Inflammation is the way the body responds to injury, infection, and irritation. In the short term, this reaction can actually be a good thing, as it helps to protect the body. However, if inflammation continues for a long time without an obvious cause, this is known as chronic inflammation, which can be debilitating. The symptoms of inflammation include swelling, pain, and redness.
The Natural Way to Reduce Inflammation
The most common medication to fight inflammation, whether short-term or chronic, are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen. However, these medicines can have serious side-effects for some people, especially when they are taken long-term. Let’s look instead at some natural ways to prevent and fight inflammation.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Many people don’t realize just how much of an effect what we eat has on our immune systems, especially our bodies’ inflammatory responses. Doctors frequently recommend dietary changes to help alleviate the symptoms of conditions like psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, lupus, and more.
While everyone’s reactions to specific foods differ, there are certain food groups that are widely considered to increase inflammation, and should, therefore, be avoided by anyone suffering from or prone to this condition and enjoyed only in moderation by everyone else.
These foods are mostly highly processed or “unhealthy” foods, like processed meats (corned beef, mortadella, bacon), snack foods like crackers and chips, and premade desserts like candy, ice cream, cookies, and pudding. Simple carbohydrates like white bread, white rice, and pasta can also exacerbate inflammation, as are sugary drinks like soda and alcohol in large quantities. Finally, fried foods, especially those cooked in vegetable oil or soybean oil can make inflammation worse.
On the other hand, regularly incorporating certain foods into your diet can help to manage chronic inflammation. Plant-based eating, whether it is vegetarian or vegan, can help to reduce inflammation, especially when combined with increased water intake and other lifestyle changes like exercising more and getting better sleep.
Supplements to Combat Inflammation
In addition to monitoring your diet and lifestyle, there are certain natural supplements that have been used in traditional medicine against inflammation for centuries, and which many people still swear by today.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most potent anti-inflammatories out there. The best thing about these fatty acids is that they fight many different kinds of inflammation, including vascular inflammation, which significantly increases the risk of heart attacks and heart disease; degenerative disk disease, a leading cause of back pain; arthritis, and more. However, as omega-3 fatty acids can increase the risk of bleeding, they are not suitable for anyone with a bleeding disorder.
Curcuminoids
Found in turmeric or as a supplement, curcuminoids are a powerful antioxidant that has also been used for hundreds of years in ayurvedic medicine to treat inflammation.
Ginger
Multiple studies have shown that ginger, which has been used as an herbal medicine for many years, can help to treat pain and inflammation, especially in relation to joint pain. It is also a strong antioxidant.
Boswellia
Boswellia, otherwise known as Indian frankincense, is an herb that has long been used in traditional Asian and African medicine to combat arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBD). It is also an effective painkiller and can help to reduce the loss of cartilage.
How CBD Can Help Fight Inflammation
We previously covered how CBD can help to reduce inflammation in a lot more detail, but the short version is that scientists believe the cannabidiols found in hemp can help to target inflammation in the body by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of cellular receptors that control many processes in the body, including immune responses. Many people swear by CBD for treating chronic inflammation, especially those who have not had success taking NSAIDs.
Taking CBD for Inflammation
If the idea of remembering to take multiple supplements every day seems unappealing, we have some good news. Reboot by PurePower contains all of the supplements mentioned here, in addition to 100% full spectrum, vapor extracted hemp oil with 10 mg of Performance CBD per serving, all in a simple capsule.
