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What You Need to Know About Inflammation

By Rachel Carver

Inflammation is a word we hear a lot. Foods can cause inflammation. Too much sitting can cause inflammation. But what exactly is it?

Inflammation is a biological response that uses cellular pathways to protect the body from harm through a series of signals. The body reacts to certain triggers by sending signals to remove harmful substances and heal damaged tissues. For example, the body tries to remove a sliver of wood from your hand by making the infected spot swell, slowly pushing out the splinter.

Inflammation protects us. But it can also cause damage. Read on to learn more.

Positive Inflammation

In many cases, inflammation is necessary. It heals your hand after a sliver. Known as acute inflammation, symptoms of this inflammation can include swelling, redness, and pain. This inflammation tells us something is wrong and helps us heal. It happens in one part of the body and goes away after a few hours or days.

Chronic Inflammation

Unlike acute inflammation, this negative inflammation does not benefit the body and does not go away. It does not benefit the body. Symptoms can include joint pain and digestive issues.

Conditions such as asthma, sinusitis, and chronic ulcers all result from chronic inflammation. This means the immune system is working very hard and does not know when to stop.

If left unchecked, chronic inflammation can lead to an attack on internal organs and tissues. This can cause health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. It can affect a specific area or your entire body.

Inflammation and Diet

Following a balanced diet is one of the ways to combat inflammation. Some foods contribute to inflammation, including:

  • Refined carbohydrates
  • Alcohol
  • Sugar
  • Saturated and trans fats

These foods cause us to produce higher amounts of reactive molecules. These molecules are part of our normal metabolism process. However, our body does not have enough resources to deal with excessive molecule consumption.

Many foods fight inflammation and give us important vitamins and minerals. These include:

  • Leafy vegetables
  • Berries
  • Fatty fish
  • Nuts

Inflammation and Exercise

An intense workout can cause acute inflammation. The body tries to prepare a damaged muscle by increasing blood circulation to that area. A regular exercise habit may help decrease chronic inflammation. Cardio workouts can reduce overall inflammation. However, too much training does not give your muscles enough time to recover, placing them in a constantly inflamed state.

Some small changes can decrease inflammation. Reduce your consumption of ultra-processed foods. Build recovery days into your workout routine. And find ways to manage your stress.

And if you have any other questions, you might find help in what would seem to be an unusual place: The Joint Chiropractic. Your chiropractor at one of the 600-plus clinics nationwide can offer good advice on what you can do to limit inflammation in your life.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Dallas, Tex.

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