Inflammation is the body's first response to an injury or infection. Acute inflammation is a normal part of life. The benefit of the temporary discomfort and swelling is that inflammation allows large numbers of immune cells to rapidly move into areas where they're needed to kill any invading microorganisms and begin the healing process.
The inflammation that accompanies hard training is good. These types of acute inflammatory responses are totally normal and are involved in everything from wound healing to muscle growth.
But what happens when inflammation is chronic instead of acute?
Chronic inflammation tends to be systemic and can lead to joint stiffness and overall muscle aches and pain. At its most serious level, it can result in heart disease and insulin resistance. Most chronic degenerative diseases, and even cancer, are driven by chronic inflammation. The bottom line is that chronic inflammation means loss of performance and possibly even more serious health problems down the road.
How To Manage Inflammation:
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Eat more cold-water fish or supplement with fish oil capsules. Wild salmon, sardines, and herring are great sources as they're low in mercury. If you still fear mercury, eat a serving of Brazil nuts every day. The selenium in them binds to mercury, making it nontoxic.
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Limit refined carbs. Refined sugar raises insulin, which isn't catastrophic, but constantly doing so will result in increased inflammation.
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Lose weight if you are overweight. Fat cells produce inflammatory cytokines. The fatter you are, the more you produce and the longer you stay inflamed.
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Get a massage. A massage is an excellent way to relieve inflammation amongst other things.
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Avoid trans-fats. Period.
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Avoid or limit alcohol and go easy on the caffeine. Moderation folks.
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Eat more fruits and veggies. This will increase the antioxidant status of your body. I personally drink my fruits and veggies with a good greens powder, but to each their own.
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Supplement with antioxidants and vitamins. If you can't get enough food in during the day, or simply don't like certain foods then use supplements, that's literally what they are for. Fish oil supplements, vitamins A, C, E, and D, and don't forget to add in magnesium, selenium, and zinc.
