Inflammation is a common symptom for every health challenge you experience. Inflammation is the way the body signals something is wrong. Sometimes your body is able to correct the problem with time, such as the healing of a cut, a broken bone, or a virus. At other times, the symptom of inflammation is signaling the need for an outside intervention of nutrients or medicine. As we grow up, we learn some of these signals and how to relieve the pain. Sometimes we need some additional training about what is going on.
Inflammation can be seen in five possible ways: Swelling, Redness, Pain, Loss of function, or Heat. You often see these symptoms related to illness or injury. Inflammation is also described as acute (momentary), or chronic (long-term). Acute inflammation is that injury or illness that takes a day or a week to heal and then you are moving back into regular activity. Chronic inflammation is that long, drawn out pain or loss of function that seems to have no way to end. But many forms of chronic inflammation can be stopped. You just need some additional information on how to make this happen.
Your white blood cells are constantly patrolling your body to address any threat. When a threat is identified the white blood cells will release a warning signal to area cells that something is wrong. This chemical release results in the swelling, pain, and redness associated with Inflammation. Chronic inflammation means these chemical signals are continuing to be made because a change from outside the body is needed. Pain relief medications can provide temporary relief like wearing ear plugs can help reduce the noise, but pain relief medication does not remove the cause of the chemical signal.
To remove the cause of the inflammation signal specific nutrients should be increased and specific foods should be avoided. Anti-inflammation diets will provide the format for the right balance that will generate healing and reduce inflammation. Specific nutrients to increase include:
Omega-3 Fatty acids, which you obtain through extra virgin olive oil, fish, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, cod liver oil, and walnuts. American culture has a very low intake of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help to reduce pain by creating a healthy balance with Omega-6 fatty acids. A recommendation of three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil per day is a good starting point.
Vitamin D provides stimulation to the cells of your body to promote healing and improve communication. You may notice that time spent outside in the sunshine during the summer makes you feel better. Your body produces Vitamin D with the exposure to sunlight which helps to reduce inflammation.
Turmeric is an herb from Asia having strong anti-inflammatory properties, which has been used for centuries in Asian culture. Turmeric has active compounds called curcuminoids that directly interact with the inflammation signals and calm the response. Recent research studies have found turmeric to be as helpful or even better than standard over the counter pain relief medicine.
To reduce inflammation, specific foods to avoid include:
Omega – 6 fatty acids, which you find in vegetable oil, corn oil, and deep-fried foods including French fries, potato chips, corn chips, and margarine. The typical American diet contains almost ten times more Omega – 6 than your body needs. The primary sources are processed foods and restaurant foods. When high amounts of omega – 6 combine with sugar, inflammation is the result.
Sugar is abundant in American foods. Back around 1900, the average American consumed about five pounds of sugar per year. Today the average American consumes more than one hundred pounds of sugar a year. Sugar can combine with omega – 6 to produce arachidonic acid, which is a fatty acid associated with pain and inflammation. When clients reduce their sugar intake, they often observe relief from pain.
Chronic inflammation observed with arthritis, fibromyalgia, obesity, and diabetes can be brought under control with an anti-inflammatory plan using whole foods and nutrient supplements targeting the pain sources. Every health challenge you face in the year ahead has a nutritional answer to it. Your health challenge is not a result of a medication deficiency.
Contact me to discuss your health goals for the coming year. I can help you create space for decreased pain and natural healing. Contact me at nutritionproportion@gmail.com, or check out my website at www.nutritionproportion.net
