Posted by Me, written by Charles Poliquin
** markings are add in links from me and bolding is me.
Before we start the article Doctors that focus on the Chemical or Nutritional side of health care are sometimes called Functional Medicine practitioners or practice Functional Nutrition.
Okay on with the article…
13 Tips To Fight Inflammation
Reduce inflammation in the body and be healthier and leaner—guaranteed!
You may not know that inflammation in the body is a problem for more than just your muscles and connective tissue, but-chronic inflammation is a major health issue and has even called the “secret killer!”
It is connected to:
obesity,
fat gain,
accelerated aging,
cardiovascular disease,
diabetes,
asthma,
arthritis,
cancer, and
stomach problems.
Inflammation can shorten your life and will cause you pain on a persistent daily basis.
As an athlete or trainee, you undoubtedly have experience with inflammation from training and injuries and you know it’s something you want to diminish for healing. And you’re right, you don’t want it, but in the case of injuries or sickness such as a sore throat, inflammation is a natural, necessary response of the immune system.
This kind of inflammation is a part of healing, but it’s the chronic raging inflammation that you need to reduce.
Part of the problem with inflammation and health is the overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs including ibuprofen, aspirin, and prednisone to manage it.
The good news is that you can reduce inflammation without these chemical aids!
Here is a list of thirteen strategies for reducing inflammation, getting healthier, and possibly saving your life.
1) Ice and Muscle Inflammation-First, let’s talk about how to decrease tissue inflammation after weight training or injury.
This is not the chronic inflammation that will kill.
This inflammation is the natural response to intense training, especially exercises that cause muscle damage such as eccentric-enhanced lifting or plyometrics.
Acute or immediate muscle damage is produced by mechanical stress and disturbances of calcium homeostasis, increase in cytokines and other inflammatory molecules, and free radical production. The inflammation will naturally go away within 24 to 72 hours after training.
** A good article on: Healing of Soft Tissue
One strategy for an accelerated recovery is to use cold water therapy after your workout to help clear inflammatory biological markers such as creatine kinase and the cytokines. A recent study found that using a cold water bath at 50°F for 15 minutes helps restore maximal strength after high-intensity training because it helped lower inflammation and facilitate muscle repair. Ice or cold water therapy should also be used following injury to decrease the inflammatory response for faster healing and repair.
**Article on: Cold Water Immersion Speeds Recovery-Am J Sports Medicine 2011
2) Abolish Trans-Fatty Acids for Better Heart Health-Trans-fatty acids and hydrogenated fats have been shown to significantly increase cardiovascular inflammation and cholesterol levels.
For example, a 2010 study found that consuming a diet with elevated levels of partially hydrogenated soybean oil significantly increased cholesterol levels and C-reactive protein (a primary marker of cardiovascular inflammation).
The really bad thing about trans-fatty acids in your diet are that they cause chronic, lasting inflammation, partly because they interfere with your body’s ability to process the good omega-3 fatty acids that help lower inflammation.
3) Take Fish Oil and Up Your Omega-3s-Omega-3s fatty acids are found in fish oils, and are known to play a potent role in decreasing inflammation.
They have strong anti-inflammatory effects and also support the immune system. Low levels of omega-3s or a skewed ratio of omega-6s fatty acids to omega-3s (read more about this in #4) are directly linked to inflammatory disease risk including cancer, arthritis, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and psychiatric disorders.
**Some other good Omega 3 articles
** Fish oil-Neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers-Surgical Neurology 2006
** Current Sports Medicine Reports July 2007 Omega -3 Fatty Acids (Fish oil) and Athletics
** Omega 3’s -Journal of Pain 2007
**Omega 3’s and Nerve pain-Clinical Journal of Pain 2010
Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA) is the good fatty acid that is found in omega-3s and is especially effective at lowering inflammation. ALA has a “cardioprotective” effect and decreasing inflammation it helps prevent cardiac death due to arrhythmias. Take note that in addition to fish oils that have a lot of ALAs, walnuts are good too.
4) Rebalance Your Omega-6 to Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio
You want this ratio to be just about equal but most Western diets have a ratio between 15:1 to 50:1. Omega-6s do have protective benefits, but a distorted ratio is probably the primary reason we’ve seen an increase in inflammatory-related disorders in past half century.
Human cells can’t convert omega-6s to omega-3s because they lack the converting enzyme, and Western diets typically have a large quantity of omega-6s that add up and contribute to inflammatory disorders such as heart disease and cancer through cell proliferation.
Higher levels of omega-3s and a more equal ratio has been shown to be a potent therapeutic remedy for inflammatory diseases because omega-3s decrease C-reactive proteins and cytokines.
One study of cardiovascular disease patients found a 70 percent decrease in death after increasing omega-3 intake and rebalancing the -6 to -3 ratio.
A second study found a significant decrease in asthma-related inflammatory markers after adding flax oil to the subjects diets (flax oil is high in ALAs and omega-3s).
There were similar positive effects on the incidence of depression when omega-6 and -3s were rebalanced, likely because omega-3s diminish inflammation that inhibits neurotransmitter function in the brain.
5) Resistance Training Lowers Oxidative Inflammation-Resistance training effectively lowers inflammation, improves cardiovascular health, prevents atherosclerosis, and can decrease risk of diabetes.
A recent study compared the effect of a hypertrophy-type protocol (six exercises, three sets of twelve at 70 percent 1RM) and a strength-program (six exercises, three sets of six reps at 85 percent 1RM) on two oxidative inflammation markers. Both protocols provided protective effects against oxidative stress and lowered inflammation, regardless of intensity, indicating that a wave-like program can be used when training without risk of increasing chronic inflammation.
6) Magnesium: Get Your Level Up to Lower Inflammation-Magnesium deficiency results in an increase in C-reactive protein concentration—the same marker that trans-fatty acids elevate.
Adequate magnesium levels have been shown to be linked to cardiovascular health and lower levels of oxidative stress.
A recent study of patients with chronic kidney disease found that those with higher magnesium levels had significantly better cell health, lower C-reactive proteins, and better body composition.
Researchers concluded that the adequate magnesium content was directly related to decreased inflammation and prevention of death. If you’re not convinced to attend to your magnesium levels, read my article, Magnesium: The Anti-Stress Mineral.
**Some other good Magnesium articles:
7) Eat Red, Blue, and Purple Berries: Antioxidants and Anti-Aging-Eat more berries to get the right antioxidants and decrease inflammation.
Antioxidants minimize inflammation because they abolish free radicals and inhibit the production of enzymes that cause irritation and pain in conditions such as arthritis and gout.
They also lower oxidative stress, which is a contributor to heart disease and aging.
Raspberries are one of the best fruits to add to your diet because they contain a large amount of a rare type of antioxidant called ellagitannins (raspberries have more than any other known food on earth).
By getting rid of inflammation, ellagitannins help fight cancer, heal damaged tissue and wounds, prevent heart disease, and lower blood pressure. Good Stuff!
8) Take Melatonin: Stay Young and Strong-Supplement with melatonin and decrease inflammation, recover faster from training or injury, and prevent cancer.
Melatonin is a potent therapeutic hormone that helps you sleep, aids muscle regeneration, and decreases oxidative stress by getting rid of inflammation.
Take note that lack of sleep triggers inflammation, and getting your beauty rest can help protect against it and the many negative effects of exhaustion.
Additionally, because of its antioxidant potential, melatonin slows the aging process.
Research shows melatonin is one of the best supplements for muscular and tissue healing following injury.
A study from Germany found that taking melatonin daily after blunt trauma injury significantly increased muscular contraction force.
Markers of muscle resynthesis were upregulated both one and four days after injury, while inflammation was decreased.
Data from Spain shows that melatonin decreases oxidative stress by lowering inflammation, the result being lower blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients.
Melatonin also has healing and preventative effects on the elderly, meaning that it plays a role in slowing the aging process.
Of special interest is evidence that it restores muscle physiology, particularly in the colon, meaning it helps prevent colon cancer.
9) Take Resveratrol to Stay Young and Prevent Cancer-Resveratrol has powerful anti-aging properties because it decreases chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.
It can fight colon, liver, breast, and skin cancer by getting rid of inflammation, and there’s evidence it lowers heart disease risk.
Interestingly, research also shows it can improve recovery after training by getting rid of acute inflammation, a mechanism that functions differently from chronic levels in the body.
This is why strength training (as mentioned in #5) can lower chronic inflammation even though it elicits some temporary muscular soreness, which is naturally cleared within 72 hours after training.
Resveratrol is famous for being a compound in red wine, but you should take a resveratrol supplement in addition to wine because the concentrations found in wine vary and are tiny compared to the amount (at least 250 mg a day) needed for lowering inflammation and anti-aging.
10) Take Vitamin D for Asthma Prevention-Supplement with vitamin D to lower inflammation and improve lung function if you have asthma.
A University of Colorado-Denver study found that higher vitamin D levels are associated with better lung function because this mineral decreases the inflammatory lung response that causes asthma and breathing disorders.
Take note that there is a link between eating a diet high in trans-fatty acids, fatter body composition, low vitamin D levels, and asthma symptoms—all because of chronic inflammation.
Abolishing trans-fats and upping your D levels will help you have a leaner physique and keep you healthier by getting rid of inflammation.
**Some other good Vit D articles:
** Vit. D-What We Have Learned About Vitamin D Dosing?
**Vit. D and Gait Control-Neurology May 2011
**MS Less Likely With Plenty of Sun, Vitamin D- Neurology 2011
**Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis-Journal of Neurology 2004
**Vit D for Cancer Prevention-Annals of Epidemiology 2009
**Vit D3 and the Flu-Epidemiology and Infection-2007
**Vit. D- The Food and Nutrition Board has failed millions
11) Go Gluten-Free: Lower Intestinal Inflammation-Gluten, naturally occurring in wheat, barley, and rye is a highly inflammatory food that agitates the intestine.
If you are allergic to gluten, you’ll likely have symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and suffer random weight loss, and gluten has been shown to increase symptoms in type 1 diabetics.
Even if you’re not allergic to gluten, getting gluten out of your diet is a good move and will lower inflammation.
**Some other good Gluten articles:
** Gluten: What You Don’t Know Might Kill You-Mark Hyman M.D.
** Gluten Sensitivity-The Wall Street Journal-March 15 2011
** Gluten-More People May Benefit From Going GF-HealthDayNews2011
** Gluten’s laws-Better Homes and Gardens July 2010
** Gluten- Will a gluten-free diet improve your health? Health.com April 2011
I’m a fan of the Paleo diet by Dr. Loren Cordain because it has no wheat, dairy, or trans-fatty acids, meaning it can be considered “anti-inflammatory.”
**another good Paleo read: Nature’s Bounty-The Way We Were(Paleo diet)-Psychology Today 2010
12) Add Gotu Kola to Your Nutrition Plan-Gotu Kola, an excellent, lesser-known herb that has a variety of healing effects, decreases the inflammatory reaction in the body and it also promotes wound and tissue healing.
It has been shown to lower a variety of oxidative stress markers in rats. Gotu Kola also has a calming effect and can help your brain function better.
13) Zinc: Eradicate Inflammation and Be More Anabolic-Take zinc and lower systemic inflammation and protect your heart.
The U.S. population has chronically low zinc levels, and this mineral is critical for overall health and avoiding inflammation.
Adequate zinc levels are essential for minimizing the bodies inflammatory process, and zinc is related to testosterone level.
Two research studies identified a link between higher zinc levels and normal testosterone in men.
Zinc deficiency equaled low testosterone and a greater incidence of male menopause.
Also zinc has been shown to elevate the conversion rate of androstenedione to testosterone, meaning that with adequate zinc and high-intensity exercise, the body will produce testosterone at a higher rate and create a more anabolic environment.
Reference #1
Jarvinen, T., Kaariainen, M., Aarimaa, V., Vaittinen, S., Kalimo, H., Jarvinen, M. Muscle Injuries: Optimizing Recovery. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Rheumatology. 2007. 21(2), 317-331.
References #2
Teng, K., Voon, P., Cheng, H., Nesaretnam, K. Effects of Partially Hydrogenated, Semi-saturated, and High Oleate Vegetable Oils on Inflammatory Markers and Lipids. Lipids. May 2010. 45(5), 385-392.
References #3
Russo, G. Dietary n-6 and n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: From Biochemistry to Clinical Implications in Cardiovascular Prevention. Biochemical Pharmacology. March 2009. 77(6), 936-946.
Wall, R., Ross, R., Fitzgerald, G., Stanton, c. Fatty Acids From Fish: the anti-Inflammatory Potential of Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Nutrition Reviews. May 2010. 68(5), 280-289.
References #4
Simolopoulos, A. The Importance of the Ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy. May 2002. 56, 365-379.
References #5
Cakir-Atabek, H., Demir, S., Pinarbasill, R., Gunduz, N. Effects of Different Resistance Training Intensity on Indices of Oxidative Stress. Journal of Strength and Conditioning. Sept 2010. 24(9), 2491-2497.
Beavers, K., Brinkley, T., Nicklas, B. Effect of Exercise Training on Chronic Inflammation. Clinica Chimica Acta. 2010. 411, 785-793.
References #6
Fein, P., Suda, V., Borawsky, C., Kupupara, H., Butikis, A., Matza, B., Chattopadhyay, J., Ayra, M. Relationship of Serum Magnesium to Body Composition and Inflammation in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients. Advances in Peritoneal Dialysis. 2010. 26, 112-115.
King, D. Inflammation and Elevation of C-Reactive Protein: Does Magnesium Play a Key Role? Magnesium Research. June 2009. 22(2), 57-59.
References #7
Chang, W., Yu, Y., Chiang, S., Tseng, C. Ellagic Acid Suppresses Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein-Induces Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation: Studies on the Activation of Extracellular Signal-Related Kinase and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Expression. British Journal of Nutrition. April 2008. 99(4), 709-714.
Rao, A., Snyder, D. Raspberries and Human Health: A Review. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2010. 58(7), 3871-3883.
References #8
Stratos, J., Richter, N., Ratter, R., Li, Z., Zechner, D., Mittimeier, R., Vollmar, B. Melatonin Restores Muscle Regeneration and Enhances Muscle Function After Crush Injury in Rats. Journal of Pineal Research. June 2011. Published Ahead of Print.
Pascua, P., Camello-Almaraz, C., Camello, P., Marin-Cano, et al. Melatonin, and to a Lesser Extent Growth Hormone, Restores Colonic Smooth Muscle Physiology in Old Rats. Journal of Pineal Research. May 2011. Published Ahead of Print.
Bonnefont-Rousselot, D., Collin, F. Melatonin: Action as antioxidant and Potential applications in Human Disease and aging. Toxicology. April 2010. 278(1), 55-67.
References #9
Smoliga, J.M., Baur, J.A., Hausenblas, H.A. Resveratrol and Health—A Comprehensive Review of Human Clinical Trials. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. 20 June 2011. Published Ahead of Print.
Vang, O., Ahmad, N., Baile, C., Bur, J., Brown, K., Csiszar, A., et al. What is New for an Old Molecule? Systematic Review and Recommendations on the Use of Resveratrol. PloS ONE. 2011. 6(6).
?Chia-Chi, C., Martinez, K., Xie, G., Kennedy, A., et al. Quercetin is Equally or More Effective than Resveratrol in Attenuating Tumor Necrosis Factor-a–Mediated Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in Primary Human Adipocytes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2010. 92, 1511-1521.
References #10
Wood, L., Garg, M., Gibson, P. A High-Fat Challenge Increases Airway Inflammation and Impairs Bronchodilator Recovery in Asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. May 2011. 127(5), 1133-1140.
Sutherland, E., Goleva, E., Jackson, L., Stevens, A., Leung, D. Vitamin D Levels, Lung Function, and Steroid Response in Adult Asthma. American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine. 2010. 181(7), 699-704.
References #11
Ryan, M., Grossman, S. Celiac Disease: Implications for Patient Management. Gastroenterology Nursing. May 2011. 34(3), 225-228.
References #12
Huang, S., Chiu, C., Chen, H., Hou, W., Sheu, M., Lin, Y., Shie, P., Huang, G. Antinoceptive Activities and the Mechanisms of Anti-Inflammation of Asiatic Acid in Mice. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. April 2011. Epub.
Xu, Y., Cao, Z., Khan, I., Luo, Y. Gotu Kola Extract Enhances Phosphorylation of Cyclic AMP Response Element Binding Protein in Neuroblastoma Cells Expressing Amyoloid Beta Peptide.. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2008. 13, 341-349.
References #13
Kang, J., Amar, M., Remaley, A., Kwon, J., Blackshear, P., Wang, P., Hwang, P. Zinc Finger Protein Tristetrapolin Interacts with CCL3 mRNA and Regulates Tissue Inflammation. Journal of Immunology. July 2011. Published Ahead of Print.
Neek, L., Gaeini, A., Choobineh, S. Effect of Zinc and Selenium Supplementation on Serum Testosterone and Plasma Lactate in Cyclist After an Exhaustive Exercise Bout. Biological Trace Element Research. 9 July 2011. Published Ahead of Print.
Chang, C., Choi, J., Kim, H., Park, S. Correlation Between Serum Testosterone Level and Concentrations of Copper and Zinc in Hair Tissue. Biological Trace Element Research. 14 June 2011. Published Ahead of Print.
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