What is inflammation in the body
Inflammation is actually a natural reaction that is quite misunderstood by many. Fundamentally it is the immune system’s response to injury and illness. This acute inflammation manifests itself as swelling or redness, often accompanied with various symptoms such as fever, nausea and irritability that are indications of your body flighting off infection and repairing itself.
A second inflation – chronic inflammation – is a long term condition that can stay with your often for years and can occur even when there is no infection of injury. Chronic inflammation is particularly harmful to your health. It can manifest itself in a number of ways:
- Acute physical pain
- Swelling of the joints
- Brain fog, headaches and depression
- Digestive problems and bloating
- Over production of mucus
- High blood sugar
- Abdominal fat
While doctors are often perplexed as to why chronic inflammation sets in, a number of contributing factor can cause it, and the inflammation itself can then lead to a number of other health issues. It is for this reason that it is important for chronic inflammation to be treated as effectively as possible.
The following are possible ways of reducing and treating chronic inflammation, which in turn will have a significant benefit to your overall health and wellbeing.
Changes to lifestyle and diet
One of the biggest contributors to chronic inflammation is excessive sugar in your diet. Studies have increasingly highlighted the link between the two, whether by weight gain causing swelling, or by the combination of sugar with protein and fat in the bloodstream, creating harmful compounds.
High blood sugar is also a reason why the body becomes insulin resistant and ends up storing fat in the abdominal region, which is also associated with inflammation. High blood sugar also leads to the production of inflammatory molecules in the central nervous system.
Changing your diet and lifestyle and introducing proven anti-inflammatory elements will have a drastic effect on your any inflammation that is causing you physical pain and distress. Eliminating sweet and sugary products, and other processed food products such as white bread, fizzy drinks and ready meals and replacing them fresh, natural produce such as olive oil, avocados, leafy greens and drinking water will not only lead to a reduction in inflammation, but will also immediately reverse the weight gain. This is a win-win for you health wise.
Invest in some Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual Lymphatic Drainage, or MLD massage, is a non-invasive, very gentle treatment that is effective in reducing the swelling associated with inflammation.
Your body’s lymphatic drainage system is a major player in the immune system and helps you fight off infection. Lymph is a yellow liquid that transports nutrients and oxygen to your body’s cells. Because there is no mechanism to effectively ‘pump’ the lymph around the body, it sometimes needs a bit of a helping hand.
In normal circumstances the lymph is moved around by blood pressure and muscles. However, when you are suffering from chronic inflammation that natural process can be impeded, reducing your body’s natural ability to fight off infection.
MLD is a very natural and gentle manipulation of the body to help the lymph to start moving again. , reducing the amount of fluid that has built up around joints, reduce swelling and help the overall healing process.
For those who have been suffering for long periods from chronic inflammation, a combination of MLD and lifestyle and diet change will have a fast and drastic improvement to how you feel.
