Assortment of  fresh fruits and vegetables

Inflammation is a natural healing response to disease or injury. It’s a fantastic answer so long as it only lasts a brief period – hours or days. A problem arises however, once the inflammation does not subside, because long-term inflammation causes a whole lot of damage in the body.

Good to know

There are lots of health conditions where long-term, or chronic, inflammation plays a huge part. These include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Joint pain
  • Muscular pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Gum Disease
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Eczema, psoriasis
  • Asthma
  • Migraine
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Allergies
  • Persistent hepatitis
  • Sinusitis
  • IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and Gastritis
  • And a Lot More

Reducing the inflammation

Find out if you have some food or chemical sensitivities or allergies – You likely do

  • The most frequent ones are cattle milk and wheat, and possibly gluten.
  • You can arrange for a test by means of a nutritional therapist (bant.org.uk) or your physician if you are lucky.

Probably the majority of individuals with chronic inflammation have a ‘leaky gut’

  • Leaky gut contributes to allergy and/or autoimmune reaction (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis).
  • Chew your food very well, to help with digestion. Saliva includes healing properties which will need to pay as much of the food as possible before you consume.
  • Ensure you have sufficient vitamin A and zinc in your diet. These help to heal the gut.
  • The amino acid L-glutamine is an important food for the gut lining and is required in larger amounts once the body is under physical, psychological or psychological pressure, than is normally found in the diet. Supplement your diet with L-Glutamine – it is most cost effective when purchased in powder form.
  • Anthocyanadins that you’ll see in berries help to fix the’leakiness’ between tissues. Berry Power will also decrease water retention/oedema.

Look after your Adrenal Glands

  • Are you under long-term anxiety, or had bad shocks or injury?
  • Are you tired early in the day and often get another burst of energy later in the day?
  • Do you have trouble sleeping? Are you jittery after a two or coffee? Do you feel nervous or stressed?
  • If you answered yes to those, it is time to look after your adrenal glands.
  • Avoid stimulants like sugar, caffeine, excessive salt, MSG (monosodium glutamate).
  • Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit, and a few wholefoods (such as brown rice). Green leafy vegetables and a few Klamath Lake Algae are vital for the nervous system.
  • Get to bed by 10.00 p.m. if at all possible.
  • Take some adaptogenic herbs like Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, or Siberian or Korean Gingseng.
  • Take some extra Vitamin C and Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B5).

Watch your sugar intake

  • When your blood glucose is frequently unbalanced, it may result in adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue in turn contributes to reduced synthesis of cortisol, which then increases inflammation.
  • Make sure you eat some protein with every meal, and eat a low GL diet (fish, eggs, chicken and poultry, legumes and legumes, small pieces of whole grains, good oils like AquaSource Fatty Acid, organic coconut butter, some fresh fruit especially berries and lots of veggies )
  • Artificial sweeteners, although very low in carbs, still upset blood sugar balance – it appears to be the sweet flavor, irrespective of calories.

Lose weight if necessary, especially if you’re’apple-shaped’ or keep extra inches across the middle

  • Fat round the center causes an imbalance of cytokines to be generated which, when out of balance, causes inflammation. A low GL diet together with the 5:2 diet works well for many people, and stabilizes insulin and leptin hormones.

Ensure you have enough antioxidants in your diet or supplementation plan

  • Eat brightly colored fruit and vegetables. Forget the 5 a day message in the Government – think more in terms of 8-10 parts every day. Eat purple, red, orange, green, yellow and each bright colour you can consider.
  • Get enough zinc and selenium – one or two Brazil nuts each day, plus pumpkin seeds, and other seeds and nuts, and some fish, especially wild Alaskan salmon.
  • Take some Pycnogenol daily.
  • Avoid peanuts.

Nutritional Supplements

  • Proteolytic enzymes (e.g. bromelain and papain, and Serrapeptidase).
  • Antioxidants, such as Pycnogenol
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid, calcium pantothenate or magnesium pantothenate)
  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Berry Power (AquaSource)
  • Zinc
  • Magnesium
  • Adaptogens like Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Siberian Ginseng, Korean Gingseng
  • Deglycerrhized liquorice
  • Essential Fatty Acids, such as GLA, EPA and DHA
  • Curcumin
  • Vitamin D (get some bright sunlight in the summer months (20 mins. Per day is sufficient )