Your Body’s Inflammation Bushfire

Ever been told that the reason your pain is there is because the areas around your sore joint or muscle are “inflamed”?

Well, this is absolutely true – however, there’s a massive component to “inflammation” that no one really talks about, and it’s one you really should know.

We certainly notice that some people just seem to get more inflamed than other people. The pain from what would seem to be the same sort of injury lasts longer.

How about that same pain you’ve had for years, that just KEEPS COMING BACK??

Co-incidence?

I think not.

You see – the body is EXTRAORDINARY at keeping the status quo. It will work it’s heart out (literally) to keep the blood pumping through your veins. It’ll adjust hormones to control blood pressure. It’ll adjust your fluid dynamics to keep your hydration levels in good stead.

Your body is ALWAYS under fire from INFLAMMATION

What do I mean by this?

I mean – the body has to deal with “free radicals” form many different sources throughout the day. The list is exhaustive. But it DOES IT, all under the radar, not that you’d have any idea.

It’s like a bushfire.

An Inflammation Bushfire.

And it’s burning (in your body) all day long.

Where do you think the term  IN-FLAME-ATION came from?

Heat/Temperature/Hot etc… = fire = FLAMES

But here’s where it gets interesting.

Remember how I mentioned that some people just get more inflamed that others?

Here’s why.

The size of their bodies bushfire is simply larger than the next person.

And our clever bodies aren’t this crazy. They’re not about to let inflammation rule our day if it’s got a way to change it…

So it does.

Your body has it’s OWN anti-inflammatories. Hooray!!

And, it doesn’t get them from a PACKET. It makes them ITSELF.

Cool huh?

I like to think of your bodies own anti-inflammatories as like the CFA – it’s own fire brigade. Ready to go.

But the problem is – you’ve only got a certain number of fire trucks!!!

And for the most part – they’ve got things burning under control. You don’t really notice it.

It’s what we call “Invisible” inflammation.

The thing is, some people have way more fire trucks available to fight the fires than other people do.

An issue pops up, the body deals with it, they move on. Like what happens to kids. They hurt themselves, it’s the end of the world for them (at the time) – but 10mins later they’re off and running again.

The older you get the more difficult this becomes. It’s slower.

So the question remains…

What do you have to do to get inflammation under control?

It’s simple.

1. Decrease the size of the bushfire. (You’ll never ever put it out though), and
2. Increase the size of your fire brigade.

And here’s how to decrease inflammation:

You must know that inflammation is occurring all the time all over your body. It’s just you can’t necessarily feel it.

With that in mind, here’s what causes MORE inflammation:

1. Emotions – in particularly STRESS. Easily the biggest cause.
2. A crap diet with refined sugars, refined oils and processed foods.
3. Smoking.
4. Alcohol.
5. Hard endurance exercise.
6. Environmental toxicity.
7. Genetic inflammatory/Auto Immune conditions.

Look – you’ve no doubt heard that all of the above are not good for you. Perhaps with the exception of emotions and exercise!!

So it makes sense that – to DECREASE your systems inflammation i.e. The bushfire, you have to think about this list.

Which brings me onto point 2…

How to INCREASE the size of your fire brigade:

For a lot of people, this is going to seem like common sense.

1. If you’re stressed, figure out a way to change your situation. I know this is not necessarily easy to do – but everything is possible.
2. If you’re eating CRAP, don’t eat crap. Eat “clean” food that isn’t in a package. Preferably not sprayed.
3. Depending on your school of thought and beliefs, limit sugar, wheat and dairy intake. You might just be surprised what your body does (in your favour).
4. Drink water. Not colourful sugary CRAP.
5. Don’t smoke.
6. Don’t drink a lot of alcohol.
7. Limit prolonged high intensity exercise.
8. Figure out a way of increasing your Glutathione and Carnosine levels.
9. Sleep!!! Get decent rest.

Most people reading this list will think – wait a second… you’re telling me not to exercise??

If you exercise, incessant unrelenting high level effort is simply inflammatory, as it a) micro injures muscles, and b) forces you to breathe a LOT more – increasing your exposure to free radical damage.

Next time you see an ironman, think to yourself – I wonder how old they are? The high level athletes that are putting in a lot of hours training a day, are so much OLDER looking than they really are. No coincidence.

You can get 80% of the fitness with 20% of the work. It’s diminishing returns – the longer you exercise.

Does it mean you shouldn’t do exercise? NO WAY!!! Most people need MORE than what they’re currently doing.

Minor exercise that involves some increase in heart rate, that involves taking your joints through a range of motions is more beneficial, with periods of high intensity. We’re built to do it.

And the final way to improve your fire brigade is to:

Limit exposure environmental toxicity.

Things like:

1. Synthetic cleaning products
2. Synthetic washing products
3. Synthetic light – such as the screen you’re reading this on (hahaha!)
4. Frequency signals such as WIFI (turn it off at night)

There are literally thousands of things that you could use as an excuse to not get outside and enjoy your life, but keep in mind that you actually have a massive amount of control over what you do with your body.

Keep it simple.

Regardless of the reasons why you have inflammation, you can take massive steps towards DECREASING it.

Some ways are just faster and more effective than others.