Some of the most common lifestyle habits and routines are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to increasing body inflammation. Are you unknowingly creating inflammation and causing flare-ups?
Did you know that some of our most common habits can contribute to inflammation in the body? Even more surprising is that some of these common habits are what most people consider healthy or important.
Chances are, you and others are creating unnecessary body inflammation and harm without knowing it. The good news is that once you’ve learned these habits, you can avoid them and make choices that help reduce and support good immune health, which is critical when you have autoimmune conditions.
Here are five common habits that can cause inflammation and harm to your body:
Following Habits Only Because You Think They’re Important
If you are like me, you’ve done things you don’t like, which leads to discomfort. You will feel uncomfortable or negative when you can’t enjoy your habits or lifestyle, even if they are healthy. Once those negative feelings creep in, focus and effort become ruined and instead, both cortisol and estrogen production increase. Both of these hormones are known to increase inflammation.
For example, if you are doing exercises you don’t enjoy, you are more likely to stop doing them, rush through them or find other ways to sabotage reaping their benefits. So instead, find exercises or routines you enjoy so it doesn’t build up stress levels, which may increase inflammation.
Eating Processed Foods or Protein Bars and Shakes
I’ve reached for protein shakes in the past without reading any of the ingredients. I have grabbed the odd protein bar as a meal substitute here and there too. It seemed sensible; they are marketed as healthy and good for you.
Have you ever read the ingredients to these? They may be loaded with sugar which is known to increase inflammation. They may also have other chemicals in them.
Instead of grabbing a protein shake or bar, snack on vegetables, fruits, nuts and even seeds. You still get your protein without all the added sugars and chemicals.
Giving In to Procrastination and Stress
I used to believe that leaving things to the last minute was motivating; it gave me a boost of energy and confidence. Instead of working steadily on something, I’d put it off and “hide” from it so I could get the right motivation a the right time. Unfortunately, I failed to realize that I was adding unnecessary stress to my life by doing this. Internally my cortisol and norepinephrine levels were climbing, which caused body inflammation.
I had gotten caught up in the North American idea of “always being motivated” and “stress is always good” instead of adopting a healthier lifestyle, which prompted self-care and better health outcomes.
Too Much or Too Little Exercise
We have all heard that too litter exercise isn’t good for us. We know that being sedentary can decrease our life expectancy. However, you may not know that too much exercise can be equally unhealthy. An obsession with exercise can result in muscle tears, damage healthy blood cells, and cause inflammation.
Always Catching Up on Sleep
How often do you tell yourself you will catch up on your sleep on the weekend? If you are always catching up on sleep, you’re not giving your body the support it needs to limit and avoid inflammation. Sleep is vital for fighting against free radicals and other harmful chemicals in our bloodstream and cellular repairs. If you find yourself repeatedly struggling to get a good night’s rest, start a journal to try and find a pattern or cause of your poor-quality sleep. Talk to your doctor, make sure you are eating healthy, getting exercise, staying hydrated, and limiting the amount of caffeine.
Don’t let these habits destroy your health and wellness. Instead, commit to being more mindful and aware of your body’s feeling. When you’re mindful of how you feel, you also become mindful of how your actions affect you and can make choices to avoid doing things that may increase inflammation. You can create a mindful morning routine you love which can help set the tone for the rest of your day!
Take the Next Step
I know from experience that living with chronic conditions is hard. I also know that stress and inflammation do not promote health or wellness. If you need help finding healthy habits that let you reduce inflammation, or are uncertain what is causing your stress, let’s connect and get you back to living life beyond chronic illness. Supportegy Wellness provides chronic illness support through various proven ways, including chronic illness support groups.