Here are nine things you might start doing today to lower your body’s inflammation level.
Inflammation is a common buzzword in the health industry.
And for good reason.
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Not all inflammation is bad, though.
Acute inflammation can be a good thing but becomes a bad thing when it persists beyond normal recovery periods.
So, inflammation itself is not the problemchronic inflammationis.
Most of us are familiar with the inflammation associated with stubbed toes and sprained ankles.
Other examples of our bodies' response to inflammation include fevers, headaches, persistent stomach pain and bloating.
Also, attempting to reverse inflammation through one-size-fits-all solutions can result in disappointment.
So what works to heal one person might not work for another.
Here’s how to reduce inflammation today to begin the healing process.
Find out the cause of your chronic inflammation and address it.
Preferably, choose a professional who is experienced and credentialed in functional medicine or nutrition.
Reduce Stressors
Stress is a known inflammatory supporter.
Andchronic stress tends to cause chronic inflammation.
It’s important to address stressors head-on and eliminate sources of stress in your life.
Take time out for yourself andincorporate stress-relieving activitiesinto your day, like walking, yoga or meditation.
Or maybe higher-intensity exercise or taking an art class is stress-relieving for you.
Some people find meeting with a mental health professional helps get to the root causes of their stress.
Sleep and our immune systemwhich controls inflammationare dependent on one another.
When one is out of whack, so is the other.
In fact, research suggests there is a strong association between sleep inconsistency and inflammation.
Read More:8 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Eat for Better Sleep
5.
Those imbalances can specifically harm the good bacteria that help with digestion and absorption.
Support and replenish those good bacteria by consumingprebioticfoods.
Think lycopene in tomatoes, omega-3 fats from nuts and seeds and vitamin C in fruit and potatoes.
Chronic dehydration can accelerate agingthis can lead to an increase in risk for inflammation and chronic disease.
Besides water, foods with ahigh-water contentcan also help keep you hydrated.
Spice Up Your Meals
Get spicy in the kitchen!
If you already have chronic inflammation, following this advice will shorten the duration of your inflammatory symptoms.
National Institutes of Health.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Inflammation.
Kim IB, Lee JH, Park SC.The relationship between stress, inflammation, and depression.Biomedicines.
2022;25(3):591-599. doi:10.1017/S1368980021004523
