Inflammation (Part 2)

Last week in Part 1, I addressed the subject of inflammation that is the center of attention among the medical and scientific communities. Due to its implications in many health disorders, I find it important to discuss it.
I explained the process of inflammation within the different systems inside the body. Inflammation hits an area or organ according to the individual’s genetic disposition. I also showed how our “fatty” modern diets of fast fried foods, sugar-laden beverages and supersized portions lead us to stacking layers of fat around the waist and in other parts of the body.
When the cells become too engorged with fat, they shut their insulin receptors to insulin, depriving the cells of an important hormone that makes the body use sugar for energy as well as metabolize it. Not only do the cells become enlarged with fat and insulin resistant, but they also start splitting and increasing in size and numbers. The pancreas keeps on pumping insulin in an effort to metabolize blood sugar. In response to insulin flooding the system, cortisol, a stress hormone, is released to counteract insulin. The battle goes on inside the body between the two powerful hormones, provoking internal stress and silent inflammation without the awareness of the victim.
Once fat cells reach a certain size, they also begin to release pro-inflammatory compounds, which can promote inflammation anywhere in the body, triggering metabolic syndromes (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, cardiovascular disorders), autoimmune disorders, cancer, mental decline, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
According to Dr. Sears book, The Anti-inflammation Zone Diet, heart disease is the consequence of chronic inflammation and not high blood cholesterol levels as the medical community and drug industry lead us to believe, “50 percent of all heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels, and the best drug that reduces heart attacks (aspirin) doesn’t have any effect on cholesterol levels,” but aspirin produces an anti-inflammatory action on inflammation in the body, addressing the underlying cause of heart disease.
With modern medicine and scientific researches, there have been significant advances in the area of inflammation. There are now several biomarkers that indicate and measure the extent of inflammation. Some of them are more accurate than others. I shall start discussing them today. Here they are:
At the very end of the 20th century, an indicator, of silent inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP) was developed. The protein was first discovered in patients with infections like bacteria and viruses, meaning that there is inflammation in the body. To counteract inflammation, the liver makes a molecule called CRP. Since then, it has become a biomarker of inflammation.
Because CRP is not a very accurate indicator, scientists developed a more precise and more reliable inflammation test, which is the high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), which can detect the protein at a much lower level than the previous one. It is still not efficient enough on its own, unless it is coupled with the results of the triglyceride (TG) and high lipid protein (HDL) ratio. The results of both should be as low as possible. I shall discuss the latter later.
Recently a more sensitive inflammation indicator has come up, the silent inflammation profile (SIP). The blood test measures the results of the ratio of the two below fatty acids. The pro-inflammatory “bad” eicosanoids are produced by arachidonic acids (AA). These fatty acids promote inflammation in the body. As for the anti-inflammatory “good” eicosanoids, they come from eicosapentacenic acids (EPA). The ratio of the two can provide a reasonably precise indicator of silent inflammation, giving a warning of years before a heart attack, cancer or Alzheimer’s can occur.
Arachidonic fatty acids get generated from excess body fat (abdominal fat) or the consumption of saturated and trans fatty acids. The eicosapentacenic acids are derived from the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids coming from fatty fish oils and nuts, walnuts in particular. They should come from a healthy diet or supplements. Polyunsaturated, omega-6 fatty acids, found in nuts and seeds and monounsaturated coming from the fats of olive and avocado oils can act as precursors to EPA.
When equilibrium is maintained within these fats and SIP is kept below 1.5, inflammation is kept under control in the body. Because the Japanese consume plenty of fish and seaweed, they tend to have low blood levels of SIP, hence chronic diseases and inflammation become uncommon in their systems. As their diet relies on fish and whole foods, the Japanese are known to be one of the longest living humans with the lowest incidents of heart disease and depression, having the least disabilities.
The second reliable indicator of silent inflammation is a fasting insulin blood test. High fasting insulin levels indicate inflammation. Insulin is an important hormone that metabolizes blood sugar. But, if it floods the system like in the case of insulin resistance, it stimulates the release of cortisol, a stress hormone, which encourages the production of archidonic fatty acids, the inflammatory compounds. Both hormones can do damage to health.
Because of its implications on health, internal inflammation has lately become a hot subject in the scientific and medical circles. It is suspected to be the underling cause of many chronic diseases and metabolic syndromes. It is a silent killer. External inflammation is obvious and painful, so we address it immediately and try to quell it. Because we do not feel internal inflammation, it wreaks havoc in the body; hence we should strive to keep it as low as possible with healthy lifestyles to fend away disease.
Next week, I shall continue with other inflammation indicating tests, plus I shall provide brief dietary solutions and healthy lifestyles that can help combat health damaging free radicals, body fat, insulin resistance and toxins as well as suppress inflammation, reduce obesity and promote health. I will share with you important information that makes you start “new” lifestyles to put you on the path of wellness, inshallah.
N.B.: Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.
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