5 Causes of Inflammation

In the previous post, I explained how you can spot inflammation in your body. Today, I’d like to talk about the most common causes of inflammation. But first, let’s look at the difference between acute and chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation is a natural response and nothing to worry about. It just means your body is doing its job. Acute inflammation comes on suddenly and disappears within a few days.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is something to worry about and should be addressed as soon as possible. Chronic inflammation is what leads to illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, etc. Chronic inflammation can linger on for weeks, months and years.

Here are the top 5 causes of inflammation. The good news is that most of them are highly controllable or completely avoidable.

1. Poor Diet
What you eat is most important when it comes to inflammation. A diet lacking in nutrients is the most common cause of chronic inflammation. High sugar, high carb, processed foods, alcohol, trans fats, gluten, fake sugars, preservatives, food colorings, MSG, and the list goes on. Nutrient-poor foods also contribute to excess weight, and fatty tissue produces inflammatory cytokines in the body, resulting in chronic inflammation. A diet heavy laden with grains, which contain gluten, lectin, and phytates, also promotes body acidity and increased inflammation. Grains also contain an elevated ratio of Omega-6 fatty acids to Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids, when out of balance with Omega-3’s, convert into chemicals that cause inflammation, chronic disease, and pain.

2. Lack of Exercise
A lack of regular movement and exercise causes your lymphatic system (your body’s garbage disposal system) to become stagnant. When this happens, your cells begin to rot, and inflammation becomes rampant. When you work out, muscles produce molecules that have anti-inflammatory effects. Consistent exercising decreases chronic inflammation.

3. Food Allergies
When you continue to eat foods that don’t agree with your body, your body will go into protest mode via chronic inflammation. One symptom is regular flatulence. Other symptoms might include IBS, headaches, bloating and rashes. 

4. Heavy Metals
We live in a toxic world, and every single one of us is exposed to heavy metal toxicity. If you regularly drink from aluminum cans, apply aluminum-based deodorant, take over the counter antacids, eat seafood, wear makeup, use conventional shampoos, lotions, and beauty products, don’t shop organic, have ever smoked cigarettes, live in a polluted city, etc., you have metal toxicity. Heavy metals interfere with the function of our hormonal system and our brain and cause chronic inflammation.

5. Stress
Chronic stress causes chronic inflammation in the body. Most people don’t make the connection between stress and physiological reactions within the body, but extensive research has proven that stress increases cortisol levels, triggering inflammation in both the brain and the body.