INFLAMMATION

Chronic inflammation is at the root of most serious chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Most people have some understanding of the potentially damaging effects inflammation can have on the body. The popularity of anti-inflammatory drugs is another sign that inflammation is seen as something to get rid of at all costs. There are two types of inflammation, acute or chronic. Further evidence points to the fact that acute inflammation due to an injury such as a sprained ankle is actually beneficial and should not be supressed via drugs. On the other hand chronic inflammation can be deadly when it’s allowed to progress unchecked.

Inflammation is an extremely complex response to damaging and noxious stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells or irritants. Inflammation plays a major role in most chronic diseases. Organic acids testing helps show where the inflammation is coming from, which body systems are being impacted and what needs to be treated to eliminate inflammation and mitigate the damage caused throughout the body.

Ironically, chronic inflammation often goes unnoticed as it can target certain organs like those of the digestive system or the liver. When these organs become inflamed due to food allergies, infections, toxins or excessive alcohol use then a cascade of negative effects will occur. Even excess fat deposits are inflammatory, fat stores also contain harmful toxins further adding to the overall picture of chronic inflammation.

Inflammation can be caused via:

As discussed in the digestion section, CDSA testing can identify areas of chronic inflammation in the Gastro-Intestinal System. Through Organic Acid testing it is possible to see how chronic inflammation in certain areas of your body is impacting your physiology and contributing to the developing of a chronic disease.C-reactive protein measured via blood testing can also show how much hidden inflammation is present in your body

Sustained inflammatory responses, evident in chronic inflammation cause an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which you may recall is another term for oxidative stress. When local antioxidant protection fails to keep reactive oxygen species in check there is a much greater risk of damage to cell membranes, enzymes, DNA and RNA.

 The Organic Acids test will show areas of inflammation which can cause:

HOW TO DECREASE CHRONIC INFLAMMATION

The most important factor in eliminating chronic inflammation is to identify the cause through the lab testing. Once the cause is identified and addressed there are a number of lifestyle changes that can be made to avoid the chronic inflammatory process;

• Eat a whole foods, high fibre, plant-based diet which is anti-inflammatory.
• Consume healthy fats from olive oil, nuts, avocados and omega 3 fats from small fish such as sardines, herring and wild salmon. Avoid trans fats
• Moderate exercise
• Relaxation methods such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing
• Identify food allergies and refrain from eating these foods
• Take a good quality probiotic
• Take a methylated multi – vitamin and mineral supplement

Chronic inflammation is at the root of all chronic disease, contact the clinic today to organise testing to uncover your level of hidden inflammation.