Many people talk about inflammation and how their bodies struggle with stiff, painful joints, but what is inflammation? Selvan Naicker, Brand Manager for JointEze® explains that inflammation is the body's natural response to injury, infection, or harmful stimuli. It is part of the immune system's defence mechanism and plays a critical role in healing. However, inflammation can be prolonged when the body continues to believe that it still needs protection, which does impact your joints negatively.
There are two types of inflammation, acute and chronic, and while inflammation may help protect the body, if it becomes excessive or prolonged it can lead to health problems.
Acute inflammation is usually short-term, occurring after an injury, such as a sprained ankle. This area will show signs of redness and swelling, give off heat and cause pain; there may even be a problem with movement. This is the body’s way to help fight off infection by using immune cells and nutrients at the damaged area and start the healing process. Using a topical anti-inflammatory such as JointEze® Active Warming Gel, with added MSM, can help ease the pain caused by muscles or joints, and help speed up recovery.
Chronic inflammation is long-term and can occur when the body continues to send signals of inflammation, even if there is no infection. This type of inflammation can be harmful and can be associated with various diseases including arthritis, heart disease and autoimmune disorders.
“Inflammation is an important part of the body’s healing process, however when it becomes constant even when there is no healing to be done, it can affect the body and be harmful. To help decrease your body’s inflammation making changes to your diet, exercise choices and good sleep habits can help make a difference. When it becomes too severe, medical intervention may be needed,” comments Naicker.
When inflammation persists, even after an injury has healed, an anti-inflammatory diet can help your body reduce inflammation. This type of diet should include:
Healthy food such as leafy greens, berries and cruciferous vegetables which are rich in antioxidants.
Foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, flaxseeds and olive oil.
Foods like oatmeal, brown rice, and quinoa which are better than refined grains.
Herbs and spices such as ginger, turmeric, and garlic contain compounds that fight inflammation.
Plenty of water, herbal teas, and other hydrating beverages can help the body stay hydrated ensuring that toxins are flushed out further reducing inflammation.
There are foods that should be limited and/or avoided when reducing inflammation:
Processed foods such as refined sugars and trans fats can increase inflammation.
Both alcohol and smoking should be avoided.
Changing your diet can make a difference to the inflammation in your body but combining this diet with low-impact exercises like walking or swimming promotes circulation and reduces fat, which is associated with inflammatory markers. Adding a supplement to your diet such as JointEze® capsules formulated with Opti-MSM® can help reduce inflammation and joint pain, giving you another option when reducing inflammation.
Although stress is something we can’t always control, we can try and work on how we react to it. Chronic stress can increase inflammation. Adding practices like meditation, deep breathing exercises, and yoga to your exercise routine can help you to manage your stress levels. Getting adequate sleep can also help with both stress and inflammation.
Reducing inflammation often involves a combination of diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments, aimed at supporting overall health. However, if all these changes are made and consistently stuck to, yet chronic inflammation persists, medical intervention may be needed.
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