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Ouch! You stub your toe on your bedpost for the hundredth time. Almost instantly, the redness, pain, swelling and heat wash over your toe. These four symptoms are the classic and predictable signs of acute inflammation, and they serve a very important purpose. This type …
You may not have realized it, but your level of stress has a direct relationship with your gut. Have you ever felt extremely nervous before giving a major presentation? Or have you been so anxious because of a big test coming up that you’ve completely …
Ouch! You stub your toe on your bedpost for the hundredth time. Almost instantly, the redness, pain, swelling and heat wash over your toe. These four symptoms are the classic and predictable signs of acute inflammation, and they serve a very important purpose. When you stub your toe, cut your finger, or overwork yourself at the gym, the body responds with acute inflammation. This type of inflammation is a healthy, normal part of the healing process; it is how the body heals itself and it is essential to maintain your health.
But there is another type of inflammation that does not go away after the pain subsides. Chronic inflammatory diseases can take years to finally show its symptoms as, in many cases, it starts to impact your body at a microscopic level and it isn’t an isolated problem. Chronic inflammation goes hand in hand with other issues like oxidative damage, making it hard to forecast.
Need more information about Chronic Vs. Acute Inflammation? Click here! >>
There are a few things that can cause inflammation to flare up –
Signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation can sometimes be obvious (like with fatigue and pain). Other times, it can take symptoms years before they manifest.
Make an appointment with your primary doctor for a physical exam and speak with him/her about your risk of obesity and high blood pressure, especially if you are noticing dark circles around the eyes, skin rashes and increased waist circumference, according to Vincent M. Pedre, M.D.
“Your blood work can also provide your doctor with insight into hidden inflammation. Be sure to test for C-reactive protein (CRP), which are able to predict issues with your heart. CRP is a protein your liver makes. When levels are elevated, your body is harboring inflammation.”
One of the most common culprits of chronic inflammation is actually what you eat. But this is good news! You have the powder to change your diet immediately and start fueling your body with what it needs to get back on track.
Two new studies report that dark chocolate reduces stress and inflammation. Click here >>
When searching for healthy food options, be sure to watch out for “friendly” labels! Foods including vegetable oils, grain-fed meats, hydrogenated fats, trans fat, gluten, diet, sugar, genetically-modified crops, processed foods may look healthy and appealing, but are actually inflammatory foods.
An anti-inflammatory diet includes foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids – wild-caught dish, walnuts, avocado, and flax seeds. “These foods limit inflammation, while supporting a healthy gut. Other great sources include extra-virgin coconut and olive oils, grass-fed beef, and sprouted nuts and seeds,” reports Dr. Pedre.
Photo by Jenn Kosar on Unsplash Mushrooms are not just a popular pizza topping or delicious addition to a meal. They have been used as food and sometimes as medicine for centuries, especially in Asian cultures. They are exploding onto the health and beauty market …
Photo by María Victoria Heredia Reyes on Unsplash Inflammation is your body’s natural response to protect itself against harm. “Harm” can include banging your knee, cutting your finger, infections like the flu, or even the affects of smoking. It is connected to diseases of the …
A new study soon to be published in the Journal of Nutrition conducted by LA BioMed, has found that the supplement Aged Garlic Extract can “reverse the buildup of deadly plaque in arteries and help prevent the progression of heart disease.”
Aged Garlic, Allium Sativum, is an herb used in ancient medicine, a healthy vegetable and a potent superfood that has been used traditionally for its vast health benefits. This herb has been specifically used to promote a healthy immune system, heart function, blood pressure, cholesterol and circulation. When garlic is aged, some of its health-preserving constituents are augmented, making it more powerful for the immune system without the odor, stomach upset or gassiness.
There’s a link between your body’s inflammation and how much sleep you get! Click here to read more!
According to Nicole Crane, BS, NTP, garlic is rich in a sulfur-y compound called allicin that has powerful antioxidant, antibacterial and cardiovascular supporting properties. “Allicin tends to be very unstable and short-lived, quickly changing into other sulfur containing compounds. Aging garlic stabilizes the allicin and makes it more powerful. Aged Garlic in supplement form offers the most benefits in terms of allin’s bioavailability and absorption.”
The study involved 55 patients, aged 40 to 75 years old, who had been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by obesity, hypertension and other cardiac risk factors. All participants underwent screening at the beginning of the study to measure the total coronary plaque volume, as well as dense calcium, non-calcified plaque and low-attenuation plaque. The screening was conducted using Cardiac Computed Tomography Anigography (CCTA), a noninvasive imaging technology that accurately measures calcium deposits and plaque buildup in the arteries. Participants were either given a placebo or a dose of 2,400 milligrams of Aged Garlic Extract every day.
A follow-up screening conducted a year after the initial screening found that those who had taken the Aged Garlic Extract had slowed total plaque accumulation by 80%, reduced soft plaque and demonstrated regression (less plaque on follow-up) for low-attenuation plaque.