By now, scientists have come to understand that inflammation is the root cause of all chronic diseases in the body. Inflammation is not always a negative thing. In fact, natural levels of inflammation can actually be beneficial to helping your body function and heal in a healthy way (1).
It’s only when inflammation levels become triggered in excess that it becomes a problem (2).
What Exactly Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is a natural process by which the body’s white blood cells and substances they produce protect us from infection with foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses (3).
Unfortunately, when inflammation is no longer helping you heal, it’s referred to as chronic inflammation. This condition is linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer among other ailments (4).
So, what causes chronic inflammation?
While there has yet to be a known way to test for inflammation, medical practitioners are becoming exceedingly aware that the root of chronic inflammation can be found in the gut. This is because two-Thirds of your body’s defenses can be found in the gastrointestinal tract (5).
Diets high in inflammatory foods like in sugar, refined carbohydrates, wheat, and dairy slows your metabolism, overwhelming the intestinal tract and preventing it from doing its job (6).
Signs Of Inflammation
While it’s almost impossible to know your exact inflammation rate at any given point in time, there are some often over looked signs that can serve as red flags.
Inflammation will naturally occur when your body is caring for an injury or infection, in which case you will notice the following, short-term symptoms (7):
- Redness
- Warmth
- Pain
- Swelling
- Loss of function or mobility
When temporarily experiencing these symptoms, do not be alarmed, and know that your body is working to heal itself.
On the other hand, chronic inflammation causes these alarming symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Fluid retention
- Asthma attack
- High blood pressure
- Kidney failure
- Cramps
- Diarrhea
Unfortunately, chronic inflammation can go entirely undetected for years at a time, creating the perfect environment for cancer to thrive. If you notice any of the following signs persist and continue well beyond the initial problem, be sure to consult your doctor or naturopath.
How To Prevent Inflammation
The most important lifestyle change to keep inflammation at bay is to stay active and get plenty of sleep. A healthy diet rich in Omega-3 fats, greens, and antioxidants, along with an active lifestyle will lower your chances of obesity as well as help fight inflammation. (8).
Also, avoiding toxins through smoking, processed foods, and high stress levels will aid in keeping your intestinal track healthy and inflammation levels normal (9).
To keep inflammation and bay and help your body heal from the chronic condition, eat these herbs and foods daily (10) (11):
- Boswellia
- Pineapple
- Turmeric
- Holy Basil
- Rosemary
- Ginger
- Grapes
- Primrose
As with any natural cure or natural medicine, consult your doctor or naturopath because taking these herbs and food, especially if you have any serious medical condition, take prescription medication or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.