Inflammation (Part 2)

nflammation Part 2

Too much Omega 6 and too little Omega 3 push our bodies towards inflammation. There is however another group of food compounds that have a huge impact on inflammation.

One of the main reasons to target plant foods is that they are loaded with antioxidant compounds. These are called phytonutrients (phyto = plant) that promote healing and are very anti-inflammatory. They help protect plants against free radical damage and disease. When we eat the plants, they help prevent disease and reduce inflammation.

Antioxidants are a vast range of compounds found in food, or made in our body that control free radicals and prevent cell damage. These include many vitamins, some minerals and but are mostly phytonutrients. Great diet sources are dark berries, deep coloured fruits and vegetables, green tea, blackcurrant and pomegranate juice. Make sure you add plenty of spices such as turmeric, ginger and chilli as these are anti-inflammatory.

In supplements the great sources are extracts from grape seeds, blackcurrants, green tea, resveratrol and curcumin from turmeric. Well formulated supplements can make a real difference in helping shift the body towards and anti-inflammatory position.

As part of a nutritional support programme I include maintenance supplements such as Omega 3, Vitamin D (in cooler months) and a good multi-mineral/vitamin/antioxidant complex. Depending on the type of inflammation we could add joint specific compounds. For general inflammation I like to add quality grape seed extract at about 200mg and curcumin at 1000mg.

When combined with a good diet supplements can help shift the body away from unwanted inflammation. Just doing these simple things can make our lives much more comfortable.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med.) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health. If you have questions or need help you can contact John 0800 423559. You can email John at john@abundant.co.nz.

Please note that the health advice given through this column is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any health problem. © John Arts 2021

Abundant Health Curcumin 95 is a ground-breaking approach to turmeric supplements by combining our proprietary 95% Curcumin complex with ActiVin® OPC (grape seed) extract.

95% Curcumin complex

This is a combination of a concentrated curcumin complex plus absorption aids including piperine to rapidly boost and maintain high levels of circulating curcumin. Each capsule contains 500mg of 95% curcumin extract. This means that the extract is almost pure curcumin.

ActiVin® OPC grape seed extract

ActiVin® is the most researched OPC extract available with over 30 peer reviewed studies attesting to its wide ranging benefits. These studies demonstrate that ActiVin ® supports cardiovascular health, respiratory health and immune defences.

OPC is special among antioxidants in that it neutralises a wide range of free radicals across many tissue types. It quenches both oxygen and nitrogen free radicals including those produced by our energy processes.

Who could benefit from adding Curcumin 95?

Those that need joint health support
Those concerned about cardiovascular health including supporting heart artery and blood vessel health. It can also promote healthy blood pressure.
Those who require digestive health support. Curcumin and ActiVin® are known to soothe stressed digestive tract lining.

How can Curcumin achieve so much?

Curcumin, like many other potent antioxidants can positively impact numerous types of tissue. We can identify these by looking in more detail at the effect of curcumin in the body.

Antioxidant
This just means that it can neutralise free radicals. While some free radicals come from toxins in the environment, most are actually produced as our body generates energy. Whenever energy is made there are by-products that include free radicals.These are a completely normal part of how our bodies work. The problem comes when we have inadequate antioxidant defences then free radicals will start to attack other body molecules and cause damage. Curcumin is one of the most active antioxidants and scavenges a wide range of free radicals. It acts on a range of different free radicals making it one of the very best. Combining Curcumin with ActiVin ® OPC (oligomeric proanthocyanidins) from grape seeds produces arguably the most broad spectrum and potent antioxidant combination.

Immune system balance
Inflammation is a normal response by our immune system to repair damage caused by infection, injury or degenerative disease. Our western diets and lifestyles create a serious imbalance in our immune system causing this delicate system to become unbalanced. Curcumin and OPC help to balance and normalise immune system responses. Numerous scientific studies confirm that Curcumin and OPC can support healthy immune system balance.

Supplements for joint problems:

For most common joint problems especially those related to cartilage function we recommend a combination of Abundant Health Bettaflex and Omega 3 Fish oil. Additional Curcumin 95 can then operate as a booster to help restore healthy joint function.

If joint problems do not include cartilage function then a combination of Curcumin 95 and Omega 3 fish oil is recommended.

Caution: Do not use Curcumin 95 if taking warfarin or similar anti-coagulant medications without advice from your prescribing medical doctor. Adult use only.

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