How often do you wake up in the morning feeling like you haven’t slept at all, even though you did sleep for 10 hours.  How often does this make you feel like you’re walking around in a fog, almost surreal? How often do your muscles ache all over with no explanation as to why?  How often does all the fatigue, brain fog, muscle pain with no relief, no matter what you try, pull you down; barely able to push through the day? These and other subtle symptoms that some of us feel can sometimes be attributed to inflammation brewing in the body.

More and more research today is pointing to underlying chronic inflammation as a possible cause for many conditions, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s and Diabetes.  Not all inflammation leads to disease.  Conditions that arise acutely, such as infections, flu or wounds due to injury will cause the body to be inflamed in that area; sometimes feeling warm to the touch, with redness, swelling and pain.  This is the normal immune response and quickly resolves in a few days to 2 weeks; the body then returns to a normal state. Colloidal Silver is often taken to combat Acute Infections.  It may also be used topically on wounds; I have even used Colloidal Silver in the eyes to clear up an infection quite nicely.

Chronic inflammation is gradual, and usually less severe in nature. It will last longer than six weeks and can occur without any obvious infection or injury; or may continue to be present long after the infection or injury has healed. It has been linked to autoimmune disorders and possibly to prolonged stress. Many of the symptoms of chronic inflammation depend on where in the body it is affecting; such as gastrointestinal issues like constipation, diarrhea and acid reflux.  Other symptoms may be generalized pain, unexplained weight gain, frequent infections, constant fatigue and inability to sleep.  Some depression, anxiety and mood disorders have also been attributed to prolonged inflammation.

It is thought by many researchers that Heart Disease may result from inflamed arteries as fat builds up along the walls of the coronary arteries.  The body responds by sending inflammatory chemicals to the area to combat a perceived “injury” to the heart.  This can causes a blood clot to form over the “injury” which in turn may break away and lodge in another smaller artery in the heart leading to a heart attack or into the carotid arteries leading to a stroke.

Thus, the inflammatory chemicals from an overactive immune system may adversely attack many areas of the body. It can affect your skin leading to rashes; it may attack certain glands which will affect hormone levels.  With Rheumatoid Arthritis, the joints are attacked causing pain, stiffness and loss of function.  Other conditions thought to be affected by inflammation are Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Multiple Scherosis, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease and Fibromyalgia.

So what can be done to lessen the inflammation that has “fired up” the immune system.  Certain types of food can worsen inflammation in some people with autoimmune disorders.  These foods are often sugar, refined carbohydrates, gluten, alcohol, processed foods and trans fats. Avoiding these foods may go a long way in helping you to feel better. You may also want to limit saturated fats found in meats and whole fat processed dairy products although some “Anti-inflammatory Diets” do allow cultured dairy like Greek Yogurt and Kefir.

Many foods have anti-inflammatory properties.  These include berries, cherries, avocados, broccoli, tomatoes, shiitake and portobello mushrooms.  Salmon, tuna and mackerel having higher levels of Omega 3’s along with spices like turmeric, ginger, cinnamon  and clove have also shown to be anti-inflammatory.  Supplementation with fish oil or fermented cod liver oil and vitamin D are good substitutions if you are not fond of salmon.  Turmeric or Curcumin is also available in supplementations. One of my favorite remedies is “Golden Milk“.  Golden Milk is made by combining turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper,  clove and nutmeg with coconut oil to make a paste; it may be sweetened with maple syrup.  Then placing 1-2 tsp of the paste in a cup of warm coconut or nut milk will make a delicious, soothing drink once or twice a day.

There are a few supplements that may help to reduce the inflammation; one is Omega Mate Odorless High Grade Fish Oil. Omega Mate is a natural extract of deep sea cold water fish (marine lipids). This formula has the ideal balance of EPA and DHA (2:1) and vitamin E for stability, which will enhance it’s availability. It is processed using molecular distillation, where any existing toxins are separated from the fish oil by weight and the toxins are discarded; making this formula uniquely effective and safe, containing no detectable levels of mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and other toxic metals according to the International Fish Oil Standards.  Click here for more information.

Another supplement that I recommend to nourish the brain is Cerebrate. CEREBRATE is a comprehensive, brain-enhancing formula providing nutrients and antioxidants to support cognitive function and memory. This special blend of herbal extracts and nutraceuticals help nourish the brain and protect against decline. The B Vitamin, Niacin, helps to promote a healthy homocysteine level. This high-quality blend ensures your brain gets oxygen-rich blood for overall brain health and mental acuity; keeping it in optimal working condition. Click here for more information.

Sometimes dealing with the many symptoms related to Chronic Inflammation can be emotionally difficult.  Our Mood Improve formula may help with the ups and downs. MOOD IMPROVE may support a healthy outlook and mental wellbeing by providing a proper balance of critical amino acids, vitamin, adaptogens and nutrients. MOOD IMPROVE is non-addictive, safe, and is most effective when taken over time; generally noticeable improvement in wellbeing in 4-6 weeks. Click here for more information if you are interested in this product.

These products are available in my Store along with other products that may interest you.

Taking the necessary steps to reduce chronic inflammation in the body can be daunting when one is already feeling fatigue, depression,  painful joints and muscle aches. The brain fog can be lifted and a renewed feeling of energy and vitality is possible but it may take dedication to a new way of eating. Go slowly and make gradual changes to the diet.  In time, you will notice just how much better you feel, sleeping will improve and finally feel rested.

As always, be sure to discuss with your Personal Healthcare Practitioner any supplement you may want to take as there are some that may not be compatible with some medications you may be taking. Although your Healthcare Provider may not feel that these supplements are worth taking, it may be that he/she is just not educated on treatments other than medications. There are many valid studies done in Europe, particularly Germany, for many of the supplements one can take for health improvement. These studies are readily available for research on the World Wide Web*.

*references: Web MD; Healthline; The Anti-Inflammatory Diet Cookbook by Madeline Given NC