How to Tackle Inflammation

Want to lower your cardiovascular risk?

Start by tackling inflammation.

Because even though we all hear a lot about managing blood pressure and cholesterol, in functional medicine we dig deeper for the root cause.

One of those potential causes is often a low-grade and chronic inflammation—also known as “inflamm-aging.”

🩺 Research shows that this type of inflammation can trigger the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which are responsible for heart attacks and strokes.

Aside from increased blood pressure, some other signs of chronic inflammation can be:

💥 Joint stiffness

💥 Muscle aches

💥 Skin rashes

💥 Autoimmunity

💥 Brain fog

💥 Anxiety or depression

I don’t recommend self-diagnosis (what you actually have is probably a lot less scary than what you think!).

The best way to address your health and root-causes that might put you at risk for a heart attack, stroke, or other chronic disease is to work with a qualified practitioner.

When we work with our clients, we create individualized protocols to:

✔️ Optimize your diet with anti-inflammatory foods like colorful fruits, veggies, and healthy fats

✔️ Find enjoyable daily movement

✔️ Customize supplements to save money and maximize impact

✔️ Relieve stress in ways that work best for you

✔️ Address specific risks based on your history, conditions, and labs

If any of this is resonating with you, comment “next steps!” and we’ll send you info on getting started with our practice.

❤️ You’ve got this—and we’re here to support you in optimizing your health every step of the way.

What Foods Support the Thyroid?

Is there an optimal diet for the thyroid?

First, foods that may harm thyroid function are the same ones that otherwise promote inflammation, disrupt blood sugar balance, or create stress in the body:

✖️ Hydrogenated and trans fats

✖️ Sugary or highly refined foods

✖️ Seafood high in environmental toxins (like PCBs)

Depending on the person, sensitivities to gluten or other specific foods may also trigger immune responses and inflammation that damage the thyroid.

On the other hand, foods that support thyroid function either deliver essential nutrients or combat oxidative stress and inflammation:

✔️ Omega-3 essential fatty acids 🐟

✔️ Meats, nuts, and seeds high in trace minerals 🥩🌰

✔️ Plant foods for antioxidant phytonutrients 🥦🥕

Plus—studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet may specifically benefit thyroid function.

This is a big topic and needs to be individualized to the person!

Be sure to tap follow 🙌 so you don’t miss my upcoming posts, where I’ll address goitrogenic foods and more specific nutrients for thyroid health.

Reference

Bellastella G, Scappaticcio L, Caiazzo F, et al. Mediterranean Diet and Thyroid: An Interesting Alliance. Nutrients. 2022;14(19):4130. Published 2022 Oct 4. [link]

Foods to Combat Inflammation?

Ever heard of the “Anti-Inflammatory Diet”??

So many of the most common health issues we face today have been linked with the same thing:

🔥 Chronic inflammation.

So how do we fight it?

One way is with food 🥬🫒🍋🥑

🛑 Some foods have been shown to worsen inflammation:

Sugar

Refined carbohydrates

Fried foods

Trans fats (like margarine)

🟢 While some have been shown to combat it:

Fish (rich in omega-3s)

Nuts & seeds

Green leafy vegetables

Colorful berries

Want more natural and holistic ways to support your health?

Make sure to follow along for more posts like this one! 💙

📱 Schedule an appointment with Dr. Cantrell for one-on-one advice!

How to Move Past Food Sensitivities 💥

If you deal with food sensitivities ➡️READ THIS 👇👇

Just because you react to a food now does not mean you will never be able to eat that food again.

You read that 🧐 right.

Some people are able to optimize their gut & immune health and then happily eat foods that used to trigger them—without a problem 🥳

To be clear: I am talking about food sensitivities and NOT true food allergies here. You can see my recent posts that describe the difference.

Here are some ways to support your digestion & immune system to help calm reactivity:

✔️ Eat an “anti-inflammatory” diet, meaning whole foods that are rich in antioxidants

✔️ Support the gut microbiome with probiotic-rich foods

✔️ Chew your foods thoroughly and eat mindfully

This is only a tiny glimpse of all the things we can do to support people with food sensitivities because the solution is highly ✨individual✨

Curious about working on a root-cause approach to your health?

Schedule an initial visit and we can discuss food sensitivity protocols 💚