Inflammation is a buzzword these days in the health and wellness community, and for good reason! Chronic inflammation is linked to numerous health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, reduced cognitive function and obesity. Furthermore, there is a strong link between PCOS and chronic, low grade inflammation. In addition to driving many of the symptoms associated with PCOS, this inflammation also increases other health risks. The good news is that there are many things you can do to lower it through incorporating a few tweaks in your day-to-day.
The topic of inflammation can be quite overwhelming, especially when it’s compounded by generalized (and often inaccurate!) information touted by many “coaches” (and even health professionals). You may see sweeping statements online, such as “everyone with PCOS needs to avoid gluten and dairy because it causes inflammation,” or, simplified solutions like “avoiding seed oils” or “taking XYZ supplements” to reduce symptoms. In reality, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, it’s a lot more complex! Our blog post will take a deep dive into the topic of chronic inflammation and its relationship to PCOS, and provide evidence-based strategies to reduce it through nutrition and lifestyle.
What Is Inflammation?
First, let’s quickly get this out of the way- not all inflammation is bad. In fact, there are 2 main types of inflammation: acute and chronic.
Acute inflammation in the body helps us defend against bacteria and repair damaged tissues. It tends to have a rapid onset and be short lived. For example, when you cut your finger, it gets warm, red and swollen. This “inflammatory cascade” triggered by your immune system is your body’s attempt to heal itself. Once the threat has been taken care of, the inflammatory response shuts off.
Causes: infections, tissue damage, foreign bodies, hypersensitivity, autoimmunity
Chronic inflammation can last months, years or even decades. It may occur with no apparent injury or disease, yet it may play a causative role in numerous diseases. Chronic inflammation is linked to obesity and insulin resistance, PCOS, cardiovascular disease metabolic syndrome, NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis – to name a few.
Causes: genetics, environment, lifestyle (exercise, sleep, diet)