What is Inflammation?

You hear about it everywhere, especially with the pervasive use of excess sugars, preservatives, and seed oils in food, but do you really know what it is? And more importantly, did you know that inflammation is a normal physiological process? If you look up the definition, you’ll find this: “A system of information flow in response to injury and infection.” That sounds normal and harmless; inflammation is necessary for normal bodily function to occur. Without inflammation, we cannot fight microscopic invaders like bacteria, viruses and fungus, remove damaged tissue, or even eliminate cancerous or abnormal cells. But if its necessary, why are you regularly told to avoid it?

While it is positive when there are dangers present in the body, inflammation is meant to resolve after the threat is gone. Inflammation becomes a problem when there is a loss of balance and it becomes a constant in the body, resulting in inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune, neurological, cardiovascular, inflammatory bowel diseases and cancer. 

Dysfunctions in inflammation can happen from excessive inflammatory stimulation, excessive inflammatory response to damage, poor inflammation quenching, and/or inhibited resolution inflammation. One of the most significant triggers is the standard American diet (SAD) which is high in pro-inflammatory omega 6 fatty acid and low in antioxidants, phytonutrients and omega 3 fatty acid. Physical inactivity and obesity will increase inflammatory adipokines which has been recognized to increase risks of cancer. Lastly, cryostimulation therapy can assist in quenching the inflammatory process while also potentially increasing glutathione (the body’s master antioxidant).      

Sources

Origin and physiological roles of inflammation.  PMID 18650913 

The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acid.  PMID: 12442909 

Obesity, adipokines and cancer:  an update.  PMID 25393563 

Whole-body cryostimulation--potential beneficial treatment for improving antioxidant capacity in healthy men--significance of the number of sessions. PMID 23077506