Inflammation in the body

Inflammation in the body can be caused when your body recognizes anything that is foreign, such as an invading microbe or plant pollen. When the immune system reacts in these cases it truly protects your health.

But what happens when your body remains in a state of inflammation day after day and week after week? What if your body is recognizing invaders and having an immune response when it doesn’t need to? Many major diseases that plague us—including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer's—have been linked to chronic inflammation. Do you have stiff or painful joints, excessive mucus production (clearing your throat all the time or having to blow your nose, fatigue, brain fog, or poor digestion? You could have chronic inflammation.

The good news is you can turn to diet, chiropractic and exercise to keep your body from being inflamed. 

Let’s start with diet. There are so many foods that are anti-inflammatory and also have many other health benefits. "Many experimental studies have shown that components of foods or beverages may have anti-inflammatory effects," says Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Making the choice to eat the right foods can greatly reduce your risk of illness and choosing the wrong foods can increase inflammation!

There is a lot of information out there so we suggest you discuss your specific needs with Dr. Sherri or Dr. Stephanie but in general a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, berries, citrus, nuts, good fatty fish like salmon (wild caught!) and quality olive oil are super helpful! Eating the rainbow is a great place to start. 

You should also consider whether you have an inflammatory reaction to nightshades (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and white potatoes. Some people are sensitive so if your diet is on point but you still have symptoms try eliminating nightshades from your diet.

Foods that can cause inflammation are processed foods (fast food!), refined carbs like pastries, white bread, fried foods, red meat, soda and margarine. Some people are very sensitive to gluten or dairy. We can test you for food sensitivities so bring that up with us if you’re concerned and we can help you determine what your specific needs are.

Clearing your body of subluxations is critical to overall wellness but especially if you suffer from inflammation. When you have a subluxation your nervous system isn’t able to communicate effectively. Making chiropractic care part of your overall wellness journey will ensure your body is able to function as it is intended.

Lastly, you’ve got to move. Find the way you can move that makes you feel good. Maybe it’s walking, running, Zumba, yoga, soccer, pilates or riding a bike. Just move in some way. If you can work in some weight training with some cardio you are giving your body what it needs!