Likely someone at some point has told you that inflammation is bad for you, but do you know how to spot it?
Pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function are five cardinal signs you are inflamed. In a bad way.
Inflammation by definition, however, is a biological process that your body uses to help protect you. Simply put, inflammation is the activation of your immune system. Which, as you probably know, your immune system serves a very important purpose for healing tissues and fighting infections. So in some cases inflammation can be GOOD.
But the difference between good inflammation, and bad inflammation is whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body. This is called systemic inflammation. When this occurs you could experience things like fatigue, fever, mouth sores, rashes, abdominal pain, and chest pain, and you are far more susceptible to diseases.
If this is you or someone you know, its time to seek help!
Eliminating systemic inflammation is the biggest goal of Dr. Sheena Joesph’s functional medicine nutrition practice called Shape Reclaimed.
“Chronic inflammation is linked to almost every disease process out there: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, autoimmune disease just to name a few,” warns Dr. Sheena who sees her patients at her 800 West Trailcreek Drive office in Peoria, and now also at Styles Studios Fitness coming soon in the Peoria Willow Knolls Shopping Centre.
According to Dr. Sheena, there are the 5 ways she treats inflammation in her practice:
1. Anti-inflammatory diet
The number one way we get inflammation in our body, other than an injury, is from eating foods that create inflammation! She will put you on a customized anti-Inflammatory diet based on YOUR immune system. After all, we are all different right?!
2. Food Allergy Testing/Leaky gut screening
Food allergy testing is an important part of your diagnosis, and the Lab you choose is the most important part. Dr. Sheena’s practice is a proud user of CYREX Labs, who tests not only the protein but the lectin in the foods. Additionally, they test the food raw, cooked, and modified because that all presents differently to the immune system.
3. Poop Testing
Yep! You heard me right, poop testing. It gives us great information about whether a virus, fungus, or any other bad guys are causing your inflammation.
4. Blood work
There are key inflammatory markers in the blood stream that gives us great information about the amount of inflammation your body.
5. Customized Supplement Protocol
Dr. Sheena uses specific immune modulators, which basically means they help to drive down systemic inflammation.
6. Chiropractic Care and Soft Tissue Release
Whether it is systemic chronic inflammation, or inflammation due to an injury, chiropractic adjustments are a stellar treatment. It turns out that crack you hear or don’t, restores motion to joint which helps to pump inflammation out of the area. The motion of the joint actually turns off your pain receptors. We know that everything is connected, so addressing any muscle/ligament/tendon concerns is a part of every Chiropractic treatment here.
Curious to see if you’re inflamed? Contact Dr. Sheena to book an appointment and find out.
