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Do you have SILENT Inflammation in your GUT?

Updated: Jul 15, 2020


Inflammation in your gut

Inflammation. We hear this word frequently in the health world and we picture swelling, redness and pain, but this isn't always the case. Silent inflammation in the body is the whole other side of the inflammatory picture that is not as often widely discussed. Silent inflammation is an inflammatory process that is not visible to the eye and can have many negative impacts on our health. It can play a huge role for some very serious and debilitating chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's and other brain disorders, cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and many other health concerns.


SYMPTOMS OF POTENTIAL SILENT INFLAMMATION IN THE BODY:

• Fatigue

• Joint pain or stiffness

• Food sensitivities

• Reoccurring infections

• Skin issues (red or itchy skin, acne)

• Diarrhea or constipation

• Bloating

• A pre diagnosed autoimmune disorder

One of the main signs of an inflammatory response in the body is digestive issues. We are just beginning to understand how important the gut is for all around health and wellbeing. The microbiota in the gut can influence some of our basic emotions, pain sensitivity and social interactions which makes it extra integral to our health. When the gut is inflamed we see symptoms such as diarrhea and/or constipation, bloating, stomach pain and flatulence. This demands us to really take our diet as well as other lifestyle factors into serious consideration.

Food sensitivities are individual to each of us, but cause inflammation in the gut can results in a wide array of symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain. These feelings indicate our body does not tolerate those foods well and most likely need to be eliminated from the diet. The most common food sensitivities we see today are gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and corn. These foods can wreck havoc on our gut if we are sensitive to them and result in an inflammatory response.


ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET

What are theses foods you ask? Heres a small breakdown of some anti-inflammatory foods:

• Fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel)- contain healthy fats such as omega 3s

• Nuts (walnuts, pistachios, pine nuts, almonds)- make sure they are raw and unsalted

• Chia seeds- also a great source of fibre

• Broccoli, brussel sprouts, celery, beets, bok choy and a variety of other green leafy vegetables

• Blueberries, blackberries, cherries, pineapple

• Bone Broth

• Avocados

• Coconut Oil

• Flax

• Beans and lentils

• Green tea

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Turmeric and Cinnamon

Foods that can be inflammatory

• Refined Carbs (such as white bread and pastas)

• Fried/processed foods

• Sugar (always remember to be mindful of the sneaky sugar content in your beverages)

• Dairy

• Excess alcohol consumption

• Red meats


HOW TO MONITOR SILENT INFLAMMATION?

This silent inflammatory process can be monitored through a few KEY blood tests.

• CRP (C-reactive Protein) is an overall measure of inflammation in your blood. It does not give a specific reasons for why or where the inflammation is in your body, but is a great place to start when assessing your inflammatory levels. As well, CRP can be a great marker to monitor cardiovascular risk.

• ESR is also an overall measure of inflammation in the blood, but once again does not give specific reasons for this inflammation. High levels of ESR indicate there is some inflammatory process happening in your body.

CRP and ESR are great starting points to check for silent inflammation and if either of them are elevated then further investigation needs to be done to find the root cause of the problem.


QUICK EVIDENCE-BASED TIPS TO FURTHER REDUCE INFLAMMATION

Quick evidence-based tips to further reduce inflammation

• Curcumin- also known to us as Turmeric is such a KEY anti-inflammatory that has been shown to be similar to drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) for inflammatory relief, but without the negative gastrointestinal side effects that Advil can cause. More importantly curcumin is an antioxidant that can reduce the inflammatory process in a variety of the bodily systems.

• Boswellia- is an herb that has been used for generations to reduce inflammation. There has been evidence it can help with inflammatory conditions such as IBD, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions.

• Omega 3's - to reduce inflammation you should not have too high of an Omega 6 intake (this consists of the vegetable oils found in a lot of processed foods, some nuts and seeds). It is important to be mindful that these Omega 6 foods are not necessarily bad for you, but should be eaten in moderation with a high focus on the anti-inflammatory Omega 3 foods such salmon and walnuts. These foods are very anti-inflammatory and consistently adding them into our diet is important for inflammatory modulation. However, the supplementation of omega 3s that contain both the constituents EPA and DHA are great for a larger scale inflammatory modulation.

With regards to finding a high-quality and appropriate dosing for these great anti-inflammatories please consult your Naturopathic Doctor.


TAKE HOME

What we consume daily through our diets and supplements is so important for overall health and the prevention of chronic disease. We want our bodies to be functioning optimally without any inflammatory processes. Consult with your Naturopathic Doctor to get your health back on track.

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The information provided on this website does not replace the medical advice given to you by your doctor.  Information on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat.  You should see your primary care provider before making any health changes.

All Rights Reserved, Dr. Stephanie Fairborn 2024. 

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