You can’t see it. Not always. But inflammation maybe slowly damaging your entire body.

Inflammation, or swelling is part of the body’s natural healing system, and it helps us to fight against injury and infection. But it doesn’t just happen in response to an injury or illness.

So, what happens when we have an inflammatory response when there’s no sign of injury or infection?

Since there is nothing to heal, the immune system cells that normally protect us actually begins to destroy our healthy arteries, organs and joints. By not eating healthy, not getting enough exercise, or even having too much stress, this will trigger our body to have an inflammatory response.  And this can have damaging consequences over the long term.

It is so important to eat good food, get good quality sleep and exercise often, because they all matter when it comes to reducing the body’s inflammation. Whilst early symptoms of inflammation may be somewhat vague, and therefore leaving these subtle or even invisible symptoms going undetected – you may simply feel slightly fatigued, or even nothing at all – as inflammation progresses it will start to damage your arteries, organs and joints.  When we leave this completely unchecked, it can be a contributor to chronic diseases such as heart disease, blood vessel disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and various other conditions.

We can measure inflammation through a blood test.

Fortunately, chronic inflammation can be brought under control and even reversed through a healthy anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle.  If you have a family history of health problems such as heart disease or colon cancer you should discuss this with your GP about lifestyle changes that will support the prevention of disease by reducing inflammation.

Try some of the following to reduce inflammation in your body.

Firstly, load up on anti-inflammatory foods -

What we eat is just as important as the medications and supplements we take as our food can protest up against inflammation.  We need to include lots of fresh vegetables and fruits as well as foods containing omega-3 fatty acids whilst making a concentrated effort to reduce refined sugar. 

Try salmon and tuna, walnuts, tofu, flax seed and soybeans, grapes, celery, blueberries, garlic, olive oil/avocado oil, tea.  As well as spices like ginger, rosemary and turmeric.  You can try and follow a Mediterranean diet as this is the perfect example of an anti-inflammatory diet.  This is due to the fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains found in it, whilst limiting unhealthy fats, such as red meat, butter and egg yolks along with processed and refined sugars and carbs.

Cut back or eliminate inflammatory foods -

These include red meat and anything with trans fats such as margarine, corn oil, deep fried foods and most processed foods.

Control your blood sugar -

Limit or avoid simple carbohydrates such as white flour, white rice, refined sugar and anything with high fructose corn syrup.  Try this easy rule:  if its white – such as bread, rice or pasta, or if its made with white sugar and flour – avoid it.  Build your meals around lean proteins and whole foods high in fibre, such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains such as brown rice and whole wheat breads.

Make time to exercise -

This is an excellent way to prevent inflammation.  Just making time for 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise and 10 – 25 minutes of weight or resistance training for at least 4 to 5 times per week.

Keep your weight down -

As those that are overweight have more inflammation and when we lose weight, we can decrease inflammation.

Manage your stress -

Chronic stress contributes to inflammation.  Try using yoga, biofeedback, guided imagery or similar methods throughout the day.  Changing our daily stress is not always possible, but learning how to manage it is.

Tip:  Try misting your home with Anti-Stress Supplement | Ylang Ylang + Bergamot Room Spray and adding Magnesium Soak | Anti-Inflammatory Salt Soak to your bath 1-3 times a week.

Changing our daily habits to reduce inflammation will pay off over time creating improved heath and reducing risk of chronic disease.

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