How to Fight Chronic Inflammation
By Sara Butler
Chronic inflammation has been in the news a lot lately. That’s because the medical community is starting to understand that chronic inflammation may be a big contributor to health conditions such as stroke and high blood pressure. The experts are still trying to sort through all the ways inflammation can impact your health, but in the meantime, it’s important to take steps to reduce chronic inflammation. Here are a few ways you can do just that!
Quit Smoking
Smoking triggers an inflammatory response in your body and also increases the buildup of plaque on the walls of your arteries -- another thing that adds to problems with chronic inflammation. A buildup of plaque increases your risk of stroke and heart attack, too.
For many people, kicking the habit cold turkey is a daunting prospect, but it can be done. Talk to a trusted healthcare provider to help you come up with a strategy to quit and join a local support group to help. You may also want to consider nicotine replacement.
Exercise
You don’t have to train for a marathon to get results but being active is really important when trying to control chronic inflammation. Research has shown that just 30 minutes of exercise per day most days of the week can reduce inflammation by as much as 12 percent.
Eat Well
There are foods you can eat to help fight against your body’s inflammatory response. In fact, studies have found repeatedly that diets rich in vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and fatty fish help to lower inflammation levels. Also, diets lacking in vegetables but higher in trans fats, sugar, and refined grains promote inflammation.
It’s also important to get some antioxidant-rich foods in your diet such as dark chocolate and berries. So, eat fresh and try to pay attention to what you eat if you really want to fight back against inflammation.
Control Stress
Your stress and anxiety levels can also play a role in inflammation. Take the time to reduce stress in your life and unwind, investing more in your emotional health and wellness. Yoga is a proven stress-buster and spending time with friends and family is also good for you. As well, laugh a little because it’s been found to help you let go of stress and reduce inflammation too.
Chronic inflammation needs to be kept under control. Make sure to do your best to defeat it!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Mesa, Ariz.