When inflammation becomes “runaway,” we see chronic inflammatory conditions occur like asthma, allergies, chronic ear infections and sinusitis. When low-level inflammation goes on for years, chronic degenerative diseases can develop.
We generally equate a healthy immune system with “not getting sick,” but did you know that your immune system controls your body’s defenses against both infectious and inflammatory diseases? Keeping the immune system healthy helps us avoid getting sick, but also speeds recovery from inflammatory conditions.
Sources of Inflammation to Avoid
Avoid Inflammatory Foods: These include foods like packaged baked goods and soda. The simple carbohydrates in these foods readily break down and release massive amounts of sugar (glucose) into the bloodstream. The body produces insulin to counteract this flood of glucose. The constant release of insulin is very inflammatory to the body.
Avoid Toxic Personal Care Products: Body lotions and cleaning chemicals contain toxins that are absorbed through the skin. Exposure to chemicals creates an inflammatory “toxic load” that the body must overcome.
Avoid Inflammatory Lifestyle Habits: Stress and bad sleep habits disrupt cortisol production in the body. Just like excess insulin, a prolonged elevation of cortisol is inflammatory to the body.
How to Actively Reduce Inflammation
Eat Your Antioxidants: Antioxidants and phytochemicals in certain plant foods and botanical medicines reduce chronic inflammatory conditions by neutralizing free radicals. “Eating your colors” via fruits and vegetables provides you with free radical scavengers that boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. Many herbs have antioxidant, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. Be sure to cook with plenty of fresh herbs like rosemary, oregano and turmeric.
Supplement Your Antioxidants: Even if you are doing your best to eat fruits and vegetables, it can become challenging to fit them in every day. Concentrated powder supplements (we recommend Juice Plus+) have been clinically proven to decrease oxidative stress (inflammation). With the help of fruit- and vegetable-based supplements, you can neutralize free radicals “on the go.”
One Surprising Way to Reduce Inflammation
Get Salt Therapy: Salt therapy helps support the immune system on two levels. It is physically anti-inflammatory and is also calming to the central nervous system. The antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties of salt have been documented to help with inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis and eczema.
Many contributors to chronic inflammatory disease exist in our food supply and environment, but there are also many things we can do to restore immune defense processes and reduce “runaway” inflammatory conditions.
