Inflammation in your body is absolutely crucial. When your body perceives something as a threat, it protects itself and this process is called an inflammatory response.
But what are the signs of inflammation in your body and what can you do about it? Many chemical signals are produced in the body which defend it from triggers such as consuming certain foods, synthetic chemicals, food additives, viruses, bacteria, parasites, stress and lack of sleep. Symptoms are simply a little whisper from your body, trying to tell you to make a change. If we ignore those symptoms, then they can go from whispers into screams. If these screams aren’t listened to, it can result in a diagnosis of a disease, typically an autoimmune disease (AD).
Autoimmune diseases occur when a person’s immune system mistakenly believes it is under threat and starts to attack its healthy cells. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases. Some examples include multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, diabetes and Graves’ disease. The number of people being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease has more than tripled in the last 50 years. In fact, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) states that over 50 million Americans suffer from an autoimmune disease.
It is much more difficult to calm down inflammation once there is a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease, however it is still possible. I urge you to scan your body from the top of your head down to the tip of your toes, and ask yourself:
- What symptoms am I experiencing?
- What is causing these symptoms?
Almost all symptoms you are experiencing in your body start from inflammation. Watch this video for a good overview of what causes inflammation:
I’ve listed below 8 signs that your body is inflamed. I have seen all of the below symptoms disappear in many of my clients, when they make changes to their diet and lifestyle.
8 Signs of Inflammation in the Body
1. Headaches Of course, there are a number of types and causes of headaches. However, it is known that a headache can be a symptom of a future diagnosis of an autoimmune disease (AD). AD’s stem from inflammation and therefore if a person is experiencing frequent headaches, it is important to find the cause of the inflammation.
2. Skin issues Acne, rashes and psoriasis are all signs that your body is trying to signal to you that something you’re being exposed to must be removed. There are many autoimmune illnesses that affect the skin such as psoriasis. Moreover, acne is intricately linked with the health of our gut. When our gut health is altered, inflammation is heightened.
3. Brain fog This is a symptom that people do not even realise they have until it is gone. Once this feeling is gone, you’re left with a sense of clarity, feel more energetic and are alert. Brain fog has been linked to inflammation of the brain after the exposure of something inflammatory.
4. Weight gain When inflammatory foods and chemicals are removed from our diets and our lives, our body tends to lose weight. Here is a study proving that inflammatory cytokines are associated with future weight gain.
5. Fatigue This symptom can progress into other illnesses, particularly AD’s, as it has been associated with many inflammatory conditions.
6. Sinus issues Remember, this is just a symptom that you need to listen to. Your body is communicating with you, letting you know that something it has been exposed to needs to be avoided. Keep in mind that sinuses can take more than 12 weeks to calm down. So it is crucial to remove anything inflammatory for at least 12 weeks to notice an improvement. Read our blog on curing a stubborn sinus infection naturally here.
7. Weight fluctuations When you see your body weight on the scales increase by 400g or more overnight, it may be because your body is inflamed. Scales can be a fantastic tool to allow you to find what may be causing inflammation. However, keep in mind that there are many other factors that could cause a temporary weight gain such as menstrual cycles, lack of sleep, stress and other lifestyle factors.
8. Joint pain Most forms of arthritis stem from inflammation. If you have joint pain, it is essential that you find the cause of the inflammation in your body, so the joint pain can be reduced and potentially prevents a future diagnosis of arthritis.
I have suffered in the past with many of the above symptoms including sinus, fatigue, skin rashes and acne, brain fog, weight fluctuations which were all a part of my daily life. After healing my gut by constantly avoiding inflammatory foods, connecting with nature regularly and reducing my stress levels, I no longer experience these symptoms. If I did expose myself to anything inflammatory, I may get one of those symptoms back although I know exactly what to do to return to the best version of me. Make it your goal to remove all inflammation in your body, taking note that it can take time to heal from the damage that has been done. For a more indepth look into inflammation and what causes it, click here.
What You Can Do About It
Anti-inflammatory diets have become very popular over the past few years. If you want to eat for long-term health, then lowering inflammation in your body is essential for improving your health. For a list of inflammatory foods to avoid and 20 inflammatory fighting foods click here. It is worth your while to reduce any inflammation in your body and your symptoms, which in turn will improve your quality of life.
Further Information
You might also like this video where Cyndi explains which foods can cause inflammation. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel while you’re there!:
Sheridan Williamson
Nutritionist
Updated February 2020
Im sensitive to smells ,watery eyes, I seem to cough regularly. Post nasal drip doesn’t help. Drives me crazy. I m taking Womens multi vitamins , Garlic with c and horseradish tabs. Sometimes take Anis Barb that seems to help a bit. Any suggestions?
Hi Judy, Unfortunately it’s a bit hard to give recommendations to you without seeing what your current diet looks like, and your health history. I can recommend turmeric though, it has incredible anti-inflammatory properties and is easy to sneak in to both sweet and savoury meals. Have a look at this blog post for further inspiration and tips: https://changinghabits.com.au/16-ways-to-get-more-turmeric-into-your-daily-diet/
Hi there,
I have some acne on my neck and jaw line. what can I do to help this?
Thanks heaps 🙂
Hi Daniele, Unfortunately there are no quick fixes or magic pills or answers for this question. This would need a consultation so I can see what your current diet is like, your health history, stress levels and so on. I would recommend perhaps doing some research and consider the link between skin issues and gluten + other inflammatory foods.
I suffer from hives & psorisis and for 3 years I completely avoided dairy because my doctor thought I was allergic to it. A couple of years ago I had allergy testing done & found out I’m not allergic to anything. Two weeks ago I had some blood tests done as part of a health appraisal & found out I have mild rheumatoid arthritis & my liver is in a very bad way. I’ve noticed that stress, acidic foods & dehydration contribute to the itchy rash that moves all over my body. Do you have any other ideas or suggestions on how I can minimise the rash. Like you previously did, I live on antihistamines and also suffer from sinuses whenever I get a cold. I look forward to hearing back from you. Warm regards, Donna
Hi Donna, I would recommend you have a consult so you can receive personalised nutrition guidance. It’s hard to recommend specific things for you without knowing what your diet and health history looks like. However one thing that would really benefit you would be the Kultured Wellness Cultures (http://kulturedwellness.com/our-cultures/) you can apply the coconut yoghurt to your skin, as well as ingesting it to help with regulating your histamines, decreasing inflammation, improving your liver, detox, skin issues + more. Jump on the website to read more about their beautiful cultures.
Hi, I have been diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease. I am on humira, the best form of drugs apparently, I follow what I believe to be a good diet (no dairy, gluten, refined sugar, processed foods). This is about 80% of the time as I don’t have strict compliance. I exercise three times a week , and I take various supplements and I still can’t seem to stop the inflammation in my body. I do have a stressful job which I have long thought is a significant contributing factor. Any additional tips?
Hi Tara,
I would highly recommend you jump on over to the the Whats With Wheat website as I have written a few blogs of why its essential you avoid gluten 100% when you have gut issues such as Crohn’s. My other suggestion would be that you really focus on managing your stress levels, as stress really does play havoc in our bodies and makes many health issues/ symptoms worse. You can find more tips on how to do this here: https://changinghabits.com.au/regain-control-of-your-life-11-tips-to-managing-stress/ and here: https://changinghabits.com.au/8-de-stressing-techniques-that-arent-meditation/
I recently had a head cold that morphed into what my doctor says is a sinus infection. I have never had sinus problems before. Though now that I think I about it, I often have had a runny nose for no apparent reason, it was annoying but I just put up with it. Could this have been a warning sign of sinus trouble & it finally got to the point where my body had enough of me not listening & took drastic action? Or am I reading too much into this?
Hi Barb, yes you are correct. Having a runny nose for no apparent reason is not normal, perhaps you could ask yourself what is your body trying to tell you. Are you consuming something your individual body doesn’t like, is it something in your environment, are you reacting to cleaning products, do you need to support your gut health and immune system more etc. These are all questions you can begin to ask yourself to find what the cause may be. I hope that helps.
I have recently had a very bloated abdomen – felt sick but no vomiting – had loose diarrhoea and abdo pain. Felt very tired and sleeping a lot. Went off food & only drank water…after 2 days improved a lot – only eating soft foods but drinking herbal teas and water. Any other ideas please?
Hi Elizabeth,
I would highly recommend you consult with your chosen health care practitioner and ask for a comprehensive stool analysis test so you can rule out pathogens or parasites that may potentially be causing you these symptoms. Kindest regards, Jordan 🙂
Hi
I’ve recently been diagnosed with Migraine Associated Vertigo after suffering with off balance & a million other symptoms for 4yrs
My doctor told me the other day that back in June my blood test showed some small inflammation, I’ve since had my breast implants removed and am yet to have more blood tests to check inflammation… but wondering if you have ever heard of this condition & if you think changing my gut health could help?
Hi Amanda,
Yes, I would very highly recommend that you start to research and read some of our blogs and other blogs/ books on gut health, as I think it could make a very big difference in your health 🙂
Hi there, I have an auto immune disease, lupus, and just recently have been diagnosed with Laranphageal reflux and have been advised to go on a strict alkaline diet. I struggle with recipee ideas and other ways to help myself to lead a better life. What can you recommend? Thankyou.
Thank you for your question Robyn. Sheridan says: “I am so sorry to hear of what you are going through, though it is great to see that you are willing to make some positive changes. The practitioner that has advised you to make this change should have provided information, such as an alkaline foods list, to help you transition forward. With this, start to make simple changes, as little changes can lead to big changes. This might include, a pure green juice a day, apple cider vinegar in water 3 times a day before meals, eliminating inflammatory foods and so on. Our Supreme Green Blend is very alkalising, along with the Colloidal Minerals. Our website has many, many beautiful recipes that can support you with this journey. If you need more support you may need to seek advice through a personal nutrition consult to help with your individual health issues.”
Can anyone help me? I am 23 years old and I’m not feeling well. Actually I feel inflammation on palm and soles and on other body parts too.. Mental confusion, anxiety, nausea, light headedness. These all are leading to make me feel like I’m going to die soon. I don’t know what is wrong with me and what’s happening. Please suggest me what to do!
Hi there,
So sorry to hear that you’re experiencing these health issues. I would recommend you contact our office or your chosen health care professional to book in for an appointment so you can get the health support and guidance you need.
I have developed Rosecea, have you any experience with this?
Hi Anne,
Unfortunately we don’t have any information to share with you from the Changing Habits website, so I would recommend you have a read through this blog by Dr. Axe for some information on it; https://draxe.com/rosacea-treatment/
Hi Anne,
Unfortunately, we don’t have any information to share with you from the Changing Habits website, so I would recommend you have a read through this blog by Dr Axe for some information on it; https://draxe.com/rosacea-treatment/