6 Ways Inflammation Can Affect Your Body
Chronic inflammation is your body’s natural response to prolonged stress that primarily comes from your diet, lifestyle or other environmental factors. Caused by diet, stress, viruses or bacteria, autoimmune disorders, inflammation can come from various sources and lead to further symptoms that can worsen, or become fatal, overtime.
A little inflammation, however, can be a good thing. It’s a sign of your body’s natural defense mechanism kicking in and fighting off bacteria or viruses. But like all “good things,” with excess comes problems.
Left to its own devices and unchecked over time, inflammation can grow to be a bigger issue than you may have had initially in the first place to trigger it. Diseases and chronic pain brought on by inflammation can seemingly sneak up on you overnight if left ignored. The trick is to address inflammation daily, with diet and lifestyle changes, before it causes further damage to your body. There are many signs, some more easily recognized than others, that inflammation could be affecting your body.
Here are six BIG ways inflammation can negatively impact you:
1. It ages and affects your skin.
Many people know that inflammation is bad for the body, but they completely ignore the potential effects it can have on your skin. Dr. Perricone, who is referred to as the “Father of the Inflammation Theory” and built his skincare company around his studies, maintains that inflammation is the number one aggressor in and outside the body, causing faster aging and other various skin issues. “Every disease I studied had a common theme: Whether it was cancer or aging, inflammation was present.” – Dr. Perricone
Many skincare brands were built on this very concept: Treat inflammation, and you can effectively treat your skin. Signs of inflammation in the skin are as variant as its effects inside the body. Symptoms can include but aren’t limited to, acne issues, redness or discomfort, and advanced aging. When treated over time with adjustments in diet, supplements and overall wellness, the slowing of inflammation can also slow the aging of your skin. While they can be effective topically, skin care products address the signs of inflammation more so than the root cause, so it’s important to find a long term solution as well.
2. It can be fatal to your heart. ~ Chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, celiac disease and poor diet can severely increase inflammation linked to heart disease. Although it is not proven that inflammation causes cardiovascular disease, inflammation is common for heart disease and stroke patients and is thought to be a sign or atherogenic response.”
Chronic inflammation contributes to heart muscle wasting, which weakens you and can lead to congestive heart failure.
3. It’s bad for your gut. ~ The majority of inflammatory diseases start in the gut with an autoimmune reaction which progresses into systemic inflammation. “The immune cells can attack the digestive tract itself, an autoimmune condition known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.” Symptoms can include diarrhea, cramps, ulcers, and may even require surgical removal of the intestines. Doctors haven’t concluded why some people get IBD, but genetics, environment, antibiotics, diet, and stress management all play a role.
4. It can make weight loss even more difficult. ~ Inflammation in the body can slow down your metabolism and increase your hunger, making you consume more and burn less. This is the exact opposite of what any person trying to maintain a healthy weight would want. Weight loss is difficult enough as it is, and growing inflammation only makes matters worse. If you’re having a difficult time losing weight and think you may be experiencing signs of inflammation, you should address it right away starting with your diet and supplements.
5. It’s linked to your mental health. ~ You probably already know that depression and anxiety are huge problems among American adults, and around the globe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 13 globally suffers from anxiety. What you probably don’t know is that depression can be caused or worsened by inflammation. “Increased inflammation not only occurs in depression but also in multiple other psychiatric diseases including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and schizophrenia.”Mental health awareness is increasing, but we are far from connecting all of the dots. Addressing inflammation is something we can do, right now, that could have a small or large effect on our mental, as well as our physical, health.
6. It can negatively impact your sleep. ~ Inflammation is not something that can be avoided, even during your sleep. It can affect your restful nights in a few ways, primarily with a loss of overall sleep quality. People who are already suffering from sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome or insomnia, are prone to increased or unbalanced inflammation. Likewise, those experiencing chronic inflammation or disease related to inflammation are often challenged with lower sleep quality as well.
Being aware of these six signs is a big step forward in your journey towards a healthier, inflammation-balanced life; and as a wise woman once said “Once you know better, you do better” (Maya Angelou).
Incorporating an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle into your daily routine is extremely beneficial for your overall health, and aids in disease prevention. You can do this by consuming foods like wild salmon, blueberries and leafy greens (watercress is particularly high in anti-inflammatory properties) which are like gold for your gut, and the rest of your body. You can also incorporate a supplement regimen including Omegas which will combat inflammation internally while aiding in your dietary efforts. It’s best to find an Omega product that is organic and has added anti-inflammatory ingredients like Organic Turmeric Root Extract and Astaxanthin. ~ by Dr. Bruce Howe
There are ample resources here and throughout the web to help you plan your diet and supplement regimen. Feel free to ask any questions.
For today, just remember this: Small daily improvements are the key to staggering long-term results, and when you balance your inflammation, you balance your body and your life.
Yours In Good Health!
