Remove Chronic Inflammation Today

Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by Cathy

There are two types of inflammation acute and chronic. Acute benefits the body by bringing immune activity to the affected area to help it heal. Chronic inflammation is silent and more serious. It is the cause of many chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Factors that contribute to chronic inflammation:

• Poor Diet 
• Infections (bacteria, parasites, viruses, and yeast overgrowth)
• Environmental toxins (heavy metals, mold, pesticides, etc.)
• Chronic stress 
• Hormones (adrenaline, cortisol, etc.)

Why I Was Chronically Inflamed

For me, it started when I was a toddler and given antibiotics. Then continued taking them off and on throughout my childhood. Doctors were unaware of the damage antibiotics cause to the gut by killing off the good bacteria.

I was your typical American. Eating a diet of processed foods high in refined sugar and carbs. And no probiotics, I didn’t even eat store-bought yogurt. I was feeding the bad bacteria and my body was becoming more inflamed. At the age of 15, I had my first MS attack – optic neuritis.

Getting Tested

Unfortunately, doctors aren’t trained to look at the root cause of diseases. They only look for temporary fixes – a band-aid. If you’re seeing a specialist like a neurologist, they’re not looking at the body as a whole.

All disease starts in the gut

– Hippocrates

Like Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said: “All disease starts in the gut.” Chronic inflammation is the root cause of many chronic diseases. Your best option is to look for a functional medicine provider. They address the underlying causes of diseases.

A Healthy Diet

Even if you think you’re eating a healthy diet, you may be contributing to the inflammation. Think about what you ate or drank today. A Starbucks latte? A bagel? Diet soda? A huge salad with all the fixings (cheese, croutons, salad dressing).

It turns out, that a “healthy” diet is full of sugar, carbs, and processed foods. This not only creates inflammation, but it also damages the gut lining. It allows yeast overgrowth (Candida) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Stress

Stress is in everyone’s lives and is hard to avoid. But it’s the chronic daily stress that wreaks havoc on your body. It also contributes to inflammation. Stress causes the body to lose its ability to regulate its inflammatory response.

Cortisol is a hormone that regulates sugar, and fat, and helps manage stress. When you’re under constant stress the hormone is constantly released. This leads to serious emotional and physical health issues.

Long-term stress causes:

• Brain fog
• Constipation
• Depression
• Digestive problems
• Heartburn
• Kills brain cells and reduces the number of new cells
• Mood swings
• Poor concentration
• Raises blood sugar

Have you ever gotten stressed and you could feel it in your gut? Stress hormones disrupt the digestive function by altering the number of good bacteria. They increase the blood sugar allowing Candida and bad bacteria to grow which feeds on sugar.

Removing Inflammation

Fortunately, we have control over reducing inflammation. Removing as much of the inflammation as possible will allow your body to heal. Start today by removing processed foods and refined sugar.

Eat foods that will give your body nutrients to calm the inflammation. Consuming foods that are high in antioxidants will bring your body back into balance.

Foods That Promote Inflammation:

• Conventional meats
• Grains
• Pasteurized dairy
• Refined carbohydrates
• Refined sugar
• Vegetable oils

Avoid

Legumes – the USDA recommends legumes as a healthy protein. What they don’t mention is the fact that our bodies can’t process them. Meaning they are inflammatory since our bodies have a hard time digesting them.

Food sensitivities – remove any foods that don’t agree with you or make you feel unwell. I wish I had followed this advice years ago. Whenever I ate eggs they always made my gut upset. Today I avoid eggs and haven’t had problems since.

Anti-inflammatory Foods

By addressing the root cause of diseases, your symptoms will begin to ease. You will begin to see your health change for the better. By eating these healing foods you will reduce inflammation. You will also become a healthier and happier person.

Omega-3

Most people eat a diet high in omega-6 fats, such as vegetable oil. Instead, load up on omega-3’s they are excellent at lowering inflammation. They also promote a healthy heart and brain function. Get omega-3s from sources like salmon, mackerel, sardines, ground flaxseeds, and chai seeds.

Vegetables

Eat a wide range of vegetables at every meal. Include dark leafy greens, colored, and sulfur vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. Try to eat 5-9 cups of vegetables every day!

Fruit

Especially berries like wild blueberries are high in antioxidants. They also have a lower sugar content. Which is good when you’re fighting yeast or bacterial overgrowth.

Healthy Fats

Healthy fats include olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, and avocado oil, olives, butter/ghee, and grass-fed animal fats.

Herbs

Cloves, Ginger, Rosemary, and Turmeric are excellent at reducing inflammation. Try adding them to every meal. Cinnamon is a seasoning that helps reduce blood sugar levels. This is beneficial for those fighting Candida or SIBO.

Exercise

Keep moving! Studies show moderate exercise will greatly benefit those with chronic inflammation. Try to get 20 minutes five times a week.

Sleep

Getting 8-9 hours of restful sleep is extremely important. This is when your body will be working to repair the damage.

Supplements

Omega-3 fatty acids – help reduce inflammation and contribute to brain health. A small study showed a lower rate of relapses. My functional medical provider has me taking Omega Plus by Thorne Research.

Curcumin – found in Turmeric is widely used in the health industry. It fights against free radicals and promotes a healthy cognitive function. It also regulates the digestive system, stabilizes blood sugar.

Zinc – it has the ability to reduce inflammation and offer support.

Supplements can interfere with certain medications. So talk to your doctor first before starting any new supplements.

Bottom Line

Keep inflammation under control by eating a wide range of antioxidant-rich foods. Consume a variety of nutrient-dense foods to reduce inflammation.

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Remove Chronic Inflammation Today