you tell if your body is inflamed?
Symptoms of Inflammation
- Skin Rashes – Rashes such as Eczema or Psoriasis are inflammatory skin conditions, both are linked to
hyper sensitivity of the immune system.
- Excessive Mucus Production – Always needing to clear your throat or blow your nose. When inflamed mucous membranes produce thick phlegm in an attempt to protect cells in the lining of the respiratory system which results in coughing sneezing and a runny nose.
- Low Energy – Constantly feeling fatigued despite getting adequate nightly sleep. Just like when you feel run down when you are
sick, when you are chronically inflamed your immune system remains active and continues to work overtime, tiring you out!
- Poor digestion – Bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, loose stools.
How do you reduce inflammation?
- Reduce/Remove foods that cause inflammation such as Sugar, Dairy and Simple Carbohydrates
- Avoid foods you are sensitive to
- Exercise – Regular exercise of moderate intensity improves immune function and decreases inflammation.
- Hydrate
- Minimise stress – or improve your reaction to stress with coping strategies, being more organised and having systems and strategies in place.
- Look after your immune system
- Supplements – Probiotics, turmeric and fish oils are known to help fight inflammation. Drinking a high-quality Aloe Vera gel drink is hugely anti-inflammatory with massive digestive advantages along with being a cocktail of nutrients to support your immune system.
A variety of foods have anti-inflammatory properties and these should be included in your daily diet as much as possible.
- Olive oil
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Fatty fish (think good fish oils)
- Tomatoes
- Nuts
- Fruits such as cherries, blueberries and oranges
In conclusion, chronic inflammation has a detrimental effect on trying to achieve a healthy lifestyle. You can get a blood test from your local doctors to diagnose certain conditions but if you would just like to improve your current health or safeguard against future ill health then making lifestyle adjustments now will help you achieve more balance.
If you would like to chat with me about your unique menopause transition, book a Wild Well-Being call and come away inspired and motivated to begin your journey to optimal health.