Inflammation is often associated with something obvious: a swollen ankle, a sore throat, or a visible rash. Chronic inflammation is different, however. It simmers quietly beneath the surface, and it may be causing far more harm than you may realise.
Brain fog and persistent fatigue? Chronic inflammation may be the culprit. Low-grade, ongoing inflammation can be the silent driver of autoimmune conditions and cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, you can take immune supplements to manage or control inflammation, and lifestyle changes may, in some cases, reverse it.
What Is Chronic Inflammation?
Acute inflammation is a normal immune response. It helps the body repair tissue or fight off infection. Chronic inflammation, however, happens when the immune system fails to switch off its inflammatory response. Instead of stopping, it continues, attacking healthy tissue, thus causing or contributing to a variety of chronic illnesses.
In this regard, chronic inflammation is like a slow-burning fire. You may not detect it, but give it time, and it will cause considerable damage.
Common Triggers of Inflammation
Many everyday factors can fuel ongoing inflammation:
- Processed foods which are high in refined sugars, seed oils, and additives
- Physical inactivity, which limits circulation and lymphatic drainage
- Poor gut health, including increased intestinal permeability (sometimes referred to as ‘leaky gut’)
- Environmental toxins (e.g., pollutants and heavy metals)
- Chronic psychological stress and insufficient sleep, both of which can elevate inflammatory markers
Strengthening the Foundation: Lifestyle Strategies
A fight against chronic inflammation must involve lifestyle changes. Strategies you can try include:
- Eating whole, unprocessed foods rich in fibre, antioxidants, and healthy fats
- Exercising or being physically active through walking, cycling, or swimming
- Prioritising quality sleep, aiming for 7 to 9 hours each night
- Practising stress-reduction techniques, including mindfulness or breathing exercises
Evidence-Based Supplementation
Combine lifestyle improvements with supplementation. You may benefit from the additional support. The following supplements have been linked to desirable anti-inflammatory effects:
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: The fatty acids from fish oil (e.g., eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA, docosahexaenoic acid or DHA) have been shown to reduce inflammation by lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines. Look for products with a high EPA content for systemic benefits.
- Curcumin: This compound, found in turmeric, inhibits pro-inflammatory pathways such as NF-κB. You may combine it with piperine (black pepper extract) to enhance its effect and improve absorption.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D shows a negative association with the risk for autoimmune diseases and higher inflammatory markers. In other words, lower vitamin D levels are associated with an elevated risk for inflammation.
- Probiotics and Gut Support: A healthy gut is central to immune balance. Certain probiotic strains, as well as nutrients like L-glutamine and colostrum, may help support the gut lining and modulate immune responses.
A Closer Look at MAF Supplements
Macrophage-activating factors (MAF) are transcription factors that regulate the body’s naturally occurring macrophages, white blood cells that play a crucial role in the immune system response.
Specifically, macrophages ingest or engulf pathogens, dead cells, foreign contaminants, and debris, cleaning up the body. They also present the ingested substances’ antigens or identifier molecules on their surface, alerting other immune cells about the presence of pathogens and substances that are a threat and, thus, activating further response from other immune cells, like T cells.
Macrophages can become dysregulated, potentially contributing to continuing low-grade immune activity. MAF, because it regulates macrophages, may help restore them to a more balanced state. In other words, MAF supplements like GcMAF from MAF Supplies may help with immune modulation. Preliminary interest surrounds the potential use of macrophage-activating factor supplements in post-viral fatigue, some autoimmune conditions, and general immune support.
MAF supplements can also activate macrophages and trigger their phagocytic activities. Macrophages can eat necrotic cell debris, among other things, clearing the body of particles and substances that may lead to chronic inflammation.
MAF supplements may also provide gut-brain axis support. As mentioned earlier, good gut health can help prevent chronic inflammation and bring other benefits.
MAF supplements are considered safe and classified as food in certain territories (e.g., Japan and Sweden) and dietary supplements in others (e.g., the United States). They are usually available as capsules, but there are MAF supplements in lolly (i.e., hard candy) and powder form.
Note that the quality and formulation of MAF supplements (as with other supplements) may vary significantly between brands. If you’re considering MAF supplements, seek reputable sources and expert guidance.
Detect, Prevent, and Treat Chronic Inflammation
Inflammation benefits the body if it’s short-term. However, if your immune system is dysregulated or malfunctioning, chronic or ongoing inflammation may set in. You don’t want this because continuous, albeit low-grade inflammation can lead to many health conditions, such as cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.
Early detection is key to combating chronic inflammation, so it’s best to have regular physical wellness check-ups with your doctor. You must also try to avoid the common triggers of chronic inflammation by making some lifestyle changes. Finally, strategic supplementation with MAF and other immune-boosting supplements can support your goal of better immune modulation and control of chronic inflammation.
The body has an incredible capacity for repair. It simply needs the right support and the patience to find what works.