Is Inflammation Holding you Back?

If you have an illness or a condition that ends with “itis” you have a chronic inflammation problem. Some examples are arthritis, bursitis, sinusitis and tendinitis. This inflammation can be systemic and can be happening in the body without you being aware. It contributes to other illnesses such as diabetes, osteoporosis and even Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, there are quite a few of us dealing with the issues of chronic inflammation. Do any of these questions ring true for you?

• Do you smoke, or did you smoke for a long period of time?
• Are you overweight?
• Are you always craving carbohydrate
• Are you constantly hungry?
• Are your fingernails brittle?
• Are you constipated?
• Is your brain foggy upon waking?
• Do you have difficulty concentrating?
• Do you get frequent headaches?

If you answer ‘yes’ to more than three of these questions keep reading! You could be dealing with silent inflammation!

How does Inflammation lead to illness?

Chronic inflammation creates free radicals in the body. These free radicals are molecules that damage tissues, DNA, they age us and contribute to the inflammation that leads to the development of illness. Chronic inflammation is known to play a large role in the development of many illnesses today from the common cold to cancer.

But what is inflammation? Well, it’s the body’s natural response to injury, irritation or infection.Think about what happens to your skin if you were to scratch it. Four common symptoms may occur. These include redness at the site of the scratch, swelling, the scratch may get warm and there would be pain if you were to get scratched hard enough. The body creates this inflammatory response to protect you! The inflammation reduces the spread of the damaging agents and sets the body up to be able to repair the damage. It’s a beneficial process that helps the body repair itself and protect itself.

Where does this inflammation in the body come from?

There are a number of things that can contribute to chronic inflammation. These include:

• Poor Dietary Choices
• Infection
• Physical Injuries
• Allergies and Food Sensitivities
• Chronic Stress
• Poor Sleeping Habits
• Environmental Toxins
• Excess Body Fat

When inflammation becomes chronic illness can begin. The key is to bring that red, hot, swollen, painful inflammation back to normal. We can do this by changing the foods we eat. We can add anti-inflammatory foods that can help rebuild inflamed tissues and support our best health. These include lots of vegetables and fresh fruit, as well as, healthy fats like omega 3’s and olive oil.

To continue to reduce inflammation you want to try to reduce your exposure to toxins as much as possible. This includes alcohol, cigarettes and second-hand smoke! It also means making an effort when possible to buy local, organic veggies and produce that are pesticide and herbicide free. Another important step is to watch your intake of pro-inflammatory fats from deep fried foods, hydrogenated oils and rancid oils. Reducing your intake of artificial food additives and processed foods in general can really improve symptoms.

If these simple steps are not bringing you the results you desire there may be more to your inflammation that needs some deeper digging. The most common food allergens may be contributing to inflammation for you. These foods include dairy, gluten, soy, nuts, eggs, corn and nightshade vegetables. This can get overwhelming quickly and this is where getting the support of a certified holistic nutrition consultant or health coach can be the best decision. They can lead you through an elimination protocol to help you determine if you are sensitive to any of these foods.

Do you want to get even healthier? Is chronic inflammation stopping you from living to your fullest? Are you tired of feeling sick and tired? Curious about how health coaching can help you on your journey to optimal health? Let’s talk! Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with me today—or pass this offer on to someone you care about! Visit www.noshoesnutrition.com and sign up for a FREE consultation.  I work with people from all over the world individually or in groups so don’t let anything hold you back!