What is cellular inflammation?
Cellular inflammation refers to inflammation of the cell membrane that affects the way the cell communicates and detoxes. The cell wall is made up of two layers of fat - cholesterol and saturated fat. We have receptors on our cells that are like antennas which listen for signals for amino acids, vitamins, minerals and hormones like insulin. If a cell is inflamed, the receptors on the cell membrane work poorly - they absorb nutrients and get rid of waste poorly. Damage and death of inflamed cells can lead to disease.
How does cellular inflammation occur?
The body's cells are constantly bombarded with pro-inflammatory substances. These include free radicals, unhealthy foods (sugar, refined carbohydrates, bad fats, processed foods), heavy metals (see our March 2019 newsletter), toxic waste and other toxic chemicals, pesticides, and infectious agents (bacteria and viruses). Inflammation is the process by which the cells react to and deal with these foreign substances, and the cellular inflammation can become chronic.
Why is cellular inflammation important?
Chronic inflammation at the cellular level is important because it is dangerous to many aspects of our health. The majority of people suffer from chronic cellular inflammation. Inflammation causes our bodies to age prematurely and can actually damage our DNA. It is not an overstatement to say that most chronic diseases are caused by chronic cellular inflammation. Some are obvious, such as arthritis; others you might not suspect, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, thyroid disease, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.
How can I decrease cellular inflammation?
The good news is that there is a great deal you can do to decrease cellular inflammation.
Avoid inflammatory foods.
Avoid sugars and refined carbohydrates. Avoid trans fats - these include margarine and all hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Also avoid vegetable oils including canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil and safflower oil. They are highly processed and oxidize easily with light, air or heat. Avoid processed foods. They invariably contain sugars and unhealthy fats.
Drink plenty of water.
Exposure to toxins is a major factor in chronic inflammation. They could include pesticides, heavy metals, air pollution, and mold. Effective hydration is a key strategy to make sure the body can effectively get rid of these toxic substances. As well as helping with elimination of toxic substances, your cells require adequate hydration to carry out their functions properly.
Eat anti-inflammatory foods.
A diet high in vegetables, legumes and fruits is anti-inflammatory.
Fatty fish that are wild caught (salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines) are healthy sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Green tea has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and may be a good natural treatment option for chronic inflammatory disorders.
Take anti-inflammatory supplements.
Curcumin, which comes from the spice turmeric, has tremendous ability to heal in many areas of disease which may be due its ability to reduce inflammation.
Tart cherry juice has been shown to reduce the inflammatory effects of strenuous exercise and minimize post-exercise muscle pain.
Proteolytic enzymes are helpful in cases of arthritis and related diseases; they are anti-inflammatory and beneficial for vascular health.
Omega-3 fatty acids are important to balance the excess quantities of inflammatory omega-6 fats that most people consume in processed foods.
Vitamin D (together with vitamin K2) is one of the most powerful nutrients responsible for modulating and coordinating the immune system, which results in a powerful anti-inflammatory effect.
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) helps boost glutathione which is our master anti-oxidant that regulates all other anti-oxidants in the body. Having high amounts of glutathione in the body is key for mitigating the inflammatory effects of free radicals.
Be physically active.
Daily exercise is very effective for pumping the lymph fluid and boosting circulation. All our organs need us to be active to keep them functioning optimally. If we become stagnant, the result is inflammation. We need to make it a priority on a daily basis to stretch. Avoid sitting for long periods of time.
Manage stress well.
Being physically active is one way to reduce your stress levels. Meditation is increasingly recognized for its effectiveness in reducing stress and the related inflammatory markers in the body. Meditation does not have to take a long time. All it takes is sitting quietly and focusing on gently breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth for five, ten, fifteen minutes or more per day. However, if meditation is just not your thing, yoga, pilates, outdoor walks, painting, singing, cooking and other enjoyable activities can also considerably reduce your stress levels.
Get enough, good quality sleep.
Avoid the blue light from your electronic devices (smart phone, tablet etc.) for one to two hours before you go to bed by wearing blue light blocking glasses. Sleep in a dark room. Limit caffeine to the morning and very early afternoon. Stick to a consistent schedule of going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. Develop a pre-sleep routine to help you relax and wind down.
Cellular inflammation detoxification
I am offering a service in the office to test for cellular inflammation, together with doing an in depth cellular detoxification program. Remember, if the cell is toxic, nutrients cannot get into the cell and neither can toxins leave the cell. Hormonal receptors are also blunted so they cannot read the signals. You may be wondering why you are not getting the results you are looking for even though you are eating healthy and taking supplements. It may be time to look deeper.
If you are one of those individuals, or you know that you have heavy metal toxicity due to mercury fillings or exposure to lead, you will certainly need the right detox, as well as the right binder to to properly detox.
I hope this information helps you to reduce your exposure to the common causes of inflammation, as well as to benefit from the various ways you can reduce cellular inflammation.
