Chronic inflammation is the cause of many illnesses and trips to the doctor.

If you are experiencing aches, pains, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or acid reflux, it’s probably due to excess inflammation in your body. Stress, injuries, diet, food sensitivities and sugar can all cause chronic inflammation in our body. This can then lead to aches, chronic illness and disease. In this article I am going to talk about ways to calm chronic inflammation, aches and pains.

Now not all inflammation is bad. When we cut our finger or bang our knee and the area gets red and inflamed that is the bodies natural response and how the body begins to heal. The problem with inflammation is chronic inflammation, the kind that gets triggered and doesn’t turn off. Chronic inflammation causes health issues like fatigue, fibromyalgia, IBS, constipation, headaches, skin conditions, joint pain, weight gain, low energy, poor sleep, allergies and food sensitivities.

Many people assume a food allergy or sensitivity is a food that makes them react immediately, yet ninety five percent of food sensitivities are delayed and can happen up to 72 hours after you ingest a food. Delayed reactions are much more common, yet many people are unaware because it happens hours or days after you eat a certain food. This type of reaction can cause a wide range of problems like weight gain, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, moodiness, sinus issues, eczema, joint pain and more.

It is estimated that one in three people have some form of food sensitivity. Yet many doctors never think to check this when their patients complain of chronic health issues. One of the best ways to know if food is playing a role in your health is to keep a food diary. Keeping track of what and when you eat will allow you to know if you are reacting to foods.

If we continue to eat foods that we are sensitive to or continue to eat processed fatty, sugary foods, this will then lead to disease.

How do you know if you are allergic or sensitive to foods?

Have your doctor run a blood test for IgG antibodies to foods, or embark on an elimination diet. An elimination diet is where you remove foods that you suspect may be causing you issues and get to a place or baseline where your symptoms are gone, then you re-introduce foods back into your diet one at a time and see if your symptoms return. If the symptoms return a food sensitivity is suspected.

I help many people with elimination diets and it is one of the best ways to pinpoint food sensitivities.

Ways to calm chronic inflammation, aches and pains

For those of you with chronic aches and pains and other health issues, following an anti inflammatory diet is a sure way to keep inflammation at bay.

Stay away from processed foods (foods that come in a package), dairy, unhealthy fats (trans fats) and sugar. Concentrate on eating more alkaline foods like leafy green vegetables, spinach, kale, lettuce, cucumber, broccoli, celery and avocado which will help to fight inflammation in your body.

Here is my latest alkaline creamy salad recipe for you to try.

1 romaine, chopped

1/2 bunch of kale, chopped

3-4 green onions, chopped

1 avocado

1 cup raw cashews (soaked for a few hours in water)

1 large garlic clove

2 tbsp fresh parsley

2 tbsp fresh dill

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 cucumber

1 tsp sea salt

3 tbsp olive oil

6 tbsp water

Rinse and drain cashews. Chop lettuce, kale and onions and put them in a large salad bowl. In a high speed blender mix avocado, garlic, cashews, parsley, dill, lemon juice, salt, cucumber, oil and add water slowly. Blend until desired consistency. Mix dressing into salad greens and serve