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How to Fight Inflammation
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What is inflammation?

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or stress. During injury or stress to the body the muscles, tendons, or ligaments start the inflammation process which begins with cleaning up these tissues and allowing the healing process to begin. These areas of the body tend to lose function and mobility and become inflamed which reconstructs and repairs the tissues. During this stage of inflammation, if interference within the nervous system occurs this slows down the chemical component of the healing process and therefore leads to chronic inflammation.

What to do within the first 24-72 hours of injury?

There are 4 stages of inflammation: Acute, Sub-Acute, Chronic, and Degenerative. During the acute phase the initial treatment of injury to your back resting and icing is recommended. Ice should be applied every 15-20 minutes and then every 40 minutes there after. Ice and chiropractic treatment reducing the pain of the inflammation and will help with recovery time. Chiropractic treatment repairs the nervous system to allow the body to heal. In conjunction with consuming the correct nutrient, rebuilding damaged connective tissue, and relaxing the soft tissue the body will repair and rehab the injured tissue.

What are anti-inflammatory nutrients to help the healing process?

Fatty acids omega 6 and omega 3 are two most important nutrients that help the body heal. There are essential fatty acids that can’t be manufactured by the body. Omega 6 foods help the body activate the immune system and trigger inflammation. Omega 3 converts into powerful compounds that counteract the inflammatory response and is an important building block for the brain.

What are the foods to help inflammation?

Fish(wild fish), shellfish, flaxseed(lineseed) oil, canola oil, hemp oil, soya oil, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, fruit and vegetables (berries, cherrries, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, spinach), and walnuts. Some spices effective against inflammation: turmeric, ginger, and myriad.  Keeping hydrated with alkaline water is also important. Stay away from refined sugar and high fructose these will encourage inflammation

What happens to the body when chiropractic treatment is not seeked?

When the body fails to handle the inflammatory process successfully the nervous system becomes weak and conditions can occur. These include but are not limited to  fibromyalgia, lupus, allergies, headaches, back pain, and rheumatoid arthritis. In autoimmune cases the body reacts and starts to attack its own body. In some people milder cases occur but if left untreated significant damage can occur over time to the organs of the body. This results in cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or osteoporosis.

How does the body rebuild connective tissue?

Once the inflammation response limits the tissue damage and starts to promote healing now the body must rebuild connective tissue. It does this by rebuilding collagen which is vital to the repair process. This is the building block to ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. Amino acids and antioxidants help rebuild collagen. Amino acids are found in all proteins-include a protein rich diet. Antioxidants are found in almonds, sunflower seeds, strawberries, sweet green and red peppers, and cantaloupe.

How to relax the soft tissue to speed up recovery?

Chiropractic adjustments and therapeutic massage relax the damaged tissue and facilitate healing. When the body has the nutrients and tools the body will adapt to healing itself following the injury. Call Dr. Fred Schofield at Atlas Chiropractic today 602-938.8868 to find out more information.