March - Inflammation (Updated)
Welcome!
I bet you’ve heard about the horrors of inflammation a thousand times by now. Every doctor and health professional is singing the same old tune – chronic inflammation is the leading cause of disease.
While inflammation has been connected to many big health concerns, like; heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, inflammation isn’t always bad.
Ya, it’s true. It isn’t always bad. It can even be healing!
Let’s talk inflammation – why it happens, when it goes terribly wrong, and how to find balance :)
What you’ll find in this masterclass:
Part 1 – Acute vs Chronic Inflammation
Part 2 – What Triggers Inflammation?
Part 3 – The Gut/Immune Connection
Part 4 – The Elimination Diet
Part 5 – Anti-inflammatory food/Supplements
Blood Tests For Inflammation:
There are a few blood tests that can show if your body is dealing with inflammation. These aren’t always perfectly accurate, sometimes lower levels of inflammation (that still may cause chronic pain or tissue damage) won’t show up in these tests. But, they’re definitely levels to keep an eye on.
CRP (C-Reactive Protein) – keep below 1.0
This is a test for an inflammatory marker in your blood. Anything over 1.0 can show inflammation. Warning – your CRP number can sky-rocket if you’re fighting off a cold or a flu, so retest if you get a high number.
HgbA1c (hemoglobin A1c, a test of blood sugar) – keep below 5.4
This is a common diabetic test but is also a great way to keep an eye on inflammation. Levels above 5.5 can indicate elevated blood sugar levels that can trigger inflammation. Your doctor might not be concerned until it’s over 6.0, so be sure to find out your number.
Ferritin (iron stores) – keep below 200
It can be hard to get a ferritin test if you’re not concerned your iron is low, but high iron can be a sign of inflammation in the body.
VERY high iron (over 1000) can be a sign of a genetic condition called Hemochromatosis. This condition creates very high iron in the body which is very inflammatory. There’s treatment for this condition (giving blood, eating a low iron diet), but it’s often missed because iron isn’t tested post-menopause or in men.
Hemochromatosis can be diagnosed through a simple blood test by your doctor, ask for it if your ferritin level is very high or if you have any family members with Hemochromatosis.
Got any questions or comments? Comment below, jump to our private Facebook Group, or the Ask Lisa page :)
Let’s get started! Head over to Part 1.