Dangers of inflammation

The dangers of inflammation are numerous. Not a commonly discussed topic, inflammation causes several major diseases and many general aches and pains.

This dangerous enemy has the power to humble any human and can lead to the development of any of the following (list not all-inclusive):

• acne
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• arthritis
• cancer
• diabetes
• heart disease
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• pain

What causes inflammation in the body?

The causes of inflammation can either be those that require the healthy, natural inflammatory response of the body to kick in (such as a sprained ankle), or those that are diet and environmentally induced.

The problem is that the body may not always know the difference. Its natural response is to release white blood cells into the blood. These cells rush to the area where the body sense’s foreign material or substances to initiate the healing process.

This rush of blood results in heat, redness and swelling often accompanied by pain. This is the inflammation most people are keenly aware of when it happens.

The increased blood cells can increase swelling in areas where there may not be an injury, thus creating tissue breakdown along with the opportunity for disease to set in. To avoid such dangers, one must do what they can to reduce inflammation in the body.

Reduce inflammation naturally

There are ways to reduce inflammation naturally. Start with your diet. Avoid all allergens. An example of where inflammation might be overlooked by the individual as ‘inflammation’ is how gluten can affect them.

Those sensitive to gluten might experience intestinal inflammation after eating or drinking something where gluten is present. Inflammation here can easily lead to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), causing uncomfortable bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea. Anyone who has had this can tell you, you don’t want it.

To further your cause, allergies or not, review the foods you eat and replace them with foods that reduce inflammation. This practice may even help you to lose weight naturally, which is important because being overweight increases the risk of inflammation in the body.

Make sure you get plenty of sleep and exercise. If you smoke, stop. If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink a day. Eliminate stress and negative influences in your life and stay away from all allergens.

In addition, support your efforts (and your immune system) by implementing natural anti inflammatory supplements. In today’s time, no one is immune to all forms of stress and such supplements can be most helpful in fighting inflammation.

Make sure you keep up with your vitamin and mineral intake as well. As daily stress works to deplete your system, your body needs its fuel to do its job properly.

Foods that cause inflammation

Foods that cause inflammation are the one thing we can control the most. Review this list and make a commitment to your health to eliminate them or limit them to minimal intake.

• sugars (including agave)
• dairy (including frozen yogurt if dairy ingredients)
• commercially raised meats (esp. those with hormones and antibiotics)
• polyunsaturated vegetable oils
• processed foods and frozen meals
• processed meats
• refined grains
• too much salt
• trans fats (deep fat fried, fast foods, etc.)

Include in this list artificial food additives and coloring as well as alcoholic beverages. Always stay away from food allergens which also cause inflammation and irritation. If you suffer from allergies, please consider NAET for a natural allergy solution. Read more about NAET on our post for natural allergy relief here.

Foods that reduce inflammation

Now that you know what not to eat, following is a brief introductory list of inflammation reducing foods, beverages, herbs and spices.

• chamomile or green tea
• dark, leafy greens
• fish (those rich in omega-3, such as cod, halibut, mackerel, salmon, snapper and tuna)
• flax seeds
• fruits (esp. raw berries, tart cherries and pineapple)
• herbs (basil, cumin, chili pepper, oregano, thyme)
• garlic
• nuts (almonds, walnuts, not peanuts)
• olive oil
• spices (cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, turmeric)
• whole grains (unbleached, such as brown rice)
• vegetables (beets, broccoli, kale, onions, red tomatoes, spinach)

One of the more important details is to maintain a diet high in omega 3 and lower in omega 6 fatty acids. If this seems too challenging, consider starting with the Mediterranean Diet.

Oh, and for dessert? Yes, chocolate is perfect, as long as it’s at least 70% cocoa.

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