Treating Inflammation - The Root Cause of Dis-ease

Inflammation is our body’s natural defence mechanism to remove harmful stimuli and initiate the healing process. However, like pain, it has the potential to become a chronic and lingering issue if it fails to eliminate the initial cause of inflammation.

Inflammatory cytokines are produced to protect us from infections and damaged cells. If not resolved short-term, these cytokines can disrupt the communication processes throughout the body. For example, in the endocrine system, signals from hormones and hormone sensitive tissues can be blocked by cytokines leading to endocrine disruption. When the body’s inflammatory responses become chronic, multiple systems are likely to be affected leading to further symptoms.

Key triggers to inflammation include:

• Pro-inflammatory foods – sugar, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, trans/damaged fats, processed meats and for many, also includes dairy and wheat/gluten

• Infections: viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi/mould

• Chronic oxidative stress contributed by lifestyle factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, stress, and environmental toxins

Functional Health testing for pain and inflammation

Genetic Testing for Inflammation

Apart of the standard blood tests performed by your GP to measure your inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR), there is broad approach that can be taken in supporting the management of pain and inflammation.

A more personalised and targeted approach is available with recent developments in GENETIC TESTING. Research indicates pain and inflammation can be highly heritable so screening for markers associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and methylation plus accessing information on key neurochemical pathways (e.g., serotonin, catecholamines, dopamine, opioid and endocannabinoid) can elucidate valuable insights into genetic influences on inflammation.

Food Sensitivity Testing for Inflammation

If food tolerances are a suspected cause of chronic inflammation, one can consider food antigen testing that includes testing IgG with Complement, to get a deeper insight into which foods could be contributing to chronic inflammation. These trigger foods can be eliminated for a period of time to support a reduction in inflammation levels while simultaneously undertaking a gut healing protocol.

Managing inflammation with Diet and Lifestyle

Diet is a very powerful tool to help reduce inflammation. Increase intake of vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds, wholegrains, purified water, omega 3 essential fatty acids from oily fish, herbs and spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, garlic and parsley to name a few.

In addition, address key factors that may be fuelling chronic inflammation by:

• Resolving infections

• Gut healing

• Optimising sleep

• Daily exercise

• Reducing or avoiding environmental toxins, getting out into nature

• Implementing stress management tools

If you have been experiencing chronic inflammation and pain it may be time to do some further investigations with functional testing and scrutinising your diet and lifestyle with my assistance.

Health and love

Deena