Inflammation is a protective mechanism your body uses to activate your immune system, and, like all healthy bodily systems, keeping it in proper balance is key to feeling its benefits. When out of balance, the inflammatory process may act in a way that negatively impacts overall health. With the right knowledge, nutrients, and lifestyle choices, you can keep your body feeling good. Learn what causes inflammation and what you can do to be aware of it.
What causes inflammation?
When your body encounters a virus, bacteria, or toxin, or when it suffers an injury, it activates your immune system. The first responders of your immune system are inflammatory white blood cells and cytokines, which are substances that stimulate more white blood cells. They begin to trap bad bacteria and start healing injured tissue. When this happens, it increases the blood flow to the area of injury or infection and causes redness and warmth. When these infection-fighting chemicals leak into your tissues it can cause swelling and trigger nerves, causing pain. For instance, when you cut your finger the body will send white blood cells to the injury to start the healing process. But sometimes the body continues to send these inflammatory cells even when there is no injury or immediate danger—which causes chronic inflammation.
How inflammation occurs
There are two types of inflammation: (1) acute (short-term) inflammation as part of a healthy immune response and (2) chronic (long-term) inflammation as a cause or symptom of underlying health problems. Autoimmune disorders are the biggest cause of chronic inflammation. These are conditions in which your body’s immune system mistakes its own healthy tissues as foreign and attacks them. These disorders lead to fatigue, fever, muscle aches, joint pain, swelling, and more. There are varying degrees of autoimmune diseases and symptoms, all depending on your genetics, environment, and personal health. If you’re dealing with chronic inflammation, you should meet with your doctor to get advice for how to take care of yourself.
Acute inflammation only lasts a few hours or a couple of days and usually comes from several different lifestyle factors. Exposure to toxins like pollution or industrial chemicals can cause inflammation. Injuries involving scrapes, insect stings, or a splinter in your finger are versions of environmental hazards that lead to inflammation. Pathogens like bacteria, viruses, or fungi around your home can cause health issues. And lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol in excess, chronic stress, or lack of physical activity can affect your body’s ability to deal with inflammation. The good news is that there are ways to get a handle on the situation.
Preventing the harmful effects of inflammation
Taking care of yourself is the best way to prevent inflammation in your body. Rest, exercise, managing stress, limiting alcohol and smoking, and getting enough vital nutrients are the most effective ways to prevent inflammation. Leafy greens, tomatoes, olive oil, nuts, fish, berries, and oranges all have anti-inflammatory properties. Avoiding the foods that trigger inflammation is a huge help. This includes refined carbohydrates, fried foods, sugary drinks, red and processed meats.
Antioxidants can help maintain redox balance when oxidant levels are elevated, which helps your body avoid oxidative stress. Antioxidants are a natural part of your metabolism, but you can also get them from food and supplements. Because antioxidants protect tissues from damage, they prevent unwanted inflammatory responses from ever starting.
A supplement designed just for your cells
Everything your body enjoys starts at the cellular level. Promoting healthy cell function and maintenance is more than just what you eat and how you live, it’s making sure you have a supplement that covers all your bases. ASEA® Redox Cell Signaling Supplement contains active redox signaling molecules which are powerful cellular messengers natural to the human body. These help protect, rejuvenate, and restore cells that are struggling. Studies have shown that ASEA Redox activated five key genetic pathways in the human body, one of which was a healthy inflammatory response. These pathway-signaling genes influence many of your body’s biological responses.
ASEA® Redox has also been shown to increase the production of antioxidants in your body which aid in a healthy inflammatory response. By ingesting redox every day, your cells are getting the nourishment and antioxidants they need to thrive. See why so many are using ASEA products to boost their cells and better their lives.