Inflammation is a healthy response of your immune system that helps in handling infections, excess bacteria, excess fungus, irritants, and viruses.
In thyroid patients, inflammation responses can become chronic and then cause problems. Very often, we do not even know that inflammation is an issue for us. Inflammation is the basis for most major chronic diseases.
Some testing for inflammation is listed here:
Ferritin (high when the other iron labs are low or optimal)
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) being high
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) being high
It is possible to have one of those be optimal and the other be high, it will still mean inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is a problem because it tends to spread and can affect the HPA axis. When this happens, the adrenals struggle to produce the right amounts of cortisol. Chronic inflammation also can cause high blood pressure, joint pain, autoimmune issues, allergies, bone loss, harmful swelling, heart problems, lowering iron levels, and high Reverse T3.
Ways to lower and maintain low inflammation levels:
Address your hypothyroidism so that your thyroid labs are optimal
Address your Hashimotos, lower antibodies as much as possible!
Test and Address adrenal issues, low cortisol can cause inflammation, Cortisol is naturally anti-inflammatory.
Test and Address vitamin D levels if they are not optimal.
Remove stress from your life, take time for you.
Exercise can be a good a healthy way to reduce inflammation; if you have cortisol issues, slow walks and gentle movement would be all we would suggest.
Other causes which may need to be discovered:
- Food intolerances (including wheat and gluten and dairy)
- Celiac disease
- Low cortisol
- High cortisol
- A combination of low and high cortisol
- Heavy Metal toxicity
- MTHFR
- Chronic stress
- Bacterial overgrowth or imbalances
- Bacterial infections
- Fungal or yeast overgrowths
- Viral infections
- Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Mold exposure
- Lyme disease
- Cancer
- Being Hypothyroid and not optimal on medications.
What can I eat or take to help my inflammation?
- Increase healthy fats – Fats that are rich in omega 3 (not omega 6 or 9).
- Grass fed meat.
- Fermented foods.
- Consider taking a good probiotic.
- Avoid inflammatory fats like canola/rapeseed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, safflower oil and soy oils. These are all high in Omega 6.
- Test for food sensitivities. Some common inflammatory ones are gluten containing grains like wheat, barley and rye. Others have issues with dairy, nightshades, eggs, nuts, soy or even some meats. Elimination diets can be done for less money than sensitive stool or blood testing.
- Eliminate all refined sugars. (Really, eliminate all refined foods as best you can, they are stripped of all their nutrients). Some better forms of sugars are maple syrup, raw honey, coconut palm sugar and fresh fruits.
- Eating wild caught Salmon daily can also lower inflammation. (It is Astaxanthin that gives salmon its beautiful red color!)
Supplements that help reduce inflammation:
** Please note to research all supplements in case you have an allergy or sensitivity to something they contain. It is also important to make sure they are safe to take with your prescription medications.
Taking Astaxanthin at waking and at bedtime can also help reduce inflammation. Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful antioxidants! We want about 12-24 mg per day for this to work. Many take Healthy Origins brand Triple Strength Astaxanthin. This brand is marine microalgae based and comes in 12 mg doses, which is hard to find that high. Taking Astaxanthin with Krill oil adds even more benefits. You may already know about other antioxidants, like vitamin C, CoEnzyme Q-10 and vitamin E.
Astaxanthin is stronger in its benefits than them all.
6,000 times stronger than vitamin C.
800 times stronger than CoQ10.
550 times stronger than green tea catechins,.
75 times stronger than alpha lipoic acid.
Some other good supplements for inflammation may be:
Serrapeptase – An enzyme that breaks up and digests protein. Because of its protein chopping action, Serrapeptase helps thin out the fluids formed from injury, thus facilitating the drainage of these fluids. This speeds tissue repair and relieves pressure that causes pain. Serrapeptase also inhibits the release of bradykinin, a substance that induces pain.
Bioflavonoids, also known as vitamin P – Greater antioxidant effects than vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium or Zinc.
Selenium in the form of L-selenomethionine – this must be tested before taking as there is no antidote for Selenium toxicity (another antioxidant).
Acerola – Good antioxidant effects, it contains vitamin C, vitamin A several B-vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium..
Tumeric – Antioxidant containing the anti-inflammatory Curcumin.
Curcumin – this is found within Tumeric and is what has the anti-inflammatory abilities.
Ginger – Ginger blocks the formation of the inflammatory compounds-prostaglandins and leukotrienes-and also has antioxidant effects.
Fish Oil – The omega-3 works by blocking the inflammatory responses in the body and It also helps to boost circulation which reduces inflammation.
Cats Claw – The anti-inflammatory activity in this, appears to involve suppression of TNF-alpha synthesis, as well as the secretion of nitric oxide and interleukins.
Pomegranate – Is an antioxidant and can lower both cholesterol and blood pressure, especially in diabetic and hypertensive patients.
Glucosamine and chondroitin – (Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in the joints, conflicting studies though).
Rose hips – Rose hips contain nutrients that not only reduce inflammation, but also inhibit the production of chemicals that promote inflammation in your body.
Boswellia (Frankincense) – The main active constituents of boswellia are the boswellic acids, most importantly acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA). AKBA has demonstrated many significant anti-inflammatory effects in preclinical research. The best-documented action of boswellic acids is probably the inhibition of the inflammatory mediator 5-lipoxygenase. Seems to work best in inflammation of joints, lungs and intestinal inflammation.
Neem – Anti-inflammatory that seems to work best for skin, joints and muscles.
Guggul – The resins secreted by the guggul tree have been found to have anti-inflammatory and cholesterol lowering effects, this also has blood thinning effects.
Bromelain – It is considered a proteolytic enzyme, Bromelain has the capability to fight off inflammation which may affect the tissues and organs in the body. It helps the body be cleansed from harmful toxins. It also helps prevent blood clotting and improve food and nutrient digestion. Bromelain is also effective in fighting off viral and bacterial activities in the human body.
Pau D’Arco tea – Has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties.
Pink Rock Rose (Cistus Incanus) – It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties.
Resveratrol – Found in grapes (Vitis vinifera), a variety of berries, peanuts, and medicinal plants, such as Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum).Another dietary source of resveratrol is red wine, It has anti-inflammatory, antitumorigenic, and antioxidant properties.
Aloe Vera – The reasons it works so well on skin inflammation, like sunburn, are the same reasons it works internally to reduce inflammation.
Berberine – Helps to lower blood sugars, has some antimicrobial properties, especially good for intestinal inflammation.
Slippery Elm – Especially good for intestinal inflammation.
Holy Basil – Anti-inflammatory and an ant-oxidant. Affects joints, blood sugar regulation, high cholesterol and intestinal inflammation, this also has blood thinning effects due to a high vitamin K content. This WILL lower cortisol levels, and is best to not take unless you are intentionally lowering cortisol.
Cilantro – It is probably unwise to use this if you have known mercury toxicity, or suspect mercury toxicity, due to it redistributing the mercury around the body and into even more sensitive tissues.
Just remember, taking supplements to lower inflammation markers does not address the CAUSE of the inflammation in the first place, that is important to do!
Chronic inflammation is not healthy, but it IS treatable!
Medical studies and information:
Study showing Astaxanthin is stronger than most antioxidants:
http://www.cyanotech.com/pdfs/bioastin/batl40.pdf
Study showing Astaxanthin decreases oxidative stress and inflammation:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20205737
Anemia of Chronic Disease (low iron and high Ferritin)
http://www.irondisorders.org/anemia-of-chronic-disease
What is chronic inflammation:
http://www.womentowomen.com/inflammation/causes.aspx
Pro-inflammatory hormones:
http://www.womentowomen.com/inflammation/naturalantiinflammatories.aspx
How do microbial communities affect human health:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603085914.htm
Pomegranate juices reduce inflammation:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101119083126.htm
Pomegranate peel and fruit extracts: a review of potential anti-inflammatory and anti-infective effects:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22820239
The anti-inflammatory effect of exercise:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15772055
The role of IL-6 in mediating the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17242490
A website about herbs and what they do:
http://www.herbwisdom.com
A study about the link between MTHFR and inflammation:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15837084
Elaine Damerau Swanson is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), HTMA Practitioner, Certified AIP Coach and Functional Blood Chemistry Specialist. Many have found the (Autoimmune Paleo) AIP diet helpful for reducing inflammation. For more information, please see Elaine’s “Farm or Pharma” page here: http://farmorpharma.com
For information about what Nutritional Therapy appointments look like:
https://farmorpharma.com/show-me-how-my-appointments-with-you-help-me-to-regain-my-health/