What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is the combination of heat, pain, redness, and swelling, (also called edema). The body responds with inflammation to pathogens, toxins, or trauma in order to restore balance by eliminating the cause, clearing out the dead cells, and repairing the tissue. Basically, this happens as a result of blood vessels dilating and becoming more permeable to the immune cells carried by fluids that have been attracted to the location. It ends with wound repair when tissue returns to normal or when a fibrous scar remains. Acute inflammation is the body’s healthy immune response. However, Chronic inflammation can be crippling and even deadly.
Acute Inflammation
When most people think of inflammation they visualize acute inflammation which occurs suddenly, in a specific area, with a specific purpose, and for a relatively short period of time. A familiar example would be that of a cut or puncture wound. Heat, pain, redness, and swelling all happen to varying degrees as the body works to deal with any pathogens that may have entered and repair the skin tissue that was broken. A sprained ankle is another example of acute inflammation. Even a cold or flu brings about symptoms of inflammation – the heat indicated by a fever, the achy pain experienced, and the redness and swelling both inside and outside the body with the mucus being just one of the groups of immune cells attacking the pathogenic bacteria or virus. All these symptoms are indications that the body is working properly to repair the damage done. (In fact, stopping the inflammation too soon can slow or hinder the natural healing process of the body, possibly leading to chronic inflammation.)
Chronic Inflammation
After an inflammatory response succeeds, there should be anti-inflammatory mediators to bring it to a stop. Many of these derive from omega 3 fatty acids. If inflammation is not stopped then chronic inflammation results which can lead to diseases like cardiovascular diseases, asthma, diabetes, arthritis, or cancer. In fact, inflammatory oncotaxis is the concept that cancer spreads into areas of chronic inflammation. Thus, the great importance of understanding the possible causes of chronic inflammation in your own body and working to eliminate them. Each person differs in their sensitivities and tolerances, so knowing the top causes and how to address them allows an individual to both pinpoint a trigger and find a solution.
Most Common Causes of Inflammation
Old Injuries & Chronic Infections
Old injuries can create chronic inflammation. That is why it is important to do what is necessary to allow your body to heal completely from injury without stressing it unnecessarily.
Acute and chronic infections such as viruses that may go in and out of dormancy as the immune system strengthens and weakens are other possible causes. Eating right and reducing stress are the best ways to strengthen your immune system and prevent chronic inflammation. Vitamin C, Zinc, L Carnosine, vitamin E (Tocotrienols) can help with this as well as vitamin D alongside vitamin K2. Low vitamin D in and of itself can cause inflammation. Since I am not a doctor, I would obviously recommend you investigate these more on your own. In part by watching the videos I’ve linked below as well as through other sources.
Prolonged Stress
Prolonged stress – Cortisol suppresses an overactive immune system, thus helping shut down inflammation as necessary. The body produces cortisol in times of high stress to help with a fight or flight response if needed. However, if stress never recedes sufficiently, too much cortisol stays in the body until a resistance to it develops, making it harder to enter the cells and oddly, a lack of cortisol within the cells results. I highly advise that, whenever possible, alter your lifestyle to reduce constant stress. Limit your time and relationships with those who tend to bring drama into your life. Exercise can help to relieve stress. I also recommend spending more time talking to God and casting your cares on him in prayer and surrender.
Environmental Allergies
Of course try to avoid these allergies triggered by animals, dust, or molds. Many have been helped by local bee honey in regards to pollen. For these allergies as well as some caused by food, periodic, prolonged fasting can help reduce or eliminate them because fasting turns off certain inflammation genes and bolsters your antioxidant production. Intermittent fasting, which I’ve talked about more extensively in a previous blog linked here involves eating during a shortened window of time and avoiding snacks. That, combined with periodic long-term fasting of 1 to 3 or more days at a time, can work wonders for your health in many ways. The bonus is it’s free.
Environmental Toxins
Environmental toxins such as plastics absorbed through skin or into our drinks and foods harm many and cause inflammation over a long period of time. Harmful chemicals may also be found in shampoos, lotions, soaps, and perfumes. Other environmental pollution such as various types of smoke and smog may also be culprits.
Bile Duct Issues
If you suffer from inflammation primarily on the right side of your body such as in your right shoulder and back area or if you have issues with gallstones, bile duct problems may be the issue. Purified bile salts can help with this followed by a decrease in carbohydrates and an increase in meat.
Ingesting Inflammation
That which gets inside our bodies, perhaps obviously, most affects our health.The most common way, by far, for anything to get inside us is through our mouth. What we ingest voluntarily, nine times out of ten, precipitates our health. This includes medicines, food, and drink. Within our digestive system resides a whole world of bacteria and other microorganisms. Without them we could not live. Under perfect conditions, each type exists in perfect balance with others feeding off what we ingest and helping us transform and absorb the proper nutrients for our health. When this microbiome is out of balance, gut inflammation results. This may manifest in ulcers, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, or other digestive problems. Researchers have recently uncovered more and more ways in which the health of the gut microbiome affects not only digestion, but even mental health. I would encourage anyone interested to take a deeper dive into this and related subjects. I may do so in a future blog.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics – Though sometimes necessary, antibiotics often solve one problem while creating others. This occurs especially if used too often and not offset with a restorative diet after completion along with fasting to improve the gut microbiome. Gut inflammation may result from antibiotics. Taking a probiotic may help as will staying away from things such as artificial sweetners and unhealthy foods that promote an unhealthy balance of bacteria in the digestive system.
Sugar
Glucose/sugar and carbohydrates that turn into sugar – Glucose in the bloodstream damages walls of arteries so inflammation and plaquing occurs in that area. Insulin resistance develops which creates inflammation which in turn creates insulin resistance in a vicious cycle. Also, the fat cells produced, themselves can cause inflammation. The inflammation triggered by glucose can obviously be spread throughout the body in places seen and unseen. Sugar hurts the gut microbiome as well.
Highly Processed Foods
Highly processed foods not only contribute to weight gain, but also often contain toxic ingredients and inflammatory seed oils such as soybean, canola, corn oil, and others. These oils, though the cheapest and most common, have a very unhealthy proportion of omega 6 compared to omega 3 fatty acids, as well as generally being GMOs. You would be much better off using animal fat, butter, avocado oil, or olive oil in your cooking as well as eating whole foods rather than prepackaged ones.
Gluten and Dairy
Gluten and Dairy – Many people are negatively affected by allergies to either dairy, gluten, or both and not even realize it. Cutting these ubiquitous things out of your diet for a time may help you realize how badly they have affected your health and well-being.
People with allergies to dairy often find the lecithin or casein inside is the problem. As a result, butter or ghee generally doesn’t negatively affect them and some cheeses are more problematic than others. Goat and sheep’s milk and even raw milk also tend to be less inflammatory.
Gluten is a major part of wheat and thus is found in various types of bread and pasta as well as hiding in so many other processed foods. It is almost always a GMO or genetically modified product.
High Oxalate Foods
High Oxalate Foods – Besides avoiding the most common triggers of gut inflammation, some people are better off avoiding plant-based foods high in oxalates, (natural plant defenses some people are sensitive to). These include spinach, almonds, and other foods commonly perceived as healthy. In fact, plants, nuts, and seeds all possess natural defense chemicals that some people have difficulty with. My husband recently realized the tyramine in nuts triggered many of his migraines.
The Ultimate Elimination Diet
The Carnivore diet may be a successful last resort. The carnivore diet is the ultimate anti-inflammatory elimination diet. If your body is filled with inflammation, you may want to consider trying it, especially if a keto diet and other diets have not worked. Meat is the most nutrient dense food, and its nutrients are generally all bioavailable or absorbable by humans. Plants, on the other hand, often possess nutrients which may be inaccessible to humans due to the plant’s natural defenses. On a carnivore diet you can expect your salt needs to go up. Eggs, organ meats, or liver supplements have probably the most complete profile of needed nutrients you can get. After trying a carnivore diet for 30 to 90 days, you may be surprised at how much better you feel in all aspects of your physical and mental health. Short- and long-term fasting will be easier and even somewhat natural. Exercise will become easier once your body feels better. You may then try adding back other foods a little at a time to see how you react to each. You’ll probably quickly recognize which ones cause you a problem.
As stated in the beginning, each person differs in their sensitivities. I can only attest that I, personally, have digestive issues with dark leafy greens like spinach, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, and even apples, all of which many would say are extremely healthy to eat. I distinctly remember a short conversation with a coworker many years ago who stated that she was allergic to vegetables. I thought that she must be wrong and could never get the nutrition she needed without them. Even fairly recently I believed a carnivore diet must be unhealthy long term. I can say now that I realize I was wrong and didn’t know everything then, and I am sure I don’t know everything now. However, I am open to investigating and learning as I hope you are too. I do not consider myself a great authority on the carnivore diet so I will link videos to those who have tried it and experienced its benefits and can give pointers to avoid pitfalls.
Sharing Hope for Those with Chronic Inflammation
In conclusion, chronic inflammation generally builds up over time. Much of the discomfort, aches, and pains of age can be attributed to some form of chronic inflammation. The great news is that, more often than not, if the sufferer investigates and tries appropriate lifestyle changes to mitigate and eliminate the causes, relief from this seemingly ubiquitous personal plague can be found. God has blessed us with bodies capable of overcoming great obstacles when given the proper environment and care. For my part, I am thankful for that.
Let me know which of these inflammatory triggers you have discovered to be true for your body. What has worked, and what would you be willing to try?
Dr. Berry, MD is a wealth of information on dietary effects on health and disease. He authored the book, Lies My Doctor Told Me, and has done numerous short videos on the Keto and especially the Carnivore diet. This is an unusually long but extremely informative video on diet and digestive issues most of which coincide with gut inflammation.
This video by Osmosis gives a good explanation of the basics of inflammation along with a cartoon visual.
Cara Comini at Health, Home, and Happiness has tried and explained in several videos different diets she has used for her own and her children’s health. She used the GAPS diet to drastically improve the health/behavior of her daughter born with Autism. She has also more recently come to find out how much the Carnivore Diet has helped her own mental health. This video delves into oxylates and the carnivore diet.
This is one of the primary videos I used to explain some of the causes of inflammation. There are more specifics on supplements and possible solutions that I didn’t cover. Dr. Berg also has a great series of videos on bile duct/gall bladder issues and their effects as well as solutions. One of which is linked here as well.
Christopher Zvolanek
Shared informational and educational.
Christy
Thanks. That’s what I have hoped for.
Jerry
Well seems your present blogging equipment is working now. The information is well presented and thought provoking. Good job Christy.
Christy
I think the email function is working again after much stress and work with the various platforms. Thanks! Now on to the next post.