What is inflammation
Inflammation — known colloquially as "iltihaplanma" — is a series of responses that living tissue gives to any living or non-living foreign agent, or to internal/external tissue damage. The term originates from the Latin word meaning "to set on fire." This response can be cellular, humoral (fluid-based), and vascular. Although inflammation is normally considered a pathological state, the inflammatory reaction is physiologically a response given by the body.
Inflammation is vital in defense against pathogens. If this defensive state of the body becomes chronic, it can be dangerous. Inflammation damages healthy organs and causes serious complications. For this reason, it is important to closely monitor your body and take effective precautions in order to be able to recognize chronic inflammation at an early stage and receive treatment.
Chronic inflammation is known to be partly responsible for illnesses such as Alzheimer's, atherosclerosis, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, dementia, diabetes, heart attack, cancer, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, neurodermatitis, Parkinson's disease, metabolic syndrome, stroke, and psoriasis.
With inflammation, the immune system not only fights pathogens, but also mobilizes messenger substances that attack healthy tissue. Immunological signals are important for aging processes. For this reason, aging itself is also interpreted by scientists as an inflammatory process.
Statistics show that chronic inflammatory diseases and susceptibility to disease have increased significantly in recent years. This is particularly noticeable in industrialized countries. For this reason, chronic inflammation is now referred to as a disease of civilization. This can be explained by the modern lifestyle shaped by stress factors, in addition to unhealthy eating and lack of exercise.
Symptoms of chronic inflammation are generally nonspecific: Chronic inflammation does not always cause discomfort. Most people feel healthy, or they disregard certain mental disturbances that indicate chronic inflammation. Depressed mood, joint complaints, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, food intolerances or allergies, increased ear pressure, tinnitus, migraine-like head and neck pain, morning fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, visual disturbances, and excessive irritability are the main symptoms.
The causes of inflammation are highly varied: Inflammation has many causes. It is triggered by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or allergens, and it can also stem from physical factors, exposure to radioactive radiation, or environmental toxins that strain the immune system. In addition, stress, lack of exercise, and insufficient or improper nutrition permanently disrupt the immune system. Obese individuals are particularly at risk, because fat tissue contains substances that cause inflammation.
It is important to treat inflammation: It is important to treat inflammation in order to prevent it from spreading and damaging other organs. In addition to symptomatic treatment, the triggers of inflammation should be eliminated and the immune system should be strengthened. Correct nutrition is indispensable for this.
In modern, conventional medicine, anti-inflammatory active compounds that also relieve pain are used in the treatment of inflammation. Ideally, every anti-inflammatory treatment should include a holistic approach, particularly neural therapy and nutritional recommendations. This method primarily aims to treat what is deficient and to support the body's physical defenses.
The immune system's defense begins in the mouth: Many pathogens enter the body through the mouth, which is why oral hygiene is particularly important. Most important is regularly brushing teeth (twice a day) with toothpaste containing enzymes. Enzymes increase saliva's ability to inhibit and reduce bacteria. Independent of this, teeth should of course be restored and cleared of inflammation. Another thing that should be done is oil pulling, in which the mouth is rinsed with organic coconut, sesame, or olive oil. The oil pulling process strengthens the mouth's natural microflora and eliminates bacteria.
Health passes through the stomach: Healthy eating is necessary to prevent chronic inflammation. On one hand, the body obtains sufficient energy through nutrition to fight illness; on the other hand, the flora of the intestine, an important immune organ, is protected.
The foods consumed should be balanced and rich in vitamins and minerals (particularly vitamins A, C, and E).
Meat should be consumed in small amounts, because red meat in particular stimulates the production of uric acid, which accumulates in the joints and triggers inflammation.
As for fat, unsaturated fats such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and omega-3 fatty acids should be preferred.
Flavonoids found in legumes, oats, and various vegetables have anti-inflammatory properties similar to saponins.
Pineapple, wild garlic, basil, blackberry, buckwheat, ginger, chamomile, nasturtium, cherry, garlic, cumin, turmeric, licorice root, horseradish, quince, red wine, thyme, cinnamon, onion, and curd cheese are foods thought to have an immune-boosting effect. In addition, the immune system can be supported with aronia, ivy, ginseng, rosehip, elderberry, and horsetail teas or fresh fruit juices.
Movement prevents inflammation: Adequate and correct exercise is important because it supports oxygenation, blood circulation, and metabolism. It also keeps the joints — which inflammation likes to settle into — flexible, and prevents excess weight, which triggers chronic inflammation. Walking, running, swimming, and cycling are sports that do not overly strain the musculoskeletal system. Extreme sports are strictly not recommended, as they cause premature wear of the joints and joint cartilage, excessive production of stress hormones, and chronic inflammation.
You can benefit from my book "The Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Guide" for more information on this and similar topics.
Hüseyin Nazlıkul