Inflammation: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Part three of three.

Community Contributed

By Keone Chin

So far we have looked at the good of inflammation (acute), the bad (chronic), now comes the ugly part. What I call the ugly is the effects inflammation can have on our body, or the chronic diseases and discomforts that arise from inflammation. Inflammation in our joints causes arthritis, inflammation of the pancreas causes diabetes, and inflammation in our arteries causes blood clots which leads to strokes and heart attacks. But there are many common diseases associated with inflammation (see sidebar).

Full Circle – Biology
Inflammation is a natural occurrence. If our body is simply reacting, is it possible to change a natural physiological process?  How do we control it?

Never forget the beauty of biology. Every person reading this article has the power to change biology; all the tools have always been there. But the issue it is not just a biological problem within our bodies, it is a problem within our culture. If everyone is at risk, are we ready to face the biology of a heart attack?

Controlling Biology
There are many factors and items we consume that fuel inflammation: omega 6 fats, such as corn, safflower, soybean and sunflower oil (exchange for coconut or olive oil); hypertension; excessive salt intake; sugar and carbohydrate consumption; smoking; trans fats, such as vegetable oil, vegetable shortening, margarine, fried foods, cookies, crackers, chips, etc.

Exercise and stress control can help lower blood pressure and many of these inflammation causes. Also consuming more omega 3 fatty acids, which are powerful anti-inflammatories; increasing CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) intake from meat and dairy products, which can improve insulin sensitivity and preserves muscle mass; and increasing antioxidant intake, which can help identify and address the remnants of an inflammatory response so those remnants don’t prolong the damage. You can visit this Mountbatten clinic to find more information.

Keone Chin is not a medical professional or practitioner, and makes no medical claims. Chin’s perspectives on health and wellness come from the book “The Cure for Heart Disease; Truth Will Save a Nation,” by Dwight Lundell, M.D.