What is Inflammation?

Our bodies are incredible, right? Our skin is the body’s largest organ and creates a home for muscles, bones, organs, tissue, nerves, and blood, all working and moving together in harmony to keep us alive and safe from outside elements. But as we all know, our bodies are not invincible and can be damaged, cut, bruised, and even some systems inside the body work against us. Inflammation is at the root of what helps keep our bodies healthy and whole, but inflammation can also cause our bodies harm. So, what is inflammation and how is it both good and bad for us?

Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation

There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is essential in keeping our bodies healthy; chronic inflammation is a condition that can cause a lot of damage.

Acute Inflammation

Acute inflammation is our body’s natural response to harmful elements, such as cuts, germs, viruses, bacteria, infections, and irritants. Classic signs of inflammation include heat, pain, redness, swelling, and loss of function or immobility. One or more of these signs may occur within minutes of being injured or when tissue is damaged. When your body is hurt, inflammation is the response that causes white blood cells to flow to the damaged area. White blood cells are at the heart of your immune system, helping the body fight harmful elements or foreign invaders. For example, if you hit your shin on the coffee table, a bruise may develop, which is a sign that acute inflammation is at work.

Chronic Inflammation

While acute inflammation is a healthy response to injury or germs, chronic inflammation is taking this natural, healthy response to an extreme, which can eventually cause negative effects. Chronic inflammation causes the healthy response to continue, resulting in your body always being on the lookout for harmful elements. Unlike acute inflammation, which occurs quickly, chronic inflammation is a slow, long-term inflammation that may not cause any noticeable symptoms to develop for months or even years.

What Causes Chronic Inflammation?

There are several reasons why chronic inflammation develops in the body.

  • The body’s acute inflammation response fails to remove the harmful element, leaving the body to constantly fight the invader.
  • When the body is exposed to particular irritants over a long period of time, industrial chemicals for example.
  • There is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack healthy tissue, resulting in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis.
  • Acute inflammation occurs again and again.
  • Inflammation causes oxidative stress and increases the production of free radicals.

Risk Factors For Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can eventually lead to a wide variety of issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, allergies, and more. Chronic inflammation and the diseases that result from it can develop in anyone, but there are some factors that may increase the risk.

  • Age: As we get older, there is a natural increase of inflammatory molecules, which may result from the accumulation of free radicals.
  • Obesity: Overeating and excess fat may lead to an increase in the immune response.
  • Diet: Foods that are high in saturated fat, trans-fats, or refined sugar can increase the production of inflammatory molecules.
  • Smoking: Cigarette smoke has been associated with reducing the production of anti-inflammatory molecules.
  • Stress: Physical and emotional stress may cause a release of inflammatory substances.

Symptoms of Chronic Inflammation

Everyone will experience chronic inflammation differently depending on the type of inflammation and what it is caused by. However, symptoms may include body pain, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal issues, weight gain, and frequent infections.

Treating Chronic Inflammation

There are many ways to help reduce inflammation and the related conditions, and the good news is that many of the preventative measures are natural and can be found in your own kitchen! 

When trying to prevent or reduce symptoms of inflammation, it often comes down to trying to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine.

  • Reduce the amount of high glycemic foods, such as soda, refined carbohydrates, and high fructose corn syrup. These foods can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.
  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
  • Increase the amount of fiber in your diet.
  • Snack on nuts, which may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Take a natural supplement to increase your intake of micronutrients, especially magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium.

Increase Antioxidant Intake

Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which can cause cell damage and inflammation, leading to a host of conditions and diseases. Antioxidants can be found in many fruits and vegetables and help create balance within the body, reducing the risk of inflammation.

Try a Resveratrol Supplement

One plant compound that has antioxidant properties is resveratrol. Found in the skins and seeds of grapes, resveratrol can help reduce symptoms of inflammation by fighting harmful free radicals. You may have heard that red wine is good for your heart, which is true! This is due to the fact that wine is made using grapes. If you’re looking for a natural supplement and want to reduce inflammation in your body, but don’t want to consume alcohol, a resveratrol supplement may be the solution.

Shop vYv

vYv has developed a natural supplement that includes both resveratrol and CBD, which also helps your body fight chronic inflammation. The resveratrol supplement from vYv contains Japanese Knotweed, grape seed extract, and CBD isolate. The supplement does not contain any THC, so there isn’t any psychoactive effect.

By increasing the amount of antioxidants your body is getting, there is a better chance of reducing the risk and symptoms of inflammation! Learn more about the ingredients in our resveratrol supplement, and shop vYv today!