Understanding Inflammation In Your Body And How To Heal It

Acute inflammation and the pain associated with it can limit your activities and affect your day-to-day life. Chronic inflammation is swelling that is more persistent, and often goes undetected. it has been linked to many health conditions, some of them pretty serious. Keep reading to understand more about both forms of inflammation, how they may impact your life, and how you can help heal the underlying causes of this potentially debilitating condition.

Understanding Inflammation

Your body experiences inflammation, or swelling, in response to injury and infection and as part of the natural healing process. It is a crucial function of your immune system that helps protect your body from danger. During the natural immune response, your body increases blood flow to the area in question while also producing proteins to repair damage and antibodies to fight off infection. This process can last for hours in the case of an injury, or perhaps many days for serious infections. It is an important part of the healing process.

Chronic inflammation is a condition where the body's heightened immune response continues past the immediate threat. Your body is left in a constant state of alertness, which can result in symptoms like fatigue, skin rashes, abdominal and chest pain, and fever. There are several reasons you may experience chronic inflammation. They include autoimmune disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, untreated injuries, and prolonged exposure to pollution or chemical irritants. Some research suggests that chronic stress, obesity, and some lifestyle habits may also contribute to chronic inflammation.

There are some effects you may experience when your body is subjected to persistent inflammation. When maintaining the prolonged state of attack, your immune system can begin to turn against healthy cells and tissue, This can, over time, lead to DNA damage, internal scarring, and even tissue death. If that doesn't sound scary enough, all of those conditions are linked to increased rates of health conditions like cancer, asthma, heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

How To Treat Chronic Inflammation

When you consider how negatively chronic inflammation can impact your life, it makes sense to address the issue. If you are ready to tackle any persistent inflammation you may be experiencing, here are some tips that may help you heal.

Anti-inflammatory Diet

Changing your diet can have profound effects on your overall health, including inflammation. Try adopting a diet with an overall low glycemic index. This measurement tool gives an estimate of how quickly a food will impact your blood sugar. Overall, nutritionists recommend upping your intake of fruits, tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, oil, fatty fish, and nuts to help combat inflammation. You'll want to avoid foods that are high in fat and unrefined carbohydrates, as well as foods that have been fried or overly processed. Following a plant-based eating plan like the Mediterranean Diet may be helpful because of the abundance of recipes that are available.

Supplements

Adding certain supplements to your diet may help to heal inflammation, too. You can find a wide variety of vitamins and herbal supplements that are formulated to help ease inflammation and pain. Some, like Living Well's heal n soothe formula use plant extracts and enzymes to address the causes of your condition. Others look to omega-3 fatty acids and minerals like zinc for their healing properties.

Mindfulness

If you would rather take an active role in your healing instead of another pill, you might consider practicing mindfulness techniques as part of your regular schedule. Mindfulness meditation involves becoming aware of your body and thought processes, often while focusing on your breathing. Meditation doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, the more accessible it is, the more you are likely to practice on a regular schedule. It can be done seated or standing. You may even benefit from a walking meditation program that has the added benefit of an exercise component.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including avoiding excessive alcohol and tobacco products, can help you avoid chronic inflammation. If you are currently experiencing it, however, there are options you can try to help reduce the effects of this serious condition. Take charge of your health today by adopting these strategies to reduce your chronic inflammation. 

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Written By:

Paisley Hansen is a freelance writer and expert in health, fitness, and growing young. When she isn’t writing she can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym. She loves hearing from readers so feel free to contact her through Facebook.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.