Fight Inflammation and Fight the Disease of Aging

Inflammation is the body’s normal response to any kind of tissue damage. When you cut, bruise, burn, bump, scrape or break some part of your body, inflammation sets in. Inflammation also occurs from chemical and microbial damage (toxins and infection). So, no matter how the damage happens inflammation is going to be the body’s primary response to the damage.

Normally, inflammation will take care of itself naturally, and the injury heals. But, when the tissues do not heal, tissue becomes chronically inflamed. A slow process of deterioration results in a chronic or degenerative disease, like cardiovascular disease, arthritis, obesity and mental deterioration. The fact is that just about any disease probably involves inflammation.

To understand why tissues do not heal, we need to understand the normal process of inflammation which works like this:

When tissues are initially damaged, there is a release of histamine, which if followed up by a release of bradykinin, serotonin and other chemical mediators. These dilate capillary pores and initiate inflammation by allowing fluid and protein to enter the tissue spaces.

The second phase is when chemical messengers are released to further open blood vessels so white blood cells can reach the damaged area. This causes swelling. If the inflammation is in the respiratory tract, histamine and leukotrienes will cause bronchial constriction and increased mucus production to flush toxins. Pain receptors are activated at this stage.

In the third phase, white blood cells use free radicals to destroy microbes and cellular debris. Healthy cells need antioxidants to protect themselves from the free radicals. If antioxidant levels are too low, healthy tissues will get damaged causing inflammation to spread.

In a normal process, white blood cells cleanup the area and a healing phase is initiated. Cortisol from the adrenals is secreted to shut down production of chemical messengers that assist the inflammatory process and the tissue is repaired.

In chronic inflammation, the body never completes the healing phase. The free radical activity cause more cells to be damaged. It is like a forest fire.

Inflammation cannot heal if there is a lack of nutrients needed for healing. Chronic tissue irritation continues from environmental toxins and poor diet, prevent healing. And to complicate the matter, adrenal fatigue from chronic stress (which shuts down cortisol production), prevents the healing phase.

Here are some steps to take to assist the body to heal itself.

Detoxify. A good cleanse will help eliminate toxins already in the body.

Eat Right Fat. The chemical messengers that control the inflammatory process are made from omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids. A balance of these elements help the body in the healing process.

Avoid Carbohydrates. Refined sugars and grains cause spikes in insulin. High levels of insulin inhibit the conversion of fatty acids and result in chronic inflammation.

Improve lymphatic drainage. The lymph system is essential to removing the inflammation that is pooling in the spaces around the cells. Walking, swimming, bouncing up and down, deep breathing will move the lymph.

Antioxidants. Antioxidant nutrients will help to reduce both oxidative stress and control inflammation.

Adrenal Glands. The adrenals produce cortisol, which helps keep inflammation in control. Chronic stress, caffeine and sugar exhaust these glands and reduce the ability to control inflammation.

Use natural anti-inflammatory remedies. Nature has supplied us with many natural remedies that reduce chronic inflammation and promote tissue healing. These include, Devil’s claw, yucca, MSM, willow bark, turmeric, boswellia.

Using these suggestions to help fight inflammation which fights the disease of aging.