Chronic low-grade inflammation and the chaos it causes

“All Disease Begins in The Gut” – Hippocrates.
Whatever signs and symptoms you have, the cause of the chaos leads back to the gut.

Most disease is caused as a result of inflammation, and whatever symptoms you have is linked to whatever part of the body is affected. That differs for all of us but all signs and symptoms are an indication that there is a deeper issue at play and we need to go upstream to the root cause.

Let’s back it up a bit…

Firstly, inflammation is a natural part of the healing process and occurs if you have an injury or infection as part of the immune response. However, if it gets out of hand it leads to chronic low-grade inflammation and that can cause a variety of adverse effects to your health and well-being.

The main culprit is what I have previously discussed and that is…

Chronic stress!

If we are constantly in an active stress response throughout everyday life, we keep releasing cortisol into circulation and that can lead to cortisol dysfunction.

Since cortisol is a potent anti-inflammatory, if it isn’t able to work properly due to adrenal fatigue, then we end up with systemic inflammation, pain and other symptoms.

Other causes of inflammation are untreated infections, significant injuries, or long-term exposure to irritants, such as chemicals, heavy metals or air pollution. Certain lifestyle factors like smoking, excessive alcohol intake or regularly eating certain foods, like sugar, refined carbohydrates, vegetable oils, and processed meats, also contribute to chronic inflammation.

Now, there is a massive link between the brain and the gut. It is a two-way system but I won’t go into that today. The interesting thing is that I had a lot of anxiety growing up and as I have mentioned in a previous blog, around 90-95% of our serotonin is made in the gut.

I also suffered a lot with insomnia, and, although melatonin is made in the pineal gland (found in the brain), a big site of action is the hypothalamic circadian pacemaker. So, if my hypothalamus is continuously perceiving danger and triggering the stress response, the last thing my body needs to focus on is sleep.

Without adequate sleep, our cells are not able to repair, and waste products from the brain and other body processes cannot be excreted efficiently, which impacts our ability to focus, learn and remember.

So that also explains why I could never concentrate and had brain fog, and still feel like that today when I’m overwhelmed.

Basically, it is a vicious cycle!

A poor microbiome affects nutrient digestion and assimilation in the body. This means that we lack vital nutrients circulating in our bloodstream, which affects our physical health on a cellular level.

Sadly, that leads to the gut lining becoming semi-permeable, which makes us more susceptible to pathogens or partially digested food molecules entering our bloodstream, which triggers the immune response.

Over time, this leads to systemic inflammation, meaning it affects your whole body on a cellular level, including your brain and hormonal system.

When you heal the gut and re-populate your microbiomes with healthy bacteria, you are able to manage a range of different conditions; like digestive disorders, seasonal and food allergies, and even autoimmune diseases. You can also combat recurrent infections and reverse skin disorders like acne or eczema.

Now that you are aware of some of the causes of inflammation and the importance of a functioning gut for health and immunity, I want to leave you with this analogy about to how to heal holistically:

A plant is grounded by its roots; and, through the roots, it absorbs nutrients from the soil to feed and grow. If the leaves are sick or dying, you can’t treat the leaves, you need to look at the roots and determine what minerals are missing. Just like this, our gut forms the roots of our body.

Are there any causes of inflammation you are currently struggling with?

Contact me if you need help.