Our bodies are endowed with a repertoire of innate responses to imbalance. For example, when a part of our body is injured, the body’s immune system instinctively responds with the appropriate corrective measures which generally cause four symptoms; redness, pain, heat, and swelling. In reaction to an injury, inflammation is meant to cause pain when the area is moved or touched. This serves to immobilize the injured area long enough to allow time for healing. Once the problem has been corrected, inflammation subsides.

However, generalized chronic inflammation in the body that falls below the threshold of pain and exists under the radar is not a normal, healthy state of being and could be considered the groundwork for chronic diseases such as asthma, eczema, digestive disorders, and clogged arteries. It’s interesting to note that the word disease has two parts; “dis” and “ease”, which remind us that even the most serious of medical conditions started out as a minor malfunction.

The good news is that you can reverse generalized inflammation in your body with simple, easily incorporated, anti-inflammatory lifestyle changes. We’ll talk about inflammation-causing and inflammation-lowering foods later on in this article. We’ll also take a look at more of the lifestyle changes you can make today to correct any silent inflammation you may have hiding in your body right now.

Where Does Inflammation Hide?

Hidden inflammation can hide anywhere throughout the body. Situations such as prolonged infections, smoking, and something as simple as gum disease jump-start your immune system and inflammation is off to the races.

Carrying too much weight, especially on the hips and thighs, can contribute to hidden inflammation as fat cells give off inflammatory proteins called cytokines. Carol Shively, professor of pathology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has studied fat distribution and says, “the stress hormone cortisol appears to bind to receptors on fat cells, setting off a process that promotes the storage of fat and increases the number of fat cells. These extra cells then produce more chemicals that increase inflammation.”

This means your immune system is continually supplying small amounts of immune cells, bit by bit, to all parts of your body and this interferes with healthy tissue. Eventually, this trickle triggers bigger problems.

When The Hidden Becomes The Obvious

When the inflammatory chemicals outnumber the anti-inflammatory, problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and eczema can jump into the picture. Hidden inflammation impedes your body’s immune response by keeping it in a higher gear for longer than necessary. This might cause a delayed immune response resulting in longer recuperation periods, colds and flues lasting longer than usual, or cuts, bruises and scrapes taking longer to heal than normal. By maintaining more of a balance of anti-inflammatory to inflammatory chemicals in our bodies, we can keep these conditions at bay.

Foods and Inflammation

Removing inflammation-causing foods from your diet could not only help you shed a few unwanted pounds, but this simple step, based on better choices, is well within your ability to incorporate into your life right away.

One of the reasons inflammation occurs is from a rapid rise in blood sugar, which causes biochemical changes in the cell. Staying away from sugar and high-glycemic (simple) carbohydrates, which the body rapidly converts to sugar, is one of the best ways to decrease inflammation.

One of the greatest things you can do to fight inflammation in the body is to eat foods that are flush with antioxidants , compounds that fight off free-radical cells. Free radicals are the pesky little devils that roam around your blood stream, getting into your tissues, causing damage to cell walls, certain cell structures, and genetic material within the cells.

A Few Simple Changes You Can Make Starting Today

Your genes are fixed; this is called your genotype. But which genes get turned “on” or “off”, and when, is somewhat within your control. Your diet, your stress levels, the amount of environmental toxins you’re exposed to, are all factors in the amount of hidden inflammation you may or may not be carrying around with you at this moment.

If you are at increased risk of heart disease, ask your health care professional to explain the simple blood test (called a C-reactive protein test) that can reveal the degree of hidden inflammation in your body.

Gentle exercising will:

• move toxins through your lymphatic system and out of your body,
• help you reduce excess weight,
• lower your blood pressure, and
• reduce stress levels

All the above are factors that support hidden inflammation in your body.

Nutter’s Can Suggest…

Prairie Naturals Resveratrol Rx is an outstanding antioxidant compound and contains therapeutic amounts of polyphenols from grapes and green tea. Antioxidants support healthy aging, protect DNA, proteins, and LDL from free radical damage in the body, and offer cancer protection and anti-inflammatory support. Resveratrol Rx can be a vital component to cardiovascular health and aids in detoxification.

Brad King’s Ultimate Anti-Stress offers reduced stress and improved health, plus fat loss. What to expect from this product?…normalized adrenal function, improved overall ability to deal with excessive stress, lowers excessive cortisol levels in the evening placing the body in a proper sleep environment, induces relaxation without sedation, activates fat breakdown instead of muscle tissue, normalizes immunity, increases mental function and protects the heart.

References

1. U.S. News & World Report, Family Health
http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/articles/2009/11/02/chronic-inflammation-reduce-it-to-protect-your-health.html

2. We The Change
http://www.wethechange.com/how-to-reduce-inflammation-in-the-body-and-why-you-need-to-do-this

Suggested Further Reading…

1. “Beans Blast Blueberries To Gain Antioxidant Crown”
Gives a full outline of which foods are antioxidant rich.
http://www.vegparadise.com/news45.html

Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 12 years experience in her area of expertise, natural health and wellness, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch Practitioner, and Reflexologist.

The suggestions by Nutter’s Bulk & Natural Foods and the contents of this article
are recommendations only and not a substitute for any medical advice or a
replacement for any prescriptions. Seek medical advice for any health concerns.
Consult your health care provider before using any recommendations herein.