Combating Inflammation
Hot weather, holiday weekends, tailgates, and ever changing schedules with the start of a new school year have left many of us fighting against constant inflammation. This can look like puffy facial features (can also be hormone related), sore or stiff joints, and swollen hands. These are the classic symptoms we all know, but what about the other key markers and indicators of inflammation. Sometimes inflammation can show up in weight fluctuations , muscle aches, anxiety, skin rashes/acne, or even gastrointestinal issues. While these symptoms can be mild and seem harmless we are in the window of time that tends to lead to the holiday cascade (October, November, December) that leaves many of us feeling less than our best and running on empty by the new year. But what if instead of ignoring these ‘harmless’ symptoms now we address root causes and reset inflammation markers in the body to give ourselves a boost prior to holidays and the return of sickness season.
Detox
According to the NIH , “Inflammation occurs in response to various cellular stresses including infection, irradiation, or chemical or physical injury”. While we can make strides to limit chemicals and stressors it is almost impossible to avoid completely. That is why detoxification is so important! We are going to naturally come in contact with chemicals, irritants, and stressors through food, air, soil, and scents. The important thing is to get these toxins and stressors back out of the body and too often we forget this part. The first way is to SWEAT! Your body’s natural mechanism to detox is simply to sweat. This can look like a sauna, exercise, or just sitting outside (bonus vitamin D). However, if you are still using aluminum containing deodorant this is going to work as an antiperspirant and limit your body’s ability to sweat out toxins and will clog the lymphatic system. Make sure you are using an aluminum free deodorant, if you need help finding one we have a great option available in store. It is made by birchwood farms and it has been really easy on those using it helping avoid skin irritation.
Food
To resist sounding like a broken record, food controls so much of our overall health! If you notice you are feeling inflamed immediately start looking at your diet. Alcohol, fried food, and ultra processed foods all contribute to inflammation. Try some easy swaps to help support your body and reduce overall inflammation. For example instead of ultra processed cheese crackers try Sourdough cheese crackers . Add in more whole protein sources such as pasture raised elk, ancestral blend ground beef (contains beef heart and liver ground in ), and grass fed ribeye. Luckily we have all of these proteins available and ready in store as well as our scratch made pasta options and sourdough pizza/bread.
Stress
While stress is a natural part of daily life , it can wreck havoc on the gut and cause inflammation. Think of ways to naturally reduce stress, and understand that finding what works for you and your body is going to take a little time. Magnesium can help improve sleep which prepares the body to better adapt and handle stressors. Taking a bath, doing a skincare routine, engaging in community events, or spending time with family are all great ways to decrease stress levels. Think of oxytocin levels (happy hormones) and what makes these rise in your body. A great way to reduce bodily stress is to tap into your circadian rhythm and get outside for morning sunlight, limit blue light at night, and wait to have coffee until you eat breakfast.
Supplements
Sometimes we need a little help! This is where strategic, researched, and practical supplementation is really effective! It is important to understand the lack of federal oversight in supplements that are on the market. According to the FDA “Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as amended by DSHEA and FDA regulations”. This means being able to trust your supplement company is EXTREMELY important! That is one of the reasons why we carry Whole 4 Life supplements. Jill is someone we know and trust personally who runs her successful practice in Walhalla,SC that aligns with our beliefs and overall health goals. It is what we take in our house and have been happy with the transparency behind her products. The holy grail for me is a supplement called Inflacalm. It is specifically designed to target inflammation and I take this at night and can immediately tell a difference the following morning. I pair this with a probiotic, magnesium , and paracide.
Bonus is to add microgreens into your diet! This is such an easy addition that is overlooked and can drastically improve micronutrient intake, but this is a whole journal coming soon.
Articles:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5220492/