A Fresh Start: How To Adopt an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle

By Amy Wakeham

3 years ago

Why reducing inflammation is key for optimum health


Trying an anti-inflammatory lifestyle in 2022 is a helpful antidote to the last few years, says Nutritional Therapist Georgina Robertson

Georgina Robertson

The past couple of years have been tough for all of us. Whether you’ve suffered from Covid and Long Covid or not, stress and anxiety, mental health ups and downs, weight gain, tiredness and an undernourishing diet due to less motivation, money and time have all challenged our immune systems. These environmental and lifestyle factors can increase inflammation that, if uncontrolled, can become chronic and damage tissues. This can play a part in the development of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, obesity and Alzheimer’s Disease.

‘I am seeing more stressed and exhausted clients often also with “new” inflammatory related issues affecting skin, gut, nervous or cardiovascular systems together with a rise in female hormone imbalances and autoimmunity,’ says Nutritional Therapist Georgina Robertson. ‘Some of these could be in part related to Long Covid but an underlying driver is often inflammation.’ Incidences of autoimmunity, which include psoriasis, endometriosis Crohn’s Disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis and coeliac disease, affect approximately four million people in the UK. This is increasing by a reported nine per cent a year, with 80 per cent of these cases being women.

Vegetables on a chopping board

‘More of my clients are suffering from worsening autoimmune conditions or being aware of these inflammatory conditions for the first time,’ continues Georgina. ‘Inflammation weakens the gut wall lining, allowing toxins to recirculate around the body and leading to an immune response. Over time the immune system can become overwhelmed and start to attack itself. This is how autoimmune conditions can start to develop, and it’s more important than ever to be aware of this worrying process.’

An anti-inflammatory approach, with a particular focus on gut health (around 70 per cent of our immune system resides there) helps to achieve optimum long term wellbeing, and a personalised programme is key. Georgina uses a functional medicine approach. ‘I aim to get to the root cause of health issues by restoring the balance of internal and external factors through bespoke plans that focus on diet, lifestyle and supplement recommendations,’ Georgina says. ‘Addressing nutrients and food groups is essential but factoring in character traits, budget and living situations with plenty of pleasure and reward is also key to a sustainable and successful outcome.’

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