How bad is Inflammation for your body? And how do we know if we have it?
Inflammation is an uncomfortable symptom marked by four classic signs: calor, dolor, rubor, and tumor, or heat, pain, redness, and swelling.
Although we've been taught that inflammation is harmful, it is a good thing (to an extent!). Inflammation is our body's natural response to an injury or infection.
But let's dive deeper into what inflammation is.
Inflammation is a natural and necessary response of the body's immune system to injury, infection, or irritation. It is a complex biological process that involves the activation of various immune cells, signaling molecules, and biochemical pathways to protect the body and initiate the healing process.
When tissues are damaged or exposed to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, toxins, or physical injury, the immune system responds by releasing inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, chemokines, and prostaglandins.
So, it's important to remember that inflammation is not a hindrance but a precursor to healing. Inflammation sets the stage for our body's healing process, a vital step that paves the way for recovery. However, this mainly pertains to acute inflammation.
What’s the difference between acute inflammation and chronic?
While acute inflammation is essential for healing, chronic inflammation can contribute to the development of various diseases. Managing inflammation through lifestyle interventions is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being.
In acute inflammation, the immune response is rapid and self-limiting, serving to eliminate the source of injury or infection and promote tissue repair. However, in some cases, inflammation can become chronic and persist for weeks, months, or even years. Chronic inflammation is characterized by sustained activation of the immune system and can contribute to the development of various diseases and health conditions.
Chronic inflammation is often associated with lifestyle factors such as poor diet, sedentary behavior, stress, smoking, and environmental toxins. Managing inflammation through lifestyle modifications, such as adopting a healthy diet, regular exercise, stress management techniques, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, can help reduce the risk of chronic inflammation and its associated health consequences.
How to help heal inflammation
Vitamin C helps reduce inflammation through its antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, immune support, promotion of collagen synthesis, and other antioxidant regeneration. Additionally, vitamin C supplementation may benefit individuals with inflammatory conditions or increased oxidative stress.*
Chronic stress can lead to chronic inflammation. Cortisol is a stress hormone that, when chronically elevated, can promote inflammation by activating pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. By reducing stress, cortisol levels can be normalized, helping to dampen the inflammatory response.
Although it is new in the research field, postbiotics are also proving to show anti-inflammatory benefits.
A postbiotic is a compound that is produced by the metabolic activity of probiotic microorganisms (beneficial bacteria or yeasts) during fermentation or growth. Unlike probiotics, which are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed, and prebiotics, which are non-digestible fibers that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, postbiotics are the metabolites or metabolic byproducts of these microorganisms.
Research suggests that postbiotics may exert various health-promoting effects, including:
- Immune Modulation: Postbiotics can help regulate the immune system by promoting the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and enhancing the activity of immune cells, such as T cells and natural killer (NK) cells.*
- Gut Barrier Function: Postbiotics may strengthen the intestinal barrier by promoting the production of mucin, a protective layer that lines the gut epithelium, and by modulating tight junction proteins that control the permeability of the intestinal lining.*
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Some postbiotics have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and signaling pathways involved in inflammation*
As research into the gut microbiome and its impact on health continues to expand, interest in postbiotics as a potential therapeutic approach for promoting gut health and overall well-being is growing.
*Disclaimer: Our posts are for educational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Please consult with your doctor for medical advice.
InterPlexus Supplements that Support a Healthy Inflammatory Response
https://interplexus.com/products/ipx-booster-super-strength
https://interplexus.com/products/flavo-plexc
https://interplexus.com/products/seriphos
https://interplexus.com/products/adapt
Always consult with a healthcare professional before beginning a new supplement regimen, especially if you take medications or have underlying health conditions.
Resources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/
- https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/1/89#:~:text=Postbiotics%20have%20demonstrated%20positive%20immunomodulatory,Healthy%20individuals%20tolerate%20postbiotics%20well.
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.02754/full
- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/843b/5a048bfaaa58b5605deac13209567134aa6c.pdf
- https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/chronic-inflammation-why-its-harmful-and-how-to-prevent-it
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/what-is-chronic-inflammation
- https://www.rupahealth.com/post/a-root-cause-medicine-approach-to-chronic-inflammation
- https://wefixbrains.com/resources/is-chronic-stress-causing-your-body-inflammation#:~:text=Inflammation%2C%20typically%20associated%20with%20physical,on%20the%20body%20and%20mind
- https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/cushings-syndrome/relationship-between-cortisol-inflammation
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/united-states-of-stress/link-between-stress-inflammation/
- https://balancenutritionwithandi.com/understanding-cortisol/
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