Healing Gone Wrong

Posted byLisa at Micro of the MacroPosted inHealth & Well-Being, Immunity, NutritionTags:, , , , , ,
South Carolina
These watery images called to me while writing about the fires of inflammation.

Last week’s post, Heart Matters, touched on the concept of chronic inflammation and its association with the majority of chronic diseases.  In addition to cardiac disease, these include cancers, Alzheimer’s, auto-immune disorders, pulmonary disease, diabetes, and bone & joint diseases.  Some of your comments inspired me to want to share more on the subject.  This post, therefore, is a sort of addendum.

You may be thinking, isn’t inflammation a good thing?  Yes and no.  On his website, Dr. Andrew Weil, founder and director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, says inflammation is the cornerstone of the body’s healing response, bringing more nourishment and more immune activity to a site of injury or infection. But when inflammation persists, it damages the body and causes illness.  This type of illness often lasts for years, taking away from the quality of our lives until finally it takes our lives.

South Florida

Persistent inflammation is the body’s immune response to toxins as it works to “purify” itself, according to this write-up from Cleveland Clinic.  As our exposure to pseudo foods, polluted air & water, and overall stress increases, our bodies’ toxin levels rise, setting the stage for chronic inflammatory disease.

If your physician hasn’t tested you for chronic inflammation, ask if she/he will order a lab test for CRP or IL-6.  (Be aware that your insurance might not pay for it.)  If the result falls above the normal range, you’ll know that you need to make some lifestyle changes.

Oregon

There are many ways to assist your body in decreasing inflammation and improving, often even reversing, chronic disease. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health published a 10-page Patient Handout that gives a lot of great info for those wanting to make changes.  Their guidance includes the following: daily physical activity, stress management, restful & plentiful sleep, spending time with loved ones, managing your weight, and eating in a way that increases nutrients and decreases junk & fried foods, simple carbs, processed meats, and food allergens.

An anti-inflammatory diet is not a diet in the traditional sense.  It’s a way of eating that should be adopted for a lifetime of health.  The Mediterranean Diet is a perfect example, with its abundance of whole foods, including fresh fruits, veggies & beans, healthy oils, fish & other omega 3 foods, whole grains,  nuts & seeds, herbs & spices, moderate wine consumption, limited red meats & dairy, and no processed meats.  According to Michael Greger, MD, founder of NutritionFacts.org, emphasizing whole foods, and not supplements, is essential.  For example, antioxidants found in fresh veggies are shown to reduce inflammation, but antioxidant supplements are not.  The same goes for spices: studies show ground turmeric is beneficial, but not turmeric supplements.  Another reason to focus on whole foods, Dr. Greger says, is that not all plant foods are anti-inflammatory.  If all you do is boost your intake of less healthy plant foods, like juice, white bread, soda, and cake, you can end up even more inflamed, he writes. 

Maine

Of course, your new healthy lifestyle won’t bring results overnight – it’ll take time to change the years of abuse your body has endured.  An article on Livestrong.com explains that after a week of changing your habits, you might have lost 1 pound, feel less bloated, and find your triglycerides have dropped.  Two to three weeks can bring lowered blood pressure, a bit more weight loss, & positive changes in overall bloodwork.  After a month, you might find that your mood and energy have improved, and you have fewer aches and pains.  Sixty days into it, endurance will have improved, and you may see several more pounds have fallen off.  In 90 days, your A1c levels can drop, which is proof of a healthier functioning pancreas, liver, and small intestine. Also by that time, your new lifestyle has been habituated long enough for you not to worry about falling off the wagon!

It is my hope that you’ve found this information helpful.  Chronic inflammatory disease doesn’t have to be a part of your life.  Making lifestyle changes now can be the key to helping you avoid an illness that can steal your chances of a happy, healthy existence.

Blessings for Health,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.

38 thoughts on “Healing Gone Wrong”

  2. Lisa, this is a very helpful and well done health article with some very important insights! I also once again as in the past love the photography as they are sights I personally enjoy when I can in my own locale!
    Very good job and thank you!
    God bless you and yours. ✝️🕊🙏
    Lawrence

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. Hi Lisa, 🌞 thank you again and always my pleasure to see you here, especially when you share such good and valuable information! But, even if to say hello I’m happy to make contact!
        Continued blessings and good health to you!
        Have a lovely weekend! ✝️🕊🙏

        Liked by 1 person

  4. I’ve been looking at the Mediterranean Diet because my husband’s triglycerides are much too high. Part of it is hereditary but we need to get the other part back under control. Thanks for backing up what I’ve been reading and looking to implement. Part of the problem is that left to his own devices, he tends to default to less healthy options.

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  6. Thank you, Lisa for writing another wonderful, and informational health article. The information you share is so very important for us to know. I always learn something I did not know. You are doing an excellent job. Keep being amazing. Have a wonderful day, and God bless you.

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  10. Another beautifully articulated post, Lisa. This is my favorite part “it’ll take time to change the years of abuse your body has endured.” This is so important for people to remember. It takes time, don’t give up on a lifestyle change like diet, hang in there and keep doing it, and the outputs will begin to manifest. I think we often become frustrated when we don’t see results right away. Yet, when we’ve eaten terribly for so long, it takes the body time to process and discard those stored toxins. Love this post, Lisa. 😎

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  12. I smiled when I saw the Maine lighthouse – have the pleasure of seeing that place in person as well – even ate at the little food stand across the parking lot. Interesting topic for the post. I have to deal with my share of inflammation thanks to my favored sporting activities. Fellow ultra-runner went through hell thanks to unexpectedly taking too many Alleves to try relieving the inflammation attacking his body during a long run- ended up shutting his kidneys down. Since that lesson I’ve been extremely careful on how to deal with driving that out of the body (admittedly use Turmeric and intrigued by your comments on that). As I’ve come to expect, your post has given me more to ponder.

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  14. I can vouch for Turmeric in daily tablet form as a wonderfully anti- inflammatory nutrient for some chronic conditions I face. But weight loss is a much more difficult issue to solve.

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  16. I have been having swollen legs and it seems to be pushing up through my body and affecting my breathing now. I have downloaded the brochure and will try to incorporate the information into my lifestyle. Thanks for posting this information.

    Liked by 1 person

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