You’ve heard all about the anti-inflammatory craze, I’m sure.

So much so that it can come across as another “fad diet”. But let me assure you – this is not just another “fad diet” or false health claim.

Inflammation is the real deal. And though a normal inflammatory response is actually a good thing, chronic inflammation should scare the heck out of you. 

If it doesn’t, you may not know exactly what it is, what it does to your body, or the warning signs your body is giving you.

The thing is, if you let inflammation take root in your body – you’re setting yourself up for a lifetime of health struggles and disease.

And believe me when I say – inflammation IS within your control.

So, stick with me for a bit, as this blog’s a little long. But I want us to dig a little deeper into this mysterious health hype and find out why you should wake up and take action against your inflammation.

WHAT IS INFLAMMATION

Inflammation is triggered by your immune system (the body’s first line of defense), in order to increase blood flow to an infected or injured area of your body to help it heal, defend, or repair.

This reaction can be brought on when your body senses any sort of threat, like stress, sugary or fatty foods, a virus or infection, injury, or an autoimmune disorder.

But if your immune system triggers false inflammatory responses, that’s a sign of an autoimmune disorder.

INFLAMMATION AND YOUR HEALTH

Inflammation has a bad rap, but it shouldn’t – because it’s actually a good thing if kept under control!

For instance, when you get a fever or swollen glands, that’s your body’s inflammatory response when fighting off an infection. Or when you’re really stressed out, your body releases C-reactive proteins to pump you full of adrenaline and put you into fight-or-flight to help you get out of the stressful jam.

It becomes a bad thing when you let it become a chronic issue – which isn’t uncommon nowadays with our stressful lifestyles, crappy diets, and poor sleep habits.

Yup, chronic inflammation is worth freaking out over (unless you’re willing to do something about it! In which case, let’s chat.).

Long term inflammation can do some pretty serious damage to your joints and bones and can lead to obesity, chronic pain, ADD/ADHD, migraines, heart disease, thyroid issues, and diabetes … just to name a few.

We also know it’s related to an increased risk of Cancer.

In fact, one Harvard University Study found that obese teenagers with high levels of inflammation had a 63% chance of developing colorectal Cancer.

And inflammation is also known for its impact on the health of your gut! Did you know that around 80% of your immune tissues are located in your gut? And that inflammatory messages are sent right from your gut to your brain? Now you’re talking an impact from anything like food allergies, to malabsorption, to depression and anxiety.

So … I think we’ve established the severity of chronic inflammation on the body, don’t you?

GOT INFLAMMATION? 10 WARNING SIGNS …

There’s a high chance that you’re already suffering from inflammation in your body – especially if you’ve been injured, sick, stressed, or eat a processed food, high fat, sugar loaded diet.

Here are some signs you can watch out for:

• Digestive issues like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or food allergies
• Painful joints
• Weight gain, obesity or trouble losing weight (especially extra weight in the midsection)
• Troubles sleeping, falling asleep or staying asleep
• Skin issues such as acne, hives, eczema or psoriasis
• Puffiness in the face or puffy bags under the eyes
• Receding gums or gum disease
• Depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, or brain fog
• Anything ending in “itis” – arthritis, diverticulitis, or bursitis
• Problems breathing, like asthma or lung infections
• Fatigue or extreme exhaustion

HEALING FROM INFLAMMATION

The good news is, if you want to heal from inflammation you can … you just have to be willing to make a change.

The best thing you can do is to start by removing inflammatory promoting foods like sugars, grains, and dairy from your diet. Consistent exercise, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress are other key factors in reducing inflammation.

There are also many anti-inflammatory foods that you can eat that will naturally help to reduce inflammation within the body. You can download a copy of that list here, and it also includes some inflammation fighting recipes!

Including anti-inflammatory foods at each meal can be an incredible healer from inflammation. Try adding these Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts to your next dinner so you can experience how great beating inflammation can taste!

Plus, it’s almost Canadian Thanksgiving, and this makes a great side dish … so it’s a win-win.

And if you’d like some help getting your inflammation under control, book an online or in person consultation with me and we’ll get it done!