Inflammation....

Inflammation isn’t always a bad thing. Inflammation is the body’s way of fighting illness, injury and infection, and it’s actually a necessary part of the healing process. You can feel the fire aspect of inflammation through the heat in your skin at sites of infection and injury. You’ll notice redness, swelling, pain at external sites, or through fever and aches when dealing with internal inflammation.

But chronic inflammation is very different and can be problematic. If your body continues to create inflammation long after the injury or infection has passed, it becomes what we call chronic inflammation. Your body can also produce this kind of inflammation without a specific injury, especially in autoimmune diseases and other similar issues. Chronic inflammation can weaken your body and immune system, triggering a cascade of other health issues, exhaustion, and illness which can lead to  weight gain and disease.

You might experience chronic inflammation in the form of chronic pain. Maybe several years ago you injured your shoulder and even though it’s been a long time, you still feel the ache. Or you might have struggled with an illness, such as pneumonia that left your lungs prone to being extra sensitive and reactive.

You could also just experience swelling of the joints, achy limbs, or recurring headaches after eating a specific type of food or for (seemingly) no reason at all. Chronic inflammation can be a frustrating condition to solve and recover from.

Increase your anti-inflammatory foods.

Inflammation can be caused by a number of factors, but the one you have the most control over is the food you eat. Yes, food can be a trigger for inflammation. This could be because certain foods by default cause inflammation in humans or because your particular body struggles with a specific food.

Food allergies and food sensitivities can trigger inflammation, so watch how your body reacts to the foods you eat. If you have allergic reactions, definitely avoid that food. Sensitivities can be trickier to nail down, but keeping a food journal can help.

You can also incorporate certain foods into your diet that help fight inflammation. Great foods in this category include:

Turmeric

Ginger

All Berries

Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel

Green tea

Dark chocolate

Avocados

Broccoli, Brussel sprouts and other cruciferous veg

Whole Grains like oatmeal, brown rice, barley, quinoa and whole wheat bread

Peppers

Mushrooms

Extra Virgin olive Oil

Tomatoes

and so many others! Eat lots of fresh, whole foods, reduce processed, packaged foods, and add in more anti-inflammatory foods. Get some fresh air, movement, and sunshine, and pretty soon you’ll start noticing your chronic inflammation reducing.

To find out more about how inflammation and how other areas of your life could be affecting your health, book your free discovery session with Wellness Emma now!