natural anti inflammatory remedies Archives

Unless you are blessed with the most remarkable genes and a lifelong supportive healthy environment, you probably can benefit from these 5 natural anti inflammatory supplements with anti inflammatory benefits. These can offset genetic vulnerabilities and environmental challenges (not just social and psychological, but also physical, chemical, and biological stressors) that can otherwise actualize disease potential into real diseases.

Here are 5 important items that are not enough, but they are a great start:

1. Multivitamin/Multimineral supplement: Especially with the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in our modern population, a good MVI can cut the risk of infections. This just helps replace some of the nutrients lost in the urine from the high blood sugar effects.

2. Magnesium: Most of us do not get enough in our daily diet. Low or marginal magnesium is a problem for people prone to muscle cramping and spasms, insomnia, anxiety, and even some heart arrhythmias. Ask your doctor for a red blood cell magnesium level test, not just a serum test.

3. Vitamin D3: Most of us do not make enough or eat enough vitamin D in our daily outdoor activities (you need skin exposure without sun blocks) or diet. Low vitamin D has been linked in population studies to a wide range of health problem risks, from certain cancers to type 1 autoimmune diabetes to high blood pressure to osteoporosis to even autism. Demand a blood test for vitamin D levels. Just assuming that you are taking enough is risky – absorption varies a lot, especially if you have any condition that impairs gut function. And recheck the level after a couple of months if you change your diet, add medications or other supplements.

4. Probiotics: A growing amount of research tells us that the gut is a major player in immune system health. Mess up the flora of your gut with poor diet and/or antibiotics, and you are more likely to get all sorts of immune-system related problems. These conditions include autoimmune disorders like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and Crohns disease, and cancers.

5. Fish oils: Omega 3 fatty acids from fatty fish like wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies, and others have powerful anti inflammatory effects. They can help your gut heal and support the benefits of the probiotics that you take. If you hate fish or can’t find a tolerable liquid or capsule form of fish oil or are a strict type of vegetarian, then at least use flax oil supplements. Omega 3 intake may help stabilize mood in higher doses for people susceptible to bipolar disorder or certain depressions.

Always give a nutritional program about 3 months to decide if it is helping you. Nutrients are not drugs, and they take time to repair your body rather than just suppressing symptoms the way drugs usually work. And, when available, get blood or other specialized tests to know if your supplements are doing a good job. Not taking enough and then deciding they don’t help is a waste of time and money. Taking too much is also dangerous – so work with a knowledgeable doctor to sort this out for your unique situation.

Want more? Check out the Inflammation Advisor’s book Inflammation 101 here. And pick up a copy of our popular anti inflammatory recipe book while you’re at it – get your copy of our companion book – Eating Clean Recipes for Inflammation.

Very Healthy Recipe – Asparagus Salad

Three top natural remedies for Alzheimer’s disease inflammation show a lot of promise for a less toxic way to slow down and perhaps prevent the loss of memory and other cognitive problems. Options based on scientific research include natural anti inflammatories such as curcumin, high dose vitamin E, and vitamin D3. Actually, ginger, rosemary, and various other plant-based natural remedies may also help to improve memory function. Many natural remedies that are anti oxidants are also exceptional at anti inflammatory effects.

Curcumin and Memory

The anti inflammatory herbal derivative curcumin from turmeric is a powerful natural remedy to help protect brain cells from neuro-inflammatory changes that can lead to memory loss (Wang et al Neurosci Lett 2013). The ways in which it can work in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders are multiple. As with many herbs, curcumin appears to have a modulatory effect on different pathways involved in inflammation and oxidative stress.

One strategy for improving the biological availability and effectiveness of curcumin in the brain is to look for micro- and nano- size forms of the supplement. Nanoparticles are effective tiny carriers for herbs, nutrients and drugs that otherwise do not get out of the gut into the body or into the cells very well. Another somewhat larger but still more effective way to deliver curcumin is liposomes; this form is available more widely in commercial products as Meriva at health food stores and naturopathic offices.

Vitamin E and Alzheimer’s Dementia

A 2014 double-blind placebo-controlled study published in the prestigious medical journal JAMA found that high doses of alpha-tocopherol (2000 IU/day) were better able to slow functional deterioriation in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease compared with placebo or the drug memantine (Dysken et al JAMA 2014). The vitamin E alone group had fewer serious side effects than the groups who got drug alone or a combination of the drug plus the vitamin E. Caregiver burden was also less for longer in the vitamin treated participants.

This study highlights the common problem with past research on nutrients in which the investigators choose to test much lower doses of a given natural supplement and then find that it “does not work.” Yes, this type of research issue means that you would not be using a nutritional supplement in the amounts typically available from dietary uses. Still, acknowledge this fact and look at the wide safety margin and broad benefits that many of these natural supplements offer, in contrast with the dangerous side effects of many drugs.

Vitamin D3 and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Vitamin D3 is deficient or at sub-optimal levels in a large proportion of the population. This nutrient is more of an essential hormone for In older adults, lower levels of vitamin D3 is associated with poorer performance on tests of executive function (ability to make decisions, change course when things are not going well, adapt to changes in your environment – Annweiler et al Dement Geriatr Cogn Disorder 2013). Another study reported lower levels of vitamin D3 (25OHD) were associated with greater mild cognitive impairment in non-demented elderly with perceived memory issues (Annweiler et al Eur J Neurol 2012). Other studies have found similar issues in older women with cognitive impairment.

The criteria for deficient and for sub-optimal levels of vitamin D3 are not yet well-established. Some researchers believe that people want to titrate their blood levels up to the range of 50-80 ng/ml (where 20 or less might be deficient) and 100 or more would be toxic). As with many nutritional supplements, the goal is a Goldilocks goal — that is, the level that is just right, not too small and not too big for your needs and unique body. Recommended daily allowances can be too low for people with impaired gastrointestinal absorption for various reasons. Therefore, asking your doctor to test your vitamin D levels and to follow them as you increase your dose (starting around 1000 IU/day) until you achieve the optimal levels is the best strategy.

In summary, optimizing your intake of curcumin (liposomal or nano forms), vitamin E, and vitamin D3 (the more biologically active form of the vitamin) may help stave off inflammation-associated cognitive impairment and even progression of Alzheimer’s disease if you take the right doses and the right forms of each natural remedy.

5 Natural Anti Inflammatory Supplements You Should Take

3 Top Natural Remedies for Alzheimer’s Disease Inflammation

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