The 10 Causes of Inflammation

Dealing with inflammation can be frustrating. Understanding its root causes is the first step toward feeling better.

This post explores eleven common causes of inflammation, offering practical steps to address them and regain control of your health.

The Surprising Causes of Inflammation

1. Adrenal Fatigue and Low Cortisol

Cortisol, a hormone produced by your adrenal glands, is a natural anti-inflammatory. Chronic stress can lead to adrenal fatigue and depleting cortisol, leaving your body vulnerable to increased inflammation and potentially high blood pressure.

2. Lingering Effects of Old Injuries

Old injuries can cause scar tissue. This tissue has reduced blood flow and can cause joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation.

Scar tissue may grow around nerve roots, leading to nerve pinching, stiffness, and further inflammation.

3. The Inflammatory Impact of Sugar

A diet high in sugar can trigger insulin resistance. This increases inflammation throughout your body.

Cutting back on sugar and adopting strategies like intermittent fasting can help.

This helps fix the issue of insulin resistance and the resulting frequent infections. For further tips, check out this post on keto and fasting fatigue.

4. Grains, Especially Gluten

Grains, especially gluten, can be harmful to some with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Gluten, a protein found in grains, can increase gut inflammation in sensitive people.

This sensitivity may lead to autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and mental health conditions like mood disorders.

5. Excessive Alkalinity

While a balanced pH is important, excessive alkalinity can increase inflammation vulnerability.

Even healthy citrus fruits can intensify existing alkalinity after being metabolized.

6. Inflammatory Vegetable Oils

Many vegetable oils, like corn, soy, safflower, and sunflower, contain omega-6 fatty acids. Excess weight from unhealthy foods can trigger cardiovascular disease and acid reflux, among other things.

Omega-6 fatty acids can exacerbate inflammation and cause various inflammatory diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids, from fish or krill oil, can reduce inflammation and improve blood sugar stability.

Swapping harmful oils for those rich in Omega-3s, found in foods like flaxseed, may improve symptoms.

7. Alcohol's Damaging Effects

Alcohol consumption contributes to inflammation, potentially causing Crohn's disease. Regular drinking strains the liver.

This can lead to increased systemic inflammation over time, a primary cause of inflammatory diseases. Regularly consuming alcohol could also contribute to heart disease.

8. Dairy, Especially from Grain-Fed Animals

Conventional grain-fed dairy can be harmful due to its higher omega-6 content compared to grass-fed options.

Grass-fed dairy has higher levels of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, while conventional varieties tend to carry increased levels of omega-6s, which are known inflammatory agents.

This difference is important to consider as excess omega-6 intake may also be related to an increased risk of mental health disorders, weight gain, and heart disease, while omega-3s play a role in improving cardiovascular health and supporting better blood sugar regulation and mood stabilization.

9. MSG: A Hidden Source of Inflammation

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is frequently used in processed foods and fast food.

MSG can also cause weight gain and increase inflammation for many people, so consuming it sparingly could be a great start to reducing unnecessary and harmful trans fats.

Avoiding foods containing it may prevent further harmful symptoms.

10. Excessive Protein Intake

Excessive protein, while important for muscle building, can stress the kidneys and liver with chronic overconsumption.

This stress can trigger uric acid production. Uric acid is associated with gout and general inflammation.

11. Overcooked Foods

Regularly consuming cooked or processed foods can burden the liver. Enzymes in raw ingredients are lost at high temperatures.

Adding raw foods, like salads, replenishes needed enzymes and reduces liver strain.

Myocarditis and Inflammation: Recognizing Heart Health Risks

One of the serious consequences of unchecked inflammation is myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle often triggered by infections or autoimmune responses.

Myocarditis can lead to symptoms like chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and, in severe cases, heart failure.

Chronic inflammation plays a key role in the progression of myocarditis, making it crucial to understand ways to reduce overall inflammation in the body.

Preventive measures such as managing stress, following an anti-inflammatory diet, and avoiding processed foods high in added sugars and unhealthy fats can support heart health and potentially reduce the risk of myocarditis.

Including antioxidant-rich foods and practicing habits like intermittent fasting may further help control inflammation levels, promoting a healthier heart and reducing the likelihood of inflammation-related conditions.

Conclusion

Inflammation is a complex issue with various potential causes. Consult a healthcare professional if you suspect inflammation problems.

By understanding the root cause and applying personalized strategies, you can reduce inflammation effectively.

Often, this can prevent reliance on potentially dangerous supplements, complex procedures, or expensive treatments.

FAQs about causes of inflammation

How do you flush inflammation out of your body?

Reducing inflammation involves addressing the root causes, like diet and environmental factors. Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids. Reduce processed foods, sugar, and inflammatory oils.

Manage stress and be physically active to decrease inflammatory responses. Toxic chemicals in our food supply can also increase the immune system's response.

What causes inflammation in the body?

Inflammation arises from multiple factors including injuries, infections, and autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Poor lifestyle choices and diet contribute significantly, as can various environmental elements.

These also include bacterial infections and an unhealthy gut microbiome, so improving these areas can benefit as well.

Changes to our microbiome could increase our risk for chronic disease as well. Consider talking with your primary care doctor for bloodwork.

What is the biggest contributor to inflammation?

Pinpointing one single contributor is difficult. Multiple elements, including chronically elevated stress levels, often interact simultaneously.

Additional factors to be mindful of include smoking, excessive sugar intake, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor sleep.

These can worsen or trigger inflammation issues. Inflammation is a disease process in the body that causes issues with the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems, sometimes referred to as obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular diseases.

These can spiral out of control and impact your mental health, so be watchful and manage those contributing elements as best as you can. Remember, chronic stress has an inflammatory effect too.

What is the strongest natural anti-inflammatory?

Various substances possess anti-inflammatory qualities. However, a diverse, nutrient-rich, whole-food diet provides numerous inflammation-lowering compounds.

Incorporating many different healthy food choices, combined with exercise and mindful activities to reduce the healing process for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic inflammation.