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, diarrhea, and acid reflux
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Water retension (edema)
- 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 low thyroid function (hypothyroidism).
Hormones involved in chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is characterized by low thyroid function and the consequential lack of cellular energy production. The low cellular energy state leads to loss of structure and function, which eventually leads to overproduction of several different pro-inflammatory hormones including:
- 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 proinflammatory hormones before. They were possibly mentioned as having beneficial properties. However, there is a lot of misinformation, especially regarding the function of serotonin both in the media, but also in scientific literature.
In our Hypothyroid Treatment Program, Module 1 we go into detail about how these hormones are involved in degenerative and inflammatory processes, and how the interplay between these hormones perpetuates inflammation.
Blood tets for chronic inflammation?
To evaluate your inflammation status, it is a good idea to test your thyroid function, thus 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.
Whereas 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.
How to heal from chronic inflammation?
Healing from chronic inflammation takes place when the body is in a high cellular energy state, characterized 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-aging and anti-stress hormones.
The natural anti-aging and anti-stress hormones include pregnenolone, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These hormones have protective actions, neutralizing the inflammatory hormones, supporting thyroid function, and reducing edema and inflammation. You can learn more about how to supplement with the body’s natural protective anti-inflammatory hormones in our Hormonal Support Guide.
All BiochemNordic’s services help you use diet, nutritional supplements, and hormonal support compounds to promote thyroid function and fight inflammation and disease. We use customized diets and supplements to bring down the specific pro-inflammatory hormones, which are creating problems for the individual client.
We also help clients to optimize their thyroid function using diet as well as thyroid replacement therapy.
Thus the key to what we help people with is optimizing their cellular energy production and balancing their hormones to facilitate repair and healing.
You are always welcome to book an online consultation if you want help with thyroid problems and hormonal imbalances including chronic inflammation.