4 Tips to Fight Chronic Inflammation

By now you have heard inflammation is not ideal for your body in most situations. There are certainly times when inflammation can be beneficial, like when your body heals from an injury. This is considered acute inflammation and is a short-term condition. Chronic inflammation is what can negatively impact our bodies. Chronic inflammation tends to be systemic and can cause everything from muscle aches, and joint stiffness to more serious conditions like heart disease and insulin resistance. Chronic inflammation occurs for a variety of reasons; what we eat and drink, environmental factors, and even how we handle stress can all lead to chronic inflammation.  The good news is there are many different tools to combat chronic inflammation, and most can easily be implemented in your wellness routine. 

1. Eating inflammation fighting foods 

Foods like turmeric and fatty fish can have a positive impact on inflammation.  Curcumin, which is found in the spice turmeric can have a powerful impact on inflammation and so can the Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish like wild salmon. If you find it challenging to add foods like these to your menu, you can always take the supplements curcumin and fish oil. Just make sure they are from a trusted source.

2. Avoid foods that cause inflammation 

Eating too many processed carbohydrates and sugar can cause inflammation. Eating too much of either will cause your body to release too much insulin which will lead to chronic inflammation over time.

3. Add cold therapy to your daily routine 

Cold therapy can be a powerful way to fight inflammation. While cryochambers have become the trend lately, there is nothing wrong with the old school approach of cold showers and ice baths. I know cold showers or ice baths sound unpleasant but besides fighting inflammation, they also have a positive impact on our moods and immune system by increasing the release of norepinephrine and increasing white blood cell count.  *One caveat is to avoid cold water therapy right after exercise. After exercise, we will experience acute inflammation, which is necessary for recovery. I try to separate my exercise and cold water therapy by at least an hour and separating them even longer is even better.

4.  Avoid alcohol on a frequent basis 

In all reality, having a few beers on the weekend will probably have a negligible impact on chronic inflammation but if you kick back a few beers or other adult beverages each night, you may want to reconsider…Especially since these drinks add empty calories to your diet.

Robert Buck