The ultimate goal of reducing toxins, trying to cleanse our bodies, and using organic and natural products, is really to alleviate or prevent inflammation. Here we’ll talk about the potential effects of chronic inflammation and how to reduce inflammation in the body naturally.
What About Inflammation
We have all experienced acute inflammation when we have an injury or are sick as short-term inflammation that usually improves and gets better.
And then there’s chronic inflammation that may come from lifestyle choices like:
- poor diet
- low activity level
- high stress
- exposure to harmful chemicals
- natural toxins
According to Mayo Clinic, short-term acute inflammation is part of the healing process of injuries or illness, so it’s not a bad thing (sources at the bottom). When inflammation is spread throughout the body, it can turn into chronic inflammation, leading to bigger health problems.
Where It Can Lead
Chronic or low-grade inflammation can sometimes cause enough damage that can lead to:
- cancer
- type 2 diabetes
- arterial and cardiac diseases
- auto-immune diseases like arthritis or psoriasis
- obesity
- asthma
- cognitive decline and dementia in older folks
How To Reduce Inflammation Naturally
- Eat more plants. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains give your body anti-inflammatory nutrients. This is one of the best things you can do. Green leafy vegetables should be at the top of your list.
- Get more of the good fats. Omega-3s from fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, and olive and avocado oils have anti-inflammatory properties. Choose grass-fed butter over margarine.
- Exercise. When you exercise, your muscles release a small protein called Interleukin 6 (IL-6) which helps lower inflammation and reduces inflammatory chemicals in the body.
- Lower Uric Acid. Uric acid is a waste product in our bodies. Too much uric acid can become toxic. See my article called Diet and Foods That Lower Uric Acid for more info. This is a good diet for reducing inflammation as well.
- Reduce or Eliminate Gluten. The wheat of today is not the same as our ancestors ate. It has been genetically modified and actually causes inflammation. If you want to feel great, try reducing or eliminating gluten in your diet. See my article Is A Gluten-Free Diet Good for Detoxing the Body for more info.
- Meditation and Mindfulness. High levels of stress raise our cortisol levels which, over time, can increase inflammation. Using meditation and mindfulness lowers your stress and cortisol levels and makes you happier too.
- Avoid processed meats with preservatives. There are healthier alternatives to hot dogs and sausages with preservatives. Look for ‘uncured’ or preservative-free on the label.
- Buy Organic. The less exposure to chemicals, the better. Buy organic or natural foods and personal care products. Some ingredients are known to cause cancer and/or affect hormones.
- Supplements That Help. If you find it difficult to get enough fruits and veggies or you just want to ensure you’re doing everything to lower inflammation, here are some excellent supplements that help reduce inflammation:
- Curcumin
- Quercetin
- Berberine
- Vitamin C
- Omega 3s (if you don’t like or can’t eat more fish)
- Probiotics for the gut.
Wrapping Up
We can take some control of our health and reduce or prevent inflammation. Inflammation is a cause of many diseases so the more we can do to conquer it, the better off we’ll be. Following these tips will really make a difference. You’ll feel better!
Thank you for reading. If you have any comments or questions, please leave them in the Comments section below. Thank you!
References:
Causes of Chronic Inflammation: The 4 Major Root Causes. Causes of Chronic Inflammation: The 4 Major Root Causes|Causes of Chronic Inflammation: The 4 Major Root Causes – Happy Mammoth LLC
Foods that fight inflammation. Foods that fight inflammation – Harvard Health
Nutrition and healthy eating. How to use food to help your body fight inflammation – Mayo Clinic
Great article. I found this very useful and interesting. I have scoliosis and have tablets for the pain and inflammation. I have determined I need more exercise and need to improve my diet. I also think I may have asthma but I need to have an asthma test to know for sure. I have never tried organic food as it costs more money than non organic food and I`m not sure how it tastes. What do you think about the taste of organic food?
I found this article very useful and I have saved it in my favourites so I can refer back to it in the future. Thank you for writing this great article.
I’m so glad you found this article useful. I’m sorry to hear about your health issues. I think most organic food tastes even better than non-organic food. It actually tastes the way it is supposed to, rather than processed or with chemicals on it. I think if you could start substituting a few things with organics, especially anything you eat a lot of, you’ll probably see a difference in a short time in how you feel. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
It is amazing how such simple things can improve our health. Obviously, our bad way of life may not have a direct effect on our health but the results will appear in the long term. Your suggestions could help a lot not only with inflammation but can lower the risk of a wide variety of health problems. Nice read!
That is true! Just simple changes can really make a difference. Thank you for reading and commenting!