What is inflammation? Is it good or bad?
+Inflammation is part of our body’s natural way of healing after an injury or illness. Your body’s immune system was created to fight off viruses, parasites, other illnesses or to heal from an injury. This is acute inflammation. You know when you cut your finger, it bleeds, becomes swollen, painful, and reddened for a while until it heals. The problem arises when we have chronic inflammation which can last for months or years. So your body is on high alert all the time and becomes a constant place of inflammation and distress. This sets up your system to have chronic diseases which may include things like diabetes, autoimmune diseases like lupus or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, digestive issues like IBS or Crohn’s disease, osteoarthritis, dementia, and some even suggest cancer.
+Symptoms of chronic inflammation include: fatigue, joint pain, arthritis, brain fog, skin rashes, abdominal pain, bloating, leaky gut. heart disease, and mood issues like depression.
What leads to high inflammation?
*Diet – inflammatory foods like sugar, refined and processed carbs and foods, trans fats, gluten, casein, artificial sweeteners, and foods you’re allergic or sensitive to
*Obesity
*Chronic stress
*Poor sleep habits
*Undiagnosed medical conditions
*Toxins – environmental or chemical in things like foods, perfumes, beauty products
*Undiagnosed parasites or viruses
*Other poor lifestyle choices like smoking or excessive alcohol
What can you do to decrease inflammation?
*See your medical practitioner
*Natural things you can do include eating a healthy diet – proteins, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, healthy fats
*Drinking pure water
*Getting enough sleep
*Exercising 3-5 times a week
*Practicing gratitude
*R and R – rest and recreation – you know you need these!
+Hope that answers the questions I’ve been asked about inflammation and some practical things you can do to decrease it. Because inflammation caused so many of my conditions, I went back to school to train as a health and wellness coach. Many of my clients have autoimmune issues including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, IBS and digestive symptoms like bloating, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, brain fog, and weight issues. If you’d like to work with someone who understands, reach out. You can contact me here for a free 20 minute discovery call. We can see if we’d be a good fit to work together. If not, I can refer you elsewhere. — Leah Cheshire, MCD, CCC-SLP, NBC-HWC
