The Subtle Signs of Inflammation

In the past few weeks I have been trying to experiment with foods that I have cut out over the years to see if I could start introducing them back into my life. Some of these foods are “treats” that I wouldn’t eat on a daily basis but might like to enjoy on occasion and some of them are highly nutritious foods that I cut out because for me and my body, at that time, they were not making me feel my best.

As I have been experimenting, I have noticed a few interesting effects. Firstly, I found that my immediate reaction to most of these foods was nothing! Yay! These foods could be added back, and I would still feel great! Secondly, I felt proud of the work I have been doing to soothe my once inflamed gut and bringing down the inflammation I felt daily.

Well, that came to a halt very quickly one morning after adding the much-dreaded gluten back into my diet.  A couple days ago I woke up at the normal time but immediately felt “off”. This is a hard to describe feeling but I’m sure you have had those times when nothing is really wrong, but you just don’t feel right. Well, I did my morning stretch, put my feet down beside my bed and WHAM! I was immediately hit with flash backs of all those years before when my feet ached when getting out of bed. I also realized that my hands and other joints were stiff and creaky as well. I continued my day and found that I just couldn’t think straight, my thoughts were fuzzy, I was forgetting names and I was tired…super tired.

This was just the beginning of my experiment with gluten, as with all this brain fog, I didn’t immediately put two and two together. The next day, and the next day after that things continued to go down hill. My nose was stuffy, I was getting more and more achiness and I had a headache for the first time in a year. Then everything seemed to come together for me. I had to step back, get myself back to my normal menu of foods and reset. Suffice to say, I am now feeling SO much better and am almost 100% out of my fog.

My point of all this is not to knock gluten, or any other food for that matter. What I learned, the hard way, was the subtle signs of inflammation. Things I realized I lived with for a long time, yet never realized were signs my body was giving me to change. I mentioned a few above but here are some more:

1. Low Energy – You know you slept well but you don’t feel rested.

2. Brain Fog – You just can’t keep your mind on something, and you find you are forgetting things.

3. Non-specific Aches and Pains – This is not acute pain but diffuse. It feels more like body aches then specific pain.

4. Digestive Issues – You may find that your digestive system is a little “off”. Things may run a little slow or a little to quick. There may be some bloating or extra gas.

5. Swelling – Your rings might be fitting a little tighter than normal. Your feet might ache in the morning or after a day of work.

6. Sinus Congestion – Your nose might be stuffed up or running all the time.

7. Skin Issues – Are you breaking out when that’s not normal for you?

8. Cramps – For the ladies, if you start getting cramps with your monthly cycle that are worse or extreme to your normal, this can indicate inflammation.

9. Headaches – Headaches become more and more regular. This alone might not be enough as this could also be an indication that you need to get your prescription checked. Some people can also be more sensitive to weather patterns and pressure changes so keep those things in mind as well.

10. Cravings – When inflammation increases in the body, this increases the stress hormones like cortisol. Cortisol can lead to cravings for fatty and sweet foods. This can turn into a vicious cycle if you indulge on those foods high in poor fats and sugar as these can increase inflammation!!

It’s incredible to know how good you can feel and to wake up one morning and realize how terrible you felt for SO long is actually a gift of sorts. I was reminded in a BIG way how important knowing my body is, how important feeding myself well is and knowing how great I can feel each day! I’m not as fixated on bringing those “treats” back into my life as I was a few months ago. Instead I am continuing to find ways to keep the foods I know work for my body fun and interesting!

Do you want to get even healthier? Could you be dealing with low grade inflammation that’s holding you back? Let’s chat about how changing your nutrition and health coaching can help you make your own healthy changes so that you can feel and look your best. Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with us today—or pass this offer on to someone you care about! Visit www.noshoesnutrition.com and sign up for a FREE consultation.  We work with individuals from all over the world individually or in groups so don’t let anything hold you back!