Weekly Insight: Inflammation
Ok, real talk for a minute.
I’ve worked in health and wellness for over 14 years — but it wasn’t until I became a certified hormone coach that I actually understood what inflammation is and why it matters so much.
And I’m not alone.
Most people have heard the word.
But few know what it actually means, what causes it, or how to tell if it’s silently impacting their body.
Here’s the wild part:
You don’t have to feel sick to be inflamed.
In fact, most people dealing with high inflammation have no idea it’s happening.
The signs?
They’re often things we chalk up to “normal life” — stress, aging, or just being in a busy season.
But underneath that low energy, stubborn weight, or skin flare-up... your body might be waving a quiet red flag.
You might be inflamed if you feel:
- Tired but wired
- Bloated after meals
- Puffy in the face
- Stiff in the morning
- Constantly craving sugar
- Snapping at your partner over nothing
Your labs might come back “normal.”
But your body knows something is off — and inflammation is often the root.
The truth is, low-grade inflammation can simmer beneath the surface for months or even years before it turns into something more serious.
By that point, it’s usually impacting your hormones, metabolism, digestion, and mood.
So what is inflammation?
It’s your body’s natural defense system; a key part of your immune response.
In small doses, it helps you heal from injury, fight off illness, and recover from stress.
But chronic inflammation is different.
It’s like your body gets stuck in defense mode and forgets how to turn it off. Over time, this low-level internal fire creates dysfunction throughout the body.
What drives chronic inflammation?
- Blood sugar imbalances
- Ultra processed foods
- Environmental toxins (i.e. mold, pesticides, plastics)
- Poor sleep
- Gut issues
- Chronic stress
- Hidden infections
- Hormone imbalances
When your body doesn’t feel safe, inflammation lingers.
And because it’s often invisible, it can take years before anything shows up on traditional lab work — but symptoms can show up much sooner.
Common Signs of Chronic Inflammation
🔹 Fatigue that won’t go away
🔹 Brain fog
🔹 Puffy face or swelling
🔹 Joint stiffness
🔹 Bloating or digestive issues
🔹 Weight gain (especially around your belly)
🔹 Anxiety or irritability
🔹 Skin flares like acne, eczema, or redness
🔹 Irregular or heavy periods
These are your body’s early warning signs.
Labs That Can Reveal Inflammation
If you’re ready to dig deeper, here are a few lab markers to consider:
hs-CRP – A sensitive marker of low-grade, systemic inflammation
Homocysteine – Can be elevated with poor detoxification or increased cardiovascular risk
Stool testing – Offers insight into digestion, gut inflammation, immune activity, and microbiome balance
Cytokine levels – Elevated levels (like IL-6 or TNF-alpha) may indicate chronic inflammation or immune dysregulation
What Happens When Inflammation Goes Untreated
When chronic inflammation lingers, it doesn’t just cause annoying symptoms, it sets the stage for deeper dysfunction. Over time, it’s been linked to hormone imbalances, autoimmune conditions, thyroid issues, insulin resistance, heart disease, skin problems, mood disorders, and even accelerated aging.
The bottom line?
Inflammation is one of the most common — and most overlooked — root causes of those “mystery symptoms” that don’t show up on standard labs.
But the good news?
It’s also one of the most reversible, especially when you start addressing it early.
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