Last Updated on November 18, 2023 by Cathy
Sadly, sometimes it takes a life-altering event to make a person eat and live a healthy lifestyle. Usually, it’s due to some kind of chronic inflammatory disease. Unfortunately, inflammatory diseases like heart disease and multiple sclerosis (MS) are becoming more common.
Chronic inflammation is ongoing to where your body doesn’t recover back to its healthy state. It’s a long-term inflammation lasting years or decades. Yes, genetics can play a role. However, researchers found it is your lifestyle that triggers the disease.
“Your genetics load the gun. Your lifestyle pulls the trigger.” – Dr. Mehmet Oz
Lifestyle factors include diet, environment, pollutants, and smoking. It can also include bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Once your body is at this high level of inflammation it can no longer eliminate the cause.
Common signs of chronic inflammation:
- Anxiety and depression
- Body pain
- Chronic fatigue and insomnia
- Frequent infections
- Gastrointestinal issues like acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea
- Weight gain or loss
Unfortunately, most people ignore these signals and load up on over-the-counter medications. This doesn’t make the problem go away it only hides the symptoms.
MS and Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation progresses silently and can lead to MS. The immune system then sees the normal tissue as a foreign antigen and attacks healthy tissue. MS is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system.
Diseases associated with chronic inflammation will continuously increase. Worldwide, 3 out of 5 people die due to chronic inflammation. The standard American diet plays a big role in chronic inflammation.
It is rich in refined carbohydrates and sugar, processed foods, and saturated fats. These foods increase inflammation leading to disease, depression, obesity, and nutrient deficiencies.
Stress and sleep disorders are also associated with inflammation. It can be a vicious cycle because stress can cause problems with sleeping.
Tests for Chronic Inflammation
Certain tests can detect markers of inflammation in the body. The tests don’t identify what is causing the inflammation. Only that there is inflammation. Below are four tests that can help detect inflammation in the body.
- C-reactive protein (CRP) – checks for increases in response to inflammation or infection. An optimal range is 0.5 mg/L or lower.
- Homocysteine – high levels in the blood indicate an increased risk of diseases. An optimal range is 7 mcmol/L or lower.
- Vitamin D – it is well known that people with MS are usually deficient in vitamin D. An optimal range is 60-80 mg/mL.
- Genetic testing
A DNA test doesn’t measure the inflammation, it shows if you are at risk for chronic inflammation. One of the main gene mutations to look at is a methylation impairment. This can lead to the brain, detox pathways, gut, and hormones functioning properly. It can also lead to an elevated homocysteine level.
I have two heterozygous methylation mutations. Heterozygous generally is not as bad as a homozygous mutation. But they are still worth paying attention to. Because of this, I take Methyl-Guard Plus supplements by Thorne for methylation support.
When I visited a functional medicine doctor he recommended I get tested for all four. Both my CRP and homocysteine levels were high and my vitamin D was low. My DNA test showed my body has a hard time detoxing and I’m more sensitive to mold.
The HLA-DR gene puts a person at a higher risk for MS and more susceptible to mold.
Ask your doctor to get one of these tests or use an online lab like Walk-In Lab. For my DNA test, I used 23andMe Health + Ancestry.
To learn more about genetic testing read DNA Test For Multiple Sclerosis
Removing Inflammation Naturally
Dietary and lifestyle changes are a must for removing inflammation in your body. In order to heal you need to keep on track. Foods like vegetables and fruit are high in antioxidants and polyphenols. Polyphenols are protective compounds found in plants.
Lowering inflammation can have immediate results on your physical and emotional health. You may start to notice clearer skin, less brain fog, and more energy. Eating a healthy diet not only helps with MS but also improves your overall quality of life.
Anti-inflammatory foods include:
- Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and tuna
- Fruits, especially low-sugar fruits like berries
- Herbs such as ginger and turmeric (a powerful antioxidant spice)
- Olive oil
- Vegetables, consume 9-10 cups a day
Eat a diet high in fiber and low in carbohydrates/sugar. A diet high in carbs keeps your blood sugar level high. This increases inflammation and feeds infections. Such as bacterial, Lyme disease, mycotoxins, and yeast overgrowth.
Reduce the number of red meats and avoid conventionally raised animals. Farmers/ranchers give the animals antibiotics and growth hormones. Plus they feed on GMO grains and soy, grains are very high in mycotoxins (mold spores).
As the saying goes – you are what you eat.
Keep Moving
Exercise is extremely important for people with MS. It not only keeps your muscles strong it also lowers inflammation. Plus, it releases “feel good” hormones to help boost your spirits. You don’t need to do strenuous exercises just keep moving.
Walking, stretching, yoga, and swimming are all good exercises. I like to use OptimalBody Personal Fitness. This is an online gym that uses tension bands for strength and mobility for people with MS.
It’s thanks to OBP Fitness that I’m walking more steps today than I have in years.
Exercise is good for building strength it also lowers chronic inflammation.
Herbal Supplements
There are many disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for MS but they don’t stop the progression. Plus they come with nasty side effects. Such as flu-like symptoms, heart and liver damage, and death.
Herbs like berberine, ginger, and turmeric have anti-inflammatory properties. However, no herbal supplement can stop the progression of MS alone. It takes a combination of diet and lifestyle changes to stop MS.
Herbs and supplements can interfere with some medications. ALWAYS talk to your doctor before starting any herbal remedies.
Quick Links To Information In This Post:
How To Start An Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Multiple Sclerosis And Vitamin D
Medicinal Herbs And Spices For Your Health
Chronic Inflammation Treatment for MS
MS is not only a neurological disease. It’s a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the whole body and causes MS. It is the key factor that causes almost all chronic diseases.
It’s important to eat right, get plenty of sleep, exercise, reduce stress and stay positive. Hang around people who are upbeat and avoid negativity. Studies have proved people who stay positive heal quicker.
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