First off how would I even know if I have chronic inflammation…or even what is it?
That is not an atypical response. I think we all know or at least have experienced acute inflammation. If you have had an injury from an accident, taken a slapshot off the shins, an errant pitch in the arm, or even a punch from a sibling…haha … I was the youngest of six so I can relate to that. Anyway acute is the swelling at the injury site, perhaps reddening and tenderness. It typically dissipates in a few days.
Chronic systemic is generally not observable. It can affect your entire body. It is often present with such diseases as heart, stroke, cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, arthritis and the list goes on.
The body can get stuck in this chronic inflammatory response. How does this become a condition in us? Well of course trauma of a physical nature but also mental stress, poor sleep, vertebral subluxations and exposure to toxins.
How do you deal with these issues? Well as a chiropractor I have what I call the 5 pillars of health and wellness. We need to address all of them. They are 1/ proper nutrition and supplements 2/ Adequate Exercise 3/ Proper Sleep 4/ A positive mental outlook and dealing with stress 5/ A Properly Functioning Nervous System which is what I do from a chiropractic perspective.
So what about nutrition? I don’t think that you will have any argument from experts as the two main culprits of chronic inflammation are sugar and flour. There are lengthy lists of these foods that contribute to making us sick and they are easily researched on the net. Suffice it to say that eating anti-inflammatory foods is beneficial. These foods should be as close to organic as possible without the chemicals added for commercial purposes. These include lean meats, leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, fruits, nuts, dark chocolate etc.
When cooking use olive oil or coconut oil. There are others but do your due diligence before committing to oil for your family. Many spices are helpful as well and will increase flavour and taste. They include cinnamon, ginger, garlic, turmeric, rosemary to mention a few. Use sea salt and not table salt.
There are a host of supplements that can be added on a case by case scenario.
The second pillar is Adequate Exercise. I suppose that this is relative to the amount of exercise that you currently get. Start by getting moving. Increase your activity is reasonable chunks. Depending upon your age and current health status you can start with a 15 minute walk. Increase length and intensity or briskness as you become more accustomed to it. Additionally add some strength training that may include light weights with increasing reps or isometric exercises. If you want specifics email us and we will point you in the right direction.
The 3rd pillar is adequate rest. Eight hours is ideal and in many cases a fantasy. Turn off the TV, limit liquids before bedtime, and curb caffeine in the evenings. There are a host of techniques that you can employ to improve sleep patterns.
The 4th pillar is to have a positive mental outlook on life. Whoa Whoa…this could be a book in itself but let’s just say limit your stress by using some simple techniques. For example some it may be that walk in nature, a good book, playing a game of golf or tennis. Breathing exercises, yoga, and tai chi may be your elixir. For me it involves an acoustic guitar and music room. Whatever it takes in your case identify what chills you out.
The final pillar is a properly functioning nervous system. That is where chiropractic comes in. if you have interference in you nervous system you cannot be at optimum health and wellness period.
If you want to find out about your level of health and wellness call our office for a Health Audit and we will discuss how these pillars relate to your particular case.
As a chiropractor I know unequivocally that by following a few philosophical concepts you can improve your health…but only if you want to achieve those goals.
Feel free to email me with any questions.
Dr Brian D Huggins
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