All of us have experienced inflammation at one point or another in our lives. Inflammation is a natural immune response that occurs when the body is injured or fighting off an infection. Acute inflammation is the reaction that occurs, for example, when you cut your finger, break your leg, or catch a cold. Acute inflammation is a natural defence mechanism aimed at protecting the body and initiating the healing process. It comes on quickly and disappears within hours or days.
Chronic inflammation, by contrast, can last months or years and is rarely beneficial. There are a number of causes of chronic inflammation. When acute inflammation goes untreated, it can lead to chronic inflammation. Another cause is an autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, which involves your immune system mistakenly attacking your healthy tissues.
Increasingly, scientists are finding that many major diseases involve low-grade chronic inflammation. The causes of this inflammation seem related not to infections or autoimmunity, but to factors like a poor diet, advancing age, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and stress. Chronic inflammation is linked to serious diseases including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Some of the best-researched strategies for taming inflammation that is lifestyle-related include eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing your weight, having a good sleep routine, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and reducing chronic stress. The best diet emphasises fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, oily fish (rich in Omega-3s) and healthy oils and limits foods loaded with sugar and refined carbohydrate.
According to Dr. Paula Gaynor, nutritionist and co-founder of Bandon-based health supplement company SOMEGA “Research shows that health supplements can also be beneficial because of their anti-inflammatory properties. These include supplements such as Omega-3, Vitamin C and Quercetin, amongst others”.
Omega-3
The Omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been studied for their potential anti-inflammatory effects and have been found to help to reduce chronic inflammation in certain conditions. Research has shown that Omega-3 supplementation can decrease the serum levels of several markers of inflammation and individuals with conditions whose pathogenesis is related to chronic inflammation, such as cancer, kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus, and heart diseases, can benefit from Omega-3 supplementation. The anti-inflammatory properties of Omega-3 are also partly responsible for their beneficial effects seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
SOMEGA Easy Omega-3 and Vitamin D3 is a delicious, peach-mango flavoured supplement, which can be enjoyed straight from the spoon or added to yogurts, porridge and smoothies.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that plays a huge role in immunity and inflammation. It’s a powerful antioxidant, so it can reduce inflammation by neutralising free radicals that cause damage to your cells. It also helps optimise the immune system in several other ways, which can help regulate inflammation.
While regular Vitamin C supplements are poorly absorbed. SOMEGA Liposomal Vitamin C is different. “We want to make sure that Vitamin C is well absorbed which is why we use liposomal technology to maximise vitamin absorption, thereby leading to enhanced health benefits. Our Liposomal Vitamin C is a high strength Vitamin C supplement and can be taken from the spoon or added to drinks and smoothies” according to Mark Clifford, co-founder of SOMEGA.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a yellow pigment naturally found in small amounts in some fruits, vegetables and green tea, coffee and wine. Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant helping to fight against free radicals that both damage your cells and activate genes that promote inflammation. In a study in women with rheumatoid arthritis, it was found that participants who took 500 mg of quercetin experienced significantly reduced early morning stiffness, morning pain, and after-activity pain. They also had reduced markers of inflammation.
SOMEGA’s newest product, Liposomal Quercetin, is a concentrated source of quercetin (500mg/serving) and can be taken from the spoon or added to drinks and smoothies. Dr. Paula Gaynor notes “it is made with liposomal technology to overcome the poor absorption seen with regular quercetin supplements”.
SOMEGA supplements are available in health food stores and pharmacies throughout West Cork and nationwide and online at gosomega.com.
