Signs Your Body May Be Experiencing Chronic Inflammation

Written by Tina Prajapat, Nutritionist, Herbalist and Naturopath

when we think of the word inflammation we automatically think it’s bad but it’s actually a natural and essential process that’s part of the body’s healing and repair mechanism, the problem is when inflammation becomes chronic and remains switched on in the background contributing to a broad range of symptoms that you may not automatically associate with inflammation. Acute inflammation is the redness and swelling most of us recognise after an injury but chronic low-grade inflammation can be much harder to recognise. It can present as ongoing tiredness, digestive symptoms, skin conditions, joint and musculoskeletal aches, low mood, or just like your body is not functioning at its best. Many people think these are just symptoms of getting older or being stressed, but these symptoms are your ‘body’s whispers’ trying to tell you that something is out of balance and in need of support.

Please note that chronic inflammation can have many causes, if you have persistent pain or concerning symptoms then it’s important to seek medical advice.

Persistent tiredness and low energy
There are many causes for low energy from anaemia to low thyroid function, but if you’ve been to your GP and everything has come back normal then you need to look deeper into why you’re feeling like this. For some people it may be stress related or poor sleep (which can also be linked back to stress). If prolonged stress is playing a role then this will cause stress hormones like cortisol to become elevated which, over time, will affect immune function and create a state where inflammatory pathways in the body become more easily activated. Fatigue can also be caused by low nutrient in-take, blood sugar fluctuations or digestive disorders.

Digestive symptoms
Bloating, abdominal cramps, bowel changes or food sensitivities can all be signs of inflammation, 70% of our immune system is in the gut lining, so when something irritates this layer (such as poorly digested food), it can stimulate the immune system which can stimulate the release of inflammatory compounds leading to digestive symptoms. Severe uncontrolled inflammation in the gut can be a sign of IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) which should always be further investigated by a medical professional, but there are many dietary, herbal and lifestyle approaches to supporting those with a IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

Skin conditions
The skin is an immune responsive organ, so when the immune system is triggered it can release inflammatory compounds that affect the skin leading to redness, itching, dryness, eczema, psoriasis or acne flare-ups. The skin is closely connected to the immune system, so internal imbalances can sometimes be reflected externally through changes in the health of the skin. This is something I can see in the iris when doing iridology, it shows up as a ‘scurf rim’ which is a genetic susceptibility to express imbalance through the skin.

Joint and muscle pain
This is one of the more obvious signs that we associate with pain. Acute pain is your body’s way of protecting you from further injury when you’ve injured yourself, but with conditions like arthritis the pain can become chronic and unresolved. Joint pain from arthritis causes destructive damage to joints causing a vicious cycle of pain that can be hard to break. The sooner this type of pain is resolved the less damage it will cause to the joints. There are lots of support with nutrition and herbal medicine that can help to support this condition.

Low mood
Inflammation and mood are connected through communication between the gut, immune system, brain and nervous system called the gut-brain-axis. A healthy gut microbiome helps to support balanced communication between the gut and the brain, while an imbalance in gut bacteria may contribute to inflammatory activity. One of the key connections is a neurotransmitter called serotonin. Most of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut where it helps to regulate gut function, but it’s also used in the brain and is associated with feelings of wellbeing and mood balance. This is one of the reasons why supporting gut health with a healthy diet can impact mood, by influencing serotonin production.

There’s lots of natural ways to reduce inflammation, but the longer it’s been going on the longer it may take for the natural approach to start working, so patience is needed while the body tries to rebalance.

Diet
The most well researched diet is the Mediterranean diet that’s high in fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains, oily fish and extra virgin olive oil. A high plant-based diet, low in animal fats, sugar and ultra processed foods is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to help neutralise the oxidative damage that inflammation can cause in the body, high in naturally occurring omega-3 and rich in fibre to feed the microbiome.

Sleep
This is when the body heals and repairs itself, if you are having trouble sleeping then it’s worth having a consultation where we can look at the reason why. There are many reasons for insomnia ranging from stress, blood sugar imbalances and poor sleep hygiene. The right herbs are also very supportive for sleep, helping the nervous system relax by influencing the calming neurotransmitters in the brain and reducing the stimulatory neurotransmitters that keep us alert.

Exercise
Exercising at your own pace can help reduce inflammation by increasing circulation which brings nourishment to the area and removes waste products (which can further contribute to inflammation), supports immune regulation and helps to reduce stress hormones that can contribute to the inflammatory process. It’s important to choose the appropriate level of activity as too much can place additional stress on the body and increase inflammation.

Stress management
Long-term stress can affect the nervous system, immune function and sleep. Practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, time in nature and enjoyable activities can help support a calmer stress response.

If you’d like help with reducing inflammation, then you can reach me here where I offer a free 15 minute discovery call where we can discuss how I can help you.

Written by Tina Prajapat DipCNM, mANP, rGNC – Registered Nutritional Therapist, Herbalist and Naturopath specialising in women’s health, stress resilience and gut health using nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle approaches.

Find out more about my Nutrition and herbalist UK consultations here.