Chronic inflammation, also referred to as slow, long-term inflammation, is the most significant cause of death in the world, and the prevalence of diseases associated with chronic inflammation is anticipated to increase persistently. Therefore it is extremely important to understand what causes these inflammatory processes and take corrective measures to treat chronic inflammation.
Dr. Ray Peat's Opinion on Chronic Inflammation
According to Dr. Ray Peat, the gap between the body's resources and the demands placed on it from the environment creates inflammation and disease.
Thus harmful degenerative and inflammatory processes occur instead of repair and healing when there is low cellular energy production.
Cellular energy production is controlled by the thyroid gland and according to Dr. Ray Peat, low thyroid function is thus the main cause of chronic inflammation. In the low thyroid state, the body loses structure and control and lets harmful degenerative and inflammatory processes occur.
Signs of Chronic Inflammation
Some common signs of chronic inflammation are listed below:
- Body pain and joint pain
- Chronic fatigue and insomnia
- Allergies of all sorts
- Depression, anxiety and mood disorders
- Constipation, diarrhoea, and acid reflux
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Water retention (oedema)
- Calcification of tissues
- Frequent infections
Because low thyroid function is one of the main causes of chronic inflammation, many of the symptoms related to chronic inflammation are similar to the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Hormones Involved in Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is characterised by low thyroid function and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory hormones. These include:
- Serotonin
- Histamines
- Estrogen
- Cortisol
- Parathyroid hormone
- Prolactin
- Aldosterone
- Growth Hormone
As soon as these pro-inflammatory hormones are produced in excess they create a vicious cycle, where cellular energy production is further suppressed and each of the problematic hormones promotes the production of other pro-inflammatory hormones.
You might have read or heard about some of the mentioned pro-inflammatory hormones before, possibly mentioned as having beneficial properties. However, there is a lot of misinformation — especially regarding the function of serotonin, both in the media and in scientific literature.
Blood Tests for Chronic Inflammation
To evaluate your inflammation status, it is a good idea to test your thyroid function — getting a blood test for the thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) are helpful.
Some of the inflammation-promoting hormones can be measured reliably with a blood test. These include serotonin, parathyroid hormone, and prolactin.
Histamine, estrogen, and cortisol are more difficult to measure with a blood test. For instance, you can be very high in estrogen but have a low blood level of estrogen, as excess estrogen tends to be stored in the tissues. Estrogen imbalance is a topic I address in depth in my Hormone Rebalance Intensive™.
How to Heal from Chronic Inflammation
Healing from chronic inflammation takes place when the body is in a high cellular energy state, characterised by good thyroid function and a shift away from the pro-inflammatory hormones, to a state with optimal levels of the body's natural protective anti-ageing and anti-stress hormones.
The natural anti-ageing and anti-stress hormones include pregnenolone, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These hormones have protective actions, neutralising the inflammatory hormones, supporting thyroid function, and reducing oedema and inflammation. You can learn more about how to supplement with the body's natural protective anti-inflammatory hormones in my Hormone Rebalance Intensive™.
The key to overcoming chronic inflammation is optimising cellular energy production and balancing hormones to facilitate repair and healing. The foundational principles of this approach are laid out in my book Roadmap to Metabolic Health.
You are always welcome to book an online consultation if you want personalised help with thyroid problems, hormonal imbalances, and chronic inflammation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the connection between low thyroid function and chronic inflammation?
According to Dr. Ray Peat, low thyroid function reduces cellular energy production, which allows harmful degenerative and inflammatory processes to take hold. When cells do not have enough energy, the body cannot repair itself properly and instead produces a cascade of pro-inflammatory hormones including serotonin, estrogen, cortisol, and prolactin. Restoring thyroid function is therefore central to any anti-inflammatory approach.
Why is serotonin listed as a pro-inflammatory hormone?
There is widespread misinformation about serotonin — it is commonly portrayed as the "feel good" hormone, yet Dr. Ray Peat's research shows that elevated serotonin is associated with inflammation, stress, and suppressed thyroid function. High serotonin suppresses metabolism, promotes serotonin syndrome symptoms, and perpetuates the inflammatory cycle. This is one of the areas where the pro-metabolic approach diverges most significantly from mainstream health advice.
How do progesterone and pregnenolone help fight inflammation?
Progesterone and pregnenolone are the body's natural anti-stress and anti-ageing hormones. They counteract pro-inflammatory hormones such as estrogen, cortisol, and aldosterone, while supporting thyroid function and reducing oedema. When the body is in a state of chronic inflammation, these protective hormones are typically depleted. Supplementing them carefully can help shift the body back towards a repair and healing state. I cover how to do this in my Hormone Rebalance Intensive™.
Can blood tests detect chronic inflammation?
Partially — some inflammation-promoting hormones such as serotonin, prolactin, and parathyroid hormone can be reliably measured in blood. Others, like estrogen, cortisol, and histamine, are harder to capture accurately in a blood test, as excess estrogen in particular tends to be stored in the tissues rather than remaining in the bloodstream. Thyroid hormone tests (T4, T3, TSH) and the home thyroid test using body temperature and pulse are often more informative for assessing the underlying metabolic state.
