LETS TALK ABOUT INFLAMMATION.

INFLAMMATION:

We all have inflammation every day. When our tissues get damaged or even irritated, our body sends immune cells to the area to launch an attack on whatever’s causing trouble. This is what an inflammatory response is, and it causes redness, swelling and pain.

Inflammation is usually caused by a temporary trigger -- a virus causing a sore throat or stubbing your toe, the inflammation goes away once the area is healed. Inflammation can also be caused by more subtle things like the food we eat and toxins that we touch.  These small things can irritate our body and trigger a small immune response.  When these triggers happen often and are part of our usual routine, the inflammation can become chronic.

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION:

When we trigger and re trigger an inflammatory response, we develop chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is bad for your body. Chronic inflammation can make you tired and achey and is related to chronic disease like diabetes, cancer, dementia, depression, and obesity.

What should we do about it?  Lets find its causes.

DIET, INACTIVITY, AND TOXINS CAUSE CHRONIC INFLAMMATION:

Consuming excessive calories or sugars, salt, alcohol, and saturated or trans fats can trigger inflammation. The absence of fiber and nutrients in the diet can also trigger inflammation. Mediterranean diets, which are high in plant-based foods, omega-3 fatty acids, and healthy fats, can help fight inflammation.  Certain very specific types of fasts are being studied to measure the impact on decreasing inflammation.

Under working your body can cause inflammation.  No matter what your weight, being sedentary causes inflammation.  The specific mechanisms linking being sedentary and inflammation are still unclear. 

Smoking and air pollutants can impact inflammatory markers.  A common exposure are the many common household cleaning products that contain high amounts of toxins that can trigger inflammation.

DETECTING AND FIGHTING CHRONIC INFLAMMATION:

Detecting chronic inflammation can be difficult without looking to your actual blood markers, as many sufferers might not yet present any physical symptoms. Several blood markers can indicate chronic inflammation, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a substance formed by the liver in response to inflammation, and IL-8, a protein involved in systemic inflammation. Furthermore, you can also be genetically predisposed to chronic inflammation.

Whether or not you have high inflammation markers, the steps to fight inflammation go hand in hand with optimizing your wellness. Learn more about fighting chronic inflammation through diet, lifestyle, and very specific types of fasting.  A licensed CN Certified Nutritionist can help integrate your nutrition care plan as part of your medical team.

   Annette Marsden, M.S., C.N.     360.376.6745      hometownnutrition.com

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