Is your body inflamed?
March 25, 2022

Is your body inflamed?

Let’s face it, period pain sucks... and there's a good chance that inflammation might be to blame.

Let’s face it, period pain sucks. It can be really difficult to figure out the root cause of your PMS woes, but if your periods are usually painful and unpleasant there’s a good chance that inflammation might be to blame. 
 
According to the Journal of Women’s Health¹, menstrual cramps, low back pain, breast pain, bloating, and even mood swings and cravings are all significantly impacted by elevated hs-CRP levels, a biomarker of inflammation. 
 
So what is inflammation and why is it so bad for your body? 
 
Well first of all, it’s not always bad. 
 
Inflammation is a natural immune response that kicks off the healing process when you get injured or when fighting off viruses or bacterial infections.
 
The problems start when our bodies get into a state of chronic inflammation (as opposed to acute/temporary inflammation), which not only makes PMS symptoms more severe², but is also a precursor to a host of health problems including heart disease, autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, and digestive disorders.
 
Even outside of your period, if you experience joint aches and back pain, skin symptoms like acne, or GI issues like diarrhea or constipation, you might be battling a more chronic form of inflammation.
 
Luckily, there are lots of natural ways you can support a more anti-inflammatory lifestyle. Here are a few of our favorite tips to battle inflammation and take control of your health. 

  1. Eat to beat inflammation - The Standard American Diet (aptly abbreviated as SAD) is unfortunately full of foods that exacerbate inflammation such as highly processed and high sugar foods, refined carbohydrates, and dairy. Eliminating these foods from your diet can go a long way in helping to beat back inflammation.

    But you can proactively eat to support an anti-inflammatory lifestyle too! Dark leafy vegetables, berries, and omega-3 rich foods like salmon and flaxseeds are all full of antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body. The blend of seeds and superfoods we use in our seed cycling bundle is full of anti-inflammatory compounds that can get your diet off to a great start.

  2. Stop stress in its tracks - Stress has been shown to be a major factor that contributes to chronic inflammation, so taking care of your mental health and well-being should be a top priority. Finding time for rest and stillness, ideally through a meditation practice can help ease inflammation.

    According to the Cleveland Clinic, meditation³ can actually calm the body's inflammatory response and release endorphins which can naturally reduce pain. Add a good night’s sleep after your meditation session since studies⁴ have shown sleep to be a critical factor in chronic inflammation as well.

  3. Get your gut right - Often one of the first signs that inflammation is causing problems in your body is when your digestive system starts causing trouble. Constipation and diarrhea, which can worsen during your period, are often due to underlying inflammation.

    Probiotics can help your gut microbiome heal from inflammation by making sure you have lots of good bugs in your system. A diet rich in omega-3’s and antioxidant compounds like those found in our seed cycling bundle are also a must to get your digestion back on track. 

Chronic inflammation can have damaging consequences over the long term, but by focusing on the three biggest drivers – diet, stress, and gut health – you have the power to take back your health and fight off inflammation for good.

 

Sources:

¹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27135720
² https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25035435/
³ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-you-can-ease-your-aches-and-pain-with-meditation/
⁴ https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-019-0190-z