Pain and inflammation is a growing problem facing an increasing number of Americans. Whether the pain is a result of arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, injuries or sports training – inflammation is at the root of the problem. Therefore if we can reduce the inflammation we can reduce the pain and this can all be done in a natural way with proper diet and supplementation.
Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, such as Aleve, Motrin, and other Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID’s) work by reducing inflammation in the body. Unfortunately they also irritate the intestinal lining, which creates a vicious cycle, because an irritated intestinal system only further exaggerates the inflammation in your body. Cox-2 inhibitors such as Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrax were marketed as the only NSAID that didn’t irritate the intestinal lining, unfortunately that wasn’t true. They also increased the risk of cardiovascular disease to the point that many people died and have had serious cardiac complications.
Our Personal Pharmacy
Drug manufacturers recognize the whole principle of reducing inflammation to reduce arthritis, fibromyalgia and joint pain. Unfortunately they can’t reduce the inflammation without the negative side effect. This is where diet comes into play, because the good Lord designed our body with the ability to make the same little drugs we spend money on at the local pharmacy.
The foods we eat can have a tremendous effect on how our body responds to inflammation, because the foods we eat will either trigger our body to produce more or less inflammation. Saturated fats trigger our body to produce more inflammation! Monounsaturated fats, the omega-3’s, the fish oils trigger more of those coveted anti-inflammatory chemicals that we spend millions of dollars on at the pharmacy. The only question is which foods do we eat more of?
Americans are eating more processed, fast foods that are loaded with saturated and trans fatty acids, as well as, more dairy, chicken and beef. This increases the amount of inflammation in our body. It is when we eat more nuts, seeds, fish and cook with olive oil that we produce more of our own natural anti-inflammatory chemicals that reduce inflammation. This is why our diet can be very helpful for those suffer with arthritis, fibromyalgia, joint pain, injuries and sports injuries.
If you eat more saturated fats and not enough monounsaturated fats you need to supplement your diet with a good fish oil to help balance the ratio of saturated to monounsaturated fats. This will help decrease the inflammation in your body. Typically 1-2 grams of EPA/DHA should be taken daily. The big benefit of fish oils is that not only will they help reduce inflammation, but they have shown significant benefit for those suffer from PMS, hot flashes, heart disease, depression, and ADD/ADHD.
Asides from eating more monounsaturated fats and taking additional fish oils, there are other foods such as chili peppers, and pineapples, which work as “proteolytic” enzymes that breakdown the inflammation molecules. Proteolytic enzymes work differently than fish oils. They reduce the inflammation by breaking down the inflammatory molecules, whereas fish oils reduce the amount of inflammation.
Ginger, boswellia and tumeric are herbs that reduce the inflammation process. In fact, boswellia is better known as the incense frankincense in some parts of the world. These three spices can be used in cooking or as a daily supplement. Continue >>
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