Simple Ways to Reduce Inflammation

Why do we need to work on chronic inflammation? 

Chronic inflammation is part of the process that results in diseases  such as asthma, arteriosclerosis, osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s, type II diabetes,  and in  the proliferation of abnormal cells which can turn into cancerous cells.  It appears to play the significant role in the aging process.  Any disease with an “itis” on the end of the word is a result of  inflammation – think arthritis,  pancreatitis, sinusitis, etc.

What is inflammation

Acute Inflammation is the body’s normal response to
injury where the body allows blood plasma to spill out into an injured area to allow cleanup.  It brings oxygen  and proteins to the area to rebuild damaged tissue.  The swelling associated with the excess fluids compress the adjacent  nerves and causes pain.

Chronic inflammation is the simultaneous destruction and healing of body tissue that occurs over long periods of time. Chronic inflammation can be caused by problems inside our cells. Inside each cell are mitochondria which produce 80% of cellular energy.  In generating that power via chemical reactions, free radicals are also generated.  Excess free radicals damage our cells.  When the mitochondria are exposed to toxins or when more free radicals are generated than the body can supply anti-oxidant molecules for, mitochondrial dysfunction will  occur which can result in cell death or in uncontrolled cell growth  (cancer).

Chronic inflammation can also be caused by problems in the fluid that is just outside the cells (extracellular fluid).  Blood sugars (excess blood glucose) can cause damaging reactions  resulting in Advanced glycation end products (or AGEs) that bind to the surface of the cell. These activate numerous genes inside the cell that result in inflammation.  AGE’s can also be  ingested when we eat foods that are cooked at high temperature such as during frying.

Any chronic infection such as periodontitis (gum infection), yeast infections, and the like, can cause the immune system to  release proteins like TNF-alpha that activate inflammation. These proteins can even cross the blood brain barrier and trigger inflammatory responses in the brain that start or contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS or Huntington’s disease.

Obesity is a contributing factor.  Fat tissue is not just sitting in the body making you look bad – it is an active endocrine organ that secretes inflammatory molecules especially visceral fat that is stored in the abdomen.

Sleep disorders, smoking, as well as a diet high in trans fat are also associated with chronic inflammation.               

Excess blood glucose causes glycation and resultant  inflammation.

Inflammation can be measured by blood test.  Problems with inflammation are indicated by high  levels of C-Reactive Protein ( CRP), Fibrinogen, TNF-alpha, Interleukins, homeocysteine level,  etc.

Many Medications mask the pain created from  inflammation without fixing the root problem.     

So…what to do about inflammation?

Lifestyle is key.  Supplements can help.  Detoxification is likely to be necessary.  Reconnection to the earth is important.

Lifestyle --Most of these are common sense: Limit processed foods. Avoid fried foods, breath clean air, don’t eat GMO food.  Get enough sleep.  A low carbohydrate and high fat diet lowers inflammation- see the book  “Stop Alzheimer’s Now” by Bruce Fife ND p 180 for research on this type of diet.     

Some people are deficient in Digestive Enzymes and this contributes to their inflammation.  Excess proteins are part of the inflammatory process.  To clean up excess proteins, add "proteolytic enzymes" to your supplement routine.  "Proteolytic enzyme" is fancy terminology for a digestive enzyme like pancreatin, and bromelain.  So...consider taking digestive enzymes with your meals.

Herbs that are known to help with inflammation include curcumin, ginger, and green tea. You can use a product like Zyflamend that includes several of these herbs  and others known for their cooling abilities.

Other supplements and vitamins that are beneficial for inflammation include Vitamin D (4 to 5000 IU), Tocotrienols with Vitamin E, Omega 3’s (can also be supplied from eggs and grass fed beef) , fish oil and krill oil.

Lowering stress will lower cortisol levels and thus reduce inflammation.  Consider meditation, yoga, and NES Health.

Detoxification can be done by several methods.  See my previous blog discussing “Simple ways to Detoxify” for methods you can use at home. 
In addition to methods listed there, you can utilize health care
practitioners that offer NES Health, and/or Asyra Scans to help with the
detoxification process.

Using the earth to provide electrons to neutralize the free radicals involved in inflammation makes perfect sense.  Human beings used to walk barefoot and connect regularly to the earth. We now stay insulated from the ability to connect to the free electron source.  When we add a grounded sheet to our  bed, then all night long our bodies can use the earth as a source of free electrons to cool the inflammation.  Sleeping on a grounded sheet is a highly effective remedy for inflammation. Researchers working on earthing, call inflammation the “Electron Deficiency Disease”.  See the book “Earthing: the most important health discovery ever?” by Clinton Ober, Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. and Martin Zucker.  

As we age, all of us should be implementing measures listed above so we can create and sustain the lives we want and are meant to live.