What is inflammation?

Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or infection, and triggers the immune system to heal and repair damage. When inflammation occurs, chemicals from white blood cells are released into the blood, increasing blood flow to the area of injury/infection to facilitate healing. This results in the classic signs of acute inflammation, including redness, swelling, heat, pain and loss of function. Under normal and healthy circumstances, acute inflammation should eventually reside. 

Chronic inflammation however is persistent, low-grade inflammation that produces a steady, low-level of inflammation throughout the body. Chronic inflammation contributes to disease development by damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs, leading to DNA damage. Inflammation is implicated in diseases including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Symptoms of chronic inflammation can include fatigue, body pain, insomnia, depression, frequent infections, mood disorders and gastrointestinal symptoms.  

How can we prevent and/or treat inflammation? 

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  • By reducing inflammatory foods including: 

    • Processed or refined foods foods high in pro-inflammatory omega 6’s

    • Gluten

    • Refined sugar 

    • Dairy 

    • Alcohol 

  • Increasing anti-inflammatory foods: 

    • Ginger

    • Turmeric

    • Blueberries

    • Deep sea fish

    • Green leafy vegetables

If you need help reducing inflammation, get in touch to find out how further dietary changes plus herbal and nutritional supplementation can help you.  

Hayley Brassinflammation, naturopathy