Inflammation The Good -The Bad…The Ugly
“Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet.”
— Sarah Louise Delany
Inflammation is a word associated with many health conditions and in many cases, an intricate understanding of the nuances is missing. I always thought inflammation was a bad thing and we should avoid this build up as much as possible, but apparently, inflammation does have its purpose and the key is managing the impact in order to receive the benefits and not suffer the ills. Let us take a deeper look into The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of inflammation.
The Good
Inflammation naturally occurs when any of the body tissues become compromised either by a foreign invader (bacteria, fungus, virus) or trauma brought on by broken bones, torn muscles or ligaments etc., or other occurrences as simple as stubbing of the toe. It is therefore common, although not desired to have inflammation everywhere in the body ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. Inflammation plays a role in Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Asthma, joint issues, Alzheimer’s, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, along with other diseases and illnesses. If there is a health challenge, inflammation is there making its presence felt through tissues in our body including skin and major organs.
So what’s Good about it?
Inflammation is comprised of 2 forms; Acute and Chronic. The acute stage is the natural first step in the healing process and this saves us from further harm which could result from some condition. Our body produces inflammation because of injury to stabilize joints, clean and kill viruses and bacteria, and prepares debris and dead cells to be removed. Without this process, healing could not occur, therefore it is essential to a functioning body. The next step is the realization of the cardinal signs of inflammation, characterized by swelling, pain, redness, heat, and loss of function. This is the Good. Once this step occurs, inflammation has done its job and should bid the area farewell. But if it does not leave, we have problems on the way.
The Bad
So when inflammation is there when it shouldn’t be, it mimics a bad house guest or a determined rodent that will not leave, serious problems may follow. This situation is what we term chronic inflammation, and it can last for months or even years. Remember inflammation starts as an acute issue and should continue as a low-level event without there being evidence of injury or impact to the immune system and healthy cells, but in these instances, it stays and drains the body of nutrients. This chronic condition is worsened since cells do not function as intended and more health challenges begin as a result of stagnant inflammation. This is when it gets Ugly.
The Ugly
Much of the ugly of chronic inflammation is a result of things we can control. Although we are pointing to the ugly side, there is still a silver lining in that the way we live impacts how inflammation reacts in our body. Living a Prosperous-Lifestyle will help alleviate the chance of inflammation staying around but unfortunately, in many instances the proper steps are not taken to avoid this result. Let’s recognize some of the causes of ugly inflammation.
Lifestyle choices – what we expose ourselves to is paramount. We can control some critical contributors like smoking, pesticides, industrial chemicals, air pollution, alcohol use, obesity, and highly processed foods. Infections and injures as we know are pre-cursors to inflammation but if not cared for properly, they become chronic. Other factors which we have less control of include autoimmune diseases like Lupus, Arthritis, and Multiple Sclerosis. Other signs which may alert of potential inflammation challenges are allergies, high blood pressure, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, smoking, bad eating, and inconsistent sleeping habits. Ultimately, when we choose not to control what we can, it does get Ugly.
So what can we do to help avoid, reverse and eliminate this unwanted condition? A simple first step lies with our doctor. A test can be done to assess your CRP levels (C reactive Protein), which is present in the liver. This is a more common test although there are others which can provide us an idea of where we stand. Other ways involve what we put into our bodies, which is usually the primary cause of illness. There are specific vitamins and minerals which have been proven to be effective and can help ease the threat and damage of inflammation:
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamin C
Grape Seed Extracts
Zinc
EXERCISE!
Anti-Oxidants
Ginger
Turmeric
Anti-Inflammatory Foods
It’s always best to get nutrients from the foods, although this may be challenging. The amount will always be less at each iteration than if you receive it from a supplement, yet a constant diet of high-quality foods will make a difference.
So knowing the causes and understanding the basics of inflammation is paramount in our journey to better health and a healthy diet and lifestyle helps us manage it so we can limit the bad and avoid the ugly.