Oct
29
Written by:
Dr. Cherniawski
10/29/2008 9:42 AM
Inflammation is at the heart of all sickness, illness, and disease and results in redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function. Research links inflammation to allergies, arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders, heart disease, hormonal imbalances, and osteoporosis.
There are 3 causes of inflammation in the body: poor nutrition, unmanaged stress, and physical injury. To get inflammation under control, all three causes need to be addressed.
1. Nutrition. Avoid pro-inflammatory foods including all corn products, grains, bread, cereals, pasta, highly processed foods, fatty cuts of meat, and foods high in sugar. Instead, consume anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, fish, lean meat, and free range poultry that are NOT corn fed. Also supplement with omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil and flax seed oil, 1-3 grams per day if you do not suffer with any of the above health problems or 4-6 grams per day if you do.
2. Stress. Avoid sugar and caffeine which artificially stimulate the adrenal gland, the stress gland of the body, causing it to produce abnormal levels of stress hormones. One hormone, epinephrine, inhibits the proper function of the immune and digestive systems, both of which play key roles in controlling inflammation of the body. Support the proper function of the adrenal gland by supplementing with antioxidants, B complex, and adrenal extracts.
3. Injury. Avoid poor posture and activities which involve long periods of repetitive motion such as typing, sitting for long periods, throwing, or crafting. Over time, these activities cause wear and tear that activates the inflammatory process. If you have poor posture or cannot avoid these activities, see a chiropractor who can assess your overall health and make sure your body is properly aligned and functioning as it should. Also, visit a chiropractor as soon as other injury occurs such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury to be sure that the immediate inflammation does not turn into long term chronic inflammation.
To be healthy, age gracefully, and live a quality life, it is important to keep inflammation at bay. To do so requires you to look at your health from multiple aspects and take charge of what you eat, manage your stress, and take care of your physical being. Chiropractic, along with proper nutrition, supplementation, and stress management plays a key role in keeping you healthy and preventing inflammatory diseases.