Inflammation weakens your immune response which can lead to discomfort in the body including joint and muscle pain, swelling, and more. The negative effects of inflammation do not stop there and if ignored it can transform into chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
What Are Some Symptoms Of Inflammation In The Body?
Symptoms Of Inflammation Include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Joint and muscle pain
- Anxiety and depression
- Difficulty fighting infections
- Insomnia
- Swelling/Redness
- Inflamed area is warm to touch
Long Term Effects Of Inflammation:
Chronic inflammation can lead to a variety of diseases and ailments including:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- High Blood pressure
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Obesity
When Does Inflammation Occur?
In plain words, inflammation is our body’s natural response to damage to our cells. This can be a result of physical (diet, exercise), mental, and environmental (pollution) stressors. When our body is exposed to these stressors, our immune system is activated and cells designed to fight these damaging agents are literally sent to the site of the damage. This is what causes inflammation.
What Foods Cause Inflammation In The Body:
- Processed, most packaged and deep fried foods
- Sodas and snack foods (cookies, chips, sweetened drinks)
- Red/processed meats (hot dogs, bacon, cured meats)
- Refined grains (white bread, white rice, pasta)
- Alcohol
Our bodies become inflamed when we consume processed and refined foods that are toxic to us, unlike consuming whole, natural foods. It is a fact that our body needs sugar to survive, but processed foods have excess amounts of sugar that the body just cannot properly eliminate and will store as fat.
To help you compare, one cup of blueberries contains 15 grams of sugar, and a similar amount of sugar is found in an apple or an orange. A standard can of cola is 12 ounces and contains 39 grams of sugar. You would have to consume more than two cups of blueberries in one sitting to equal the amount of sugar in a single can of soda.
Processed foods also cause an imbalance of our omega 6 and omega 3 ratios. Omega 6 is known for causing inflammation in the body but is a necessary substance for brain development, metabolism and much more. Omega 3 helps regulate inflammation. A healthy ratio would be 2:1, while the typical American diet shows an alarming ratio of 10:1. This imbalance will lead to a chronic inflammatory state and even oxidative stress.
How Can I Reduce Inflammation In My Body?
Consuming natural whole foods instead of processed foods, refined grains and an excess amount of simple sugars will help combat inflammation. Some “anti-inflammatory” foods to consider include:
- Fruits (cherries, blueberries, oranges)
- Tomatoes
- Olive oil
- Leafy dark greens (spinach)
- Fatty fish (salmon, tuna)
Lastly, check out our Inflammation & Recovery gummies which contain SOD (superoxide dismutase), the body’s primary defense against free radicals and oxidative stress, along with natural polyphenols which are critical for repairing damaged cells, reducing inflammation and supporting cellular function.
