It’s been a while since I’ve written a health post – but sometimes my body reminds me that it needs attention too. When my cat wants my attention, she may walk on my keyboard or nip at my fingers. When my body is feeling the same way, it whips up the chronic inflammation. OK, OK, I’m listening now!
What is inflammation? According to the Cleveland Clinic, it’s a response to an insult of some kind – an injury, a virus, or a toxic chemical might qualify. If we cut our finger, for example, inflammation is what will cause it to turn red, as the immune system springs into action and starts the healing process. We don’t want to do away with inflammation altogether, but it can become a problem if it reacts inappropriately and causes us harm instead of healing.
For example, in the early days of the pandemic, many people experienced runaway inflammation, sometimes called a cytokine storm, in which their immune system overreacted to the virus and became more life threatening than the virus itself. For most of us, thankfully, inflammation does its job and then retreats. Sometimes it sticks around in a chronic fashion, and then we might have an autoimmune disease or an allergy.
For most of us, if we live long enough, we will probably discover where our weak points are, where inflammation is likely to appear inappropriately as a response to stress, lack of sleep or other mild dysregulation. In my case, I also find that ingesting too much sugar can cause skin issues. Of course, this is the time of year for that – so many sugary treats floating around. My kid made the most amazing gingerbread house, and I have been all too helpful in its demolition. Time for some restraint!
So what can we do to reduce inflammation, especially of the chronic kind? Anti-inflammatory diets can be helpful (message me if you want some ideas about that). So can supplements – fish oil, zinc, caprylic acid, oregano oil and others.
Getting enough sleep and reducing stress are important as well – not easy in these fraught times, I know, but at least we can try.
What do you do to reduce inflammation in your body? Drop me a message and let me know!
