Here are some dietary recommendations:Įnsure micro-nutrients : Magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc and selenium can reduce inflammatory markers in the body and act as strong anti-oxidants We know that stemming ongoing inflammation can help – for example, the use of steroids and anti-inflammatory medications in conditions such as asthma (preventer inhalers), dermatitis (steroid creams) and arthritis (disease modifying agents).Īs the evidence builds for chronic inflammation and its causative relationship with chronic disease, it is worth reviewing practical things we can do now to reduce inflammation in our bodies. Whilst inflammation is vital to fighting infection or repair after tissue trauma, the inflammatory basis of many chronic health conditions underpins further investigation by many medical research teams around the world. Suffice to say its a complex bodily process with signals that turn on or up-regulate the inflammatory process, or signals that downplay or dampen the process. The process is itself regulated by different modulators such as cytokines, growth factors, peptides, complement factors and prostagladins. The body’s inflammatory process consists a vast range of immune system cells, including T-cells, neutrophils, B cells, basophils and mast cells.

Some studies have linked inflammation to longer life span – a study of centenarians (people living over 100 years of age) have pinpointed inflammation as the most significant and controllable risk factor. Ongoing inflammation contributes to plaque in arteries, cancer, obesity, asthma, allergies, osteo arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimers disease, chronic kidney disease, retinitis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), acne, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and neuro-degenerative disease. What we don’t understand well as a medical profession is why inflammation doesn’t turn off in some people and persists, to the extent it can harm our body. The cause for inflammation can often be located, and in most cases inflammation is expected and helps the body heal in a short time frame. It’s what happens to our body when there is injury, infection, allergy, or an autoimmune, environmental or genetic trigger. More recently, it has been defined as the “reaction to injury of the living micro-circulation and related tissues”. These signs are easily recognised – think of an acute sporting injury such as an ankle sprain.

Inflammation has been identified as part of the body’s healing process since 30 BC, where rubor (redness), tumor (swelling), dolor (pain) and calor (heat) were described.

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