Many of us only think about inflammation when we’ve suffered an injury, such as a swollen ankle after a bad fall, or as our body’s natural response to an infection or illness. But did you know there are other causes of inflammation in our body, such as the choices we make with our diet and lifestyle, that can be slowly damaging our body right now?

Inflammation doesn’t just happen in response to injury, infection, or illness. It can be triggered by what we eat, how much sleep we’re not getting, stress, and other factors. And the result can be everything from mild joint pain to joint deterioration, arthritis, and more.

Have you experienced any of these signs of inflammation in the body?

  • Mild to chronic pain in your knees, back, hips, and shoulders
  • Unexplained fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • You’re sick more than normal
  • Headaches
  • Arthritis
  • Memory problems

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Early signs of inflammation may not be that worrisome. Perhaps your knees feel a little extra achy, or your neck is tighter than it normally is. But if left unchecked, the mild symptoms you are experiencing now could get worse, deteriorate your joints, and lead to arthritis. You or a family member with excess inflammation could fall victim to diseases such as heart disease and other conditions.

What can I do to prevent or reduce inflammation in my body?

The good news is that inflammation in the body that’s not supposed to be there can be reduced pretty quickly simply by making a few diet and lifestyle changes. Below are just a few easy things you can do now to reduce inflammation:

  1. Change your diet — Reduce the amount of processed, high-sugar, and high-fat foods that you eat. While they may taste really good, most of these are examples of inflammatory foods that should be enjoyed in moderation. Individuals with a high dairy intake can also experience inflammation. Choose plant-based foods, anything that is high in fiber, and lean protein.
  2. Drink water — Drinking lots of water and staying properly hydrated is probably the easiest way to reduce inflammation. If your body is getting enough water, your joints will move more freely and easily — leading to less pain.
  3. Get moving — Many of us have fallen into more sedentary lifestyles because of the pandemic. We’re working from home more, we’re struggling to get to the gym, and we’re more apt to just sit on the couch and relax. The problem is that too much sitting around causes inflammation in the joints. The key here is to take frequent breaks from sitting at your desk, start an exercise routine, and keep moving as much as possible. The more you move, the more you’ll notice all those aches and pains will subside. Gym closed? Here are 7 home exercises to keep moving.
  4. Schedule a chiropractic appointment — Whether you’ve been to a chiropractor a handful of times or you’re a first-timer, the first thing to realize is everyone can benefit from chiropractic care. Sometimes all you need is a quick adjustment, but there are other techniques that, when performed consistently, help your entire body and brain function properly. And yes, it helps reduce inflammation since chiropractic adjustments bring much-needed movement to the joints.

Call Brain-Body Connection Chiropractic today

The goal at Brain-Body Connection Chiropractic is to continue offering all your chiropractic and wellness needs under one roof. This allows us to treat everything from a backache to poor posture, range of motion issues, post-injury management, a herniated disc, scoliosis, and more. Sometimes, all you need is a quick adjustment from a chiropractor, but Dr. Twila Henderson and her growing team will always do a complete evaluation to see if more techniques are needed to help your brain and body function properly.

Call us today for your next chiropractic appointment.

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