Nutritional protocol for inflammation
Nutritional protocol for inflammationNutritional Protocol For Inflammation
When tissues are injured a specific reaction to the injury takes place. A collection of irritants and other chemical mediators are released into the injured area to aid in stabilization of the injured tissue, protection against further injury, and stimulation of healing at the injury site. These factors are referred to as the inflammatory cascade. And it includes substances such as histamine, bradykinin and prostaglandins, which aid in vasodilation to the injured area; serotonin, which acts as a vasoconstrictor, and growth factors and cytokines which act to increase fibroblast and macrophage migration to the injury site.(1) This is the acute inflammatory response and it is essential to the healing process. It should be noted that this acute reaction is healthy and we do not want to impede this process. We do, however, wish t aid the healing process in order to resolve the acute inflammatory response before it passes into a chronic state of inflammation. It is th chronic state of inflammation that is always destructive to tissues and is equated to disease.(2) When repair is successful, inflammation becomes a limited phenomena. Some conditions such as asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, osteoarthritis, peptic ulcers, and psoriasis comprise examples of perpetual or chronic inflammation.(3) It is these chronic conditions, hallmarked by pain and fatigue, that eventually lead to loss of function. The treatment that millions of people turn to each year is Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID's). However, long-term therapy has revealed an alarming list of adverse side effects associated with these drugs such as gastrointestinal bleeding, and suppression of inherent anti-inflammatory pathways and tissue repair.(4) In addition, NSAID's have been linked to "leaky gut syndrome", in which gut permeability is increased, allowing antigenic toxins to flood the systemic circulation via paracellular and transcellular absorption.(5) Thus, nutritional modification is the best way to guard against adverse reactions or side effects. More importantly, nutritional status is the foundation in which inflammation becomes modifiable.(3)
Tissue pH
The natural pH of the human body lies in a range between 6.0 and 7.4.(7) However, after an injury the pH of some tissues may fall well-below pH 6.0, thus owing to a very acidic environment. This type of condition favors the inflammatory cascade. An acid environment is promoted by metabolism of glucose and triglycerides, and gastrointestinal bacterial metabolism of unabsorbed carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.(9) Thus, acid production depends on the diet. Also, meats and grains are a source of potential acids, whereas fruits and vegetables are a potential source of bases.(9) Therefore, a reduction in the amount of meats and grains along with a concomitant increase in the amount of fruits and vegetables would bring about a more balanced tissue pH, which in turn would favor an anti-inflammatory condition throughout the body.
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