Inflammation: 8 Signs You Have It and What To Do

Inflammation in your body is absolutely crucial. When your body perceives something as a threat, it protects itself and this process is called an inflammatory response.

But what are the signs of inflammation in your body and what can you do about it? Many chemical signals are produced in the body which defend it from triggers such as consuming certain foods, synthetic chemicals, food additives, viruses, bacteria, parasites, stress and lack of sleep. Symptoms are simply a little whisper from your body, trying to tell you to make a change. If we ignore those symptoms, then they can go from whispers into screams. If these screams aren’t listened to, it can result in a diagnosis of a disease, typically an autoimmune disease (AD).

Autoimmune diseases occur when a person’s immune system mistakenly believes it is under threat and starts to attack its healthy cells. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases. Some examples include multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, diabetes and Graves’ disease. The number of people being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease has more than tripled in the last 50 years. In fact, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) states that over 50 million Americans suffer from an autoimmune disease.

It is much more difficult to calm down inflammation once there is a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease, however it is still possible. I urge you to scan your body from the top of your head down to the tip of your toes, and ask yourself:

• What symptoms am I experiencing?
• What is causing these symptoms?

Almost all symptoms you are experiencing in your body start from inflammation. Watch this video for a good overview of what causes inflammation:

I’ve listed below 8 signs that your body is inflamed. I have seen all of the below symptoms disappear in many of my clients, when they make changes to their diet and lifestyle.

8 Signs of Inflammation in the Body

1. Headaches Of course, there are a number of types and causes of headaches. However, it is known that a headache can be a symptom of a future diagnosis of an autoimmune disease (AD). AD’s stem from inflammation and therefore if a person is experiencing frequent headaches, it is important to find the cause of the inflammation.

2. Skin issues Acne, rashes and psoriasis are all signs that your body is trying to signal to you that something you’re being exposed to must be removed. There are many autoimmune illnesses that affect the skin such as psoriasis. Moreover, acne is intricately linked with the health of our gut. When our gut health is altered, inflammation is heightened.

3. Brain fog This is a symptom that people do not even realise they have until it is gone. Once this feeling is gone, you’re left with a sense of clarity, feel more energetic and are alert. Brain fog has been linked to inflammation of the brain after the exposure of something inflammatory.

4. Weight gain When inflammatory foods and chemicals are removed from our diets and our lives, our body tends to lose weight. Here is a study proving that inflammatory cytokines are associated with future weight gain.

5. Fatigue This symptom can progress into other illnesses, particularly AD’s, as it has been associated with many inflammatory conditions.

6. Sinus issues Remember, this is just a symptom that you need to listen to. Your body is communicating with you, letting you know that something it has been exposed to needs to be avoided. Keep in mind that sinuses can take more than 12 weeks to calm down. So it is crucial to remove anything inflammatory for at least 12 weeks to notice an improvement. Read our blog on curing a stubborn sinus infection naturally here.

7. Weight fluctuations When you see your body weight on the scales increase by 400g or more overnight, it may be because your body is inflamed. Scales can be a fantastic tool to allow you to find what may be causing inflammation. However, keep in mind that there are many other factors that could cause a temporary weight gain such as menstrual cycles, lack of sleep, stress and other lifestyle factors.

8. Joint pain Most forms of arthritis stem from inflammation. If you have joint pain, it is essential that you find the cause of the inflammation in your body, so the joint pain can be reduced and potentially prevents a future diagnosis of arthritis.

I have suffered in the past with many of the above symptoms including sinus, fatigue, skin rashes and acne, brain fog, weight fluctuations which were all a part of my daily life. After healing my gut by constantly avoiding inflammatory foods, connecting with nature regularly and reducing my stress levels, I no longer experience these symptoms. If I did expose myself to anything inflammatory, I may get one of those symptoms back although I know exactly what to do to return to the best version of me. Make it your goal to remove all inflammation in your body, taking note that it can take time to heal from the damage that has been done. For a more indepth look into inflammation and what causes it, click here.

What You Can Do About It

Anti-inflammatory diets have become very popular over the past few years. If you want to eat for long-term health, then lowering inflammation in your body is essential for improving your health. For a list of inflammatory foods to avoid and 20 inflammatory fighting foods click here. It is worth your while to reduce any inflammation in your body and your symptoms, which in turn will improve your quality of life.

Further Information

You might also like this video where Cyndi explains which foods can cause inflammation. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel while you’re there!:

Sheridan Williamson

Nutritionist

Updated February 2020