This lifestyle aims to help you reset your gut flora and lower your inflammation levels. All non-communicable diseases are linked to chronic inflammation, and the correlation is direct in the case of autoimmune disease.
Inflammation: the main culprit for your digestive issues
Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Coeliac Disease, and Diverticulitis are all Inflammatory Bowels Diseases (IBD) and are directly linked to chronic inflammation. In some cases, scientists have established a correlation between high inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP, IL-1, IL-6) and IBD. In others, researchers show that there can be a dysregulation in anti-inflammatory agents, leading to diseases like Crohn’s, as shown in this study.
How can chronic inflammation be measured?
We are so often asked how we can measure inflammation. Blood tests measure chronic systemic inflammation, which is the level of continuous inflammation around the entire body. The main three markers are C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and Plasma Viscosity (PV). These markers help medical doctors measure your inflammation but aren’t always 100% accurate. In her experience, her markers were never extremely high, even when symptoms were severe. She relies on her symptoms to try and gauge her inflammation levels.
Take into account other factors which might increase your inflammation levels, such as:
- lack of good quality sleep
- poor nutrition
- periods of prolonged stress
- high-intensity exercise
- sedentary lifestyle
- high BMI (obesity fuels chronic inflammation, as seen in this study from Cambridge University)
- depression or anxiety (both linked to chronic inflammation)
- the presence of other autoimmune issues
In general, chronic inflammation can trigger the expression of diseases and potentially lead to a vicious, inflammatory cycle, where an inflammatory disease caused by inflammation fuels further chronic inflammation. This mechanism has been observed for many conditions, such as obesity, depression, and autoimmune diseases.
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