Discussions about inflammation seem to be more prevalent these days as people become aware of how inflammation impact their health. Still, even with renewed interest in inflammation, there’s still a lot of misinformation about what causes it, how to combat it, and how it can affect your health. What you don’t know about inflammation can hurt you, so take the time to become informed for a healthier, happier life.
Inflammation can be good and bad
Usually when people read about inflammation, it puts inflammation in a bad light, but not all inflammation is bad. There IS good inflammation and your body needs it! Inflammation is a 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. Inflammation is a healthy and very necessary function for healing. The concept most people don’t understand is that inflammation should be temporary. Short-term inflammation fights infection but long-term inflammation can do harm. This is when the body’s immune system triggers an inflammatory response when there are no foreign organisms to fight off. The body’s normally protective immune system causes damage to its own tissues.
The causes of inflammation
It’s assumed that most bad inflammation is causes by a virus or bacteria, but food can actually be a cause of inflammation. If you’re looking to minimize inflammation, avoid:
- refined carbohydrates
- French fries and other fried foods
- soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages
- red meat and processed meat
- margarine, shortening, and lard
Foods that fight inflammation include:
- tomatoes
- olive oil
- green leafy vegetables
- nuts like almonds and walnuts
- fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines
- fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges
Eat the good stuff and avoid the bad stuff; that’s a good start to avoiding inflammation. Many people have no idea that refined carbs and some of the other items on the “bad” list can cause inflammation. Even worse, few know how to combat inflammation with foods on the “good” list. Excess weight, smoking, gut bacteria, and alcohol can also induce inflammation in the body. Avoid those too.
There are more options that pharmaceuticals to fight inflammation
We have become a society that depends on a pill to fix everything. Most certainly, there are many fantastic medications that have done nothing short of saving people’s lives, but most people are unaware that there are more natural alternatives to NSAIDs when it comes to fighting inflammation. Turmeric is a very healthy and natural choice. If you choose an organic turmeric product, you are going a long way to fight inflammation naturally. Future Pharm’s turmeric extract contains powerful antioxidant properties and plant-based curcumin used to possibly reduce inflammation and block proteins that trigger swelling and intercept inflammatory pathways, significantly decreasing inflammatory responses. Why not try a more natural alternative to relieve inflammation? Unfortunately, many remain unaware that there’s even an option other than NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation.
How does bad inflammation impact your health?
Symptoms of inflammation include:
- Redness
- Swollen joint that’s sometimes warm to the touch
- Joint pain
- Joint stiffness
- Loss of joint function
Arthritis is probably the most commonly known symptom of inflammation, but it can also show up as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis. Even symptoms that seem harmless can actually be inflammation, including fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, loss of appetite and muscle stiffness. Not recognizing these as possibly being related to inflammation can lead to more significant issues.
Inflammation is much more common than people realize, but bad inflammation is still nothing to ignore. What you don’t know about inflammation can hurt you. Pay attention to what your body is telling you, avoid the bad foods and unhealthy habits, and reach for a more natural solution to inflammation to live a healthier life.
