Vita-What?

ADD and ADHD... OH Shiny! Pt. 1 Defining the Several Types

2011-09-04T23:37:00.000-07:00

The Several Types of ADD and ADHD/ Part One

Okay, we've all used this excuse.
"Sorry I can't focus, I'm just totally ADD right now."

Or something similar. Admit, you have. Anytime there's a moment of sporadic thought that crosses your mind and diverts your attention, it's easy to classify it as ADD or ADHD. But in reality, it's probably not.

But what about the people who really DO have to live with ADD or ADHD?

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD seem to be one in the same. However, in reality there are several significant differences that can play a part in how one goes about treating this disorder. In addition there are also several types of ADD/ADHD. Here are the most prevalent:

The Common Variety of ADD/ ADHD

This is what you probably associate with when you hear ADD and ADHD.

Easily distracted by irrelevant sights, sounds and thoughts
Extreme difficulty with focusing on tasks like reading or listening to others
Often struggles to finish seemingly simple tasks on time
Really poor listening skills especially in regards to remembering key details and following directions
Often overlooks important details in projects or at work.

The "Where the flip did I put the keys?" Disorganized and Forgetfulness Type

Serious trouble with organization and maintaining organization
-Everything is always cluttered whether it be at home, school, and work
Trouble with starting and finishing projects
They tend to procrastinate…everything. No matter how small or large, it's generally always, "I can do this tomorrow." attitude.
Frequently forgets important dates, appointments and deadlines for things
Under estimating the time in which something takes to do or how long it takes to get somewhere
CONSTANTLY losing important things, (your keys, wallet, papers, shoes, your sanity…)

The "Don't you have a shut-up filter? What about a think ahead button?" Impulsivity Type

A nearly impossible to control habit of blurting out things that are inappropriate or rude
Poor levels of self control
Reckless tendencies
Low levels of regard for personal safety (the constant high-risk taker)
Has trouble sitting still for long periods of time
Often interrupts people and talks over them
Usually portrays addictive tendencies

The Sensitive Type

Difficult time managing feelings like frustration and anger
Short fuse, explosive anger outburst
Easily flusters and quickly gets stressed out
Constant sense of underachievement
Problems with long term motivation
Hypersensitivity to suggestions and criticism
Very low sense of self esteem and high levels of insecurities

The "Seriously though. Where is the off button?" Hyper-Active Type

Highly energetic
Always on the go
Doing a trillion things all at once
Excessively talking… All the freaking time
Constantly fidgeting
Craving for excitement
Inner feeling of agitation and restlessness

So which do you have?

Keep in mind, that several types and symptoms can be combined. Every person is unique and each case is often different than the next.

In most of my other posts, I talk about ways to help combat the symptoms of whatever the problem is. But because ADD and ADHD is such a huge topic, I want to do it justice. I too suffer from ADD and I know the legit challenges that it comes with both mentally and in every day life. Look for my next few posts on different ways to help treat the disorder and to learn better ways of handling it.

My final note?

Life with ADD and ADHD can be one of the most exciting rides out there. With our ability to think at lightning speed, our creative pursuits and our often charming and bubbly dispositions; people with this disorder are often the life of any party.

But as many of you who live with it know, it can also be debilitating and overwhelming. It can reek havoc on relationships at home and destroy friendships. It can lead to serious financial issues as well as trouble at work. With all of these strains bringing you down, ADD and ADHD can be huge contributors to depression.

But there is HOPE. I promise you that.

I hope that you'll check in or subscribe to learn more about different ways to help :)

Vitamin E is Awesome. Here's Why!

2011-09-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

Vitamin is essentially awesome. But you knew that right?

Pill Form

Although scientists aren't positive as to why exactly it's important for the body, they do know that it's a huge building block in the formation of red blood cells, muscles, and other tissues in the body. Several medical professionals even believe that vitamin has the power to prevent different types of cancer because it significantly protects cells against the damage done by free radicals. Vitamin E is yet another important immune boosting vitamin. Research in elderly people shows that it can help protect them against colds and other viruses by keeping their immune system strong.

Where do you see vitamin E products frequently? Think back to your skin lotions and hair products. Vitamin E is all the rage lately because of the awesome benefits it provides to skin and hair. If used correctly, vitamin E can help fight against every day pollutants (i.e smoke, smog, and all of the other nasty things floating around outside) as well as healing wounds quickly. When paired with Vitamin C, the two can do incredible things in regards to the healing of skin and hair.

Most often, people use what's known as vitamin E oil in addition or in replacement to taking the vitamin. In my case, I take both forms and use them to help with my hair, scalp, and especially to help heal my old scars. Skin Benefits of Vitamin E oil

Great stuff!

Acne scars!
I personally use a little dab of this incredible oil to help fade the acne scars on my face. The oil seeps into my skin and helps protect against free radicals in the environment as well as encouraging the production of collagen to get rid of my ugly marks. A word of caution- If you're currently suffering through a break-out, limit the use of vitamin E as an every day moisturizer. It could actually promote more break-outs rather than help. Also, a little goes a long way. Keep your vitamin E on the spots that have scars and avoid using it on your entire face simply because it's an oil. Oils clog pores!
Wrinkles!
Wrinkles can be caused by several factors and are usually the bane of any woman (or man's!) existence. Smoking, drinking, excessive tanning, and the likes can all leave your face literally cracking. Because of it's collagen stimulating properties, vitamin E is helpful in reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Scars!
I use vitamin E oil for this purpose as well. I have this stupid purple scar on my arm from a burn, so every day I dab a little bit of vitamin E oil onto it and I massage it in. Vitamin E oil works quite well on scars with regular use.
Stretch Marks!
I know several people who swear by using vitamin E oil to help fade the appearance of stretch marks. Because stretch marks are scars, it works in the same way by helping produce collagen and protecting against photo-aging. Though it may not work on everyone's skin, with regular use, many people report signifigent change.
*Note- You can also use it to PREVENT stretch marks. Many pregnant women will rub in vitamin E oil on their ever expanding tummy and breasts to help stop the embarrassing marks.
Brown Spots!
Weakened, poor liver function as well as damage from free-radicals cause this dark little reminders of summers spent baking on the beach. Get rid of them by religiously rubbing in vitamin E oil!

Neat Hair Benefits

Prevents Breakage
If your hair is super-fine like mine (and NOT in the good way..), use vitamin E oil on the tips of your hair to prevent breakage and split ends. Depending on your hair type it will leave your hair greasy though, so use when you don't have a hot date. Or, when you don't want to look like a slicked up mouse. Whatever comes first :)
Scalp Protection
Most people know that hair is dead, and towards the bottom of your hair is the oldest part. If you want to help protect your hair from the very beginning, rub some oil into your roots and around your scalp. This will help prevent unsightly dandruff and help keep hair strong and shiny.

Hi!

Fertility benefits too? Okay, let's switch off of the vitamin E OIL train for a moment here and flip back to the actual vitamin tablet. Did you know that vitamin E consumption can play a part in fertility of both men and women? For women, vitamin E can help improve the quality of eggs as well as prevent

miscarriages. For men along with selenium, it can help protect the integrity and DNA of sperm along with the quality and motility.

So how much do I take? Check out this table provided by http://ods.od.nih.gov

Table 1: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol) [6]

Age	Males	Females	Pregnancy	Lactation
0–6 months*	4 mg (6 IU)	4 mg (6 IU)
7–12 months*	5 mg (7.5 IU)	5 mg (7.5 IU)
1–3 years	6 mg (9 IU)	6 mg (9 IU)
4–8 years	7 mg (10.4 IU)	7 mg (10.4 IU)
9–13 years	11 mg (16.4 IU)	11 mg (16.4 IU)
14+ years	15 mg (22.4 IU)	15 mg (22.4 IU)	15 mg (22.4 IU)	19 mg (28.4 IU)

*Adequate Intake (AI)

Table 3: Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for Vitamin E [6]

Age	Male	Female	Pregnancy	Lactation
1–3 years	200 mg (300 IU)	200 mg (300 IU)
4–8 years	300 mg (450 IU)	300 mg (450 IU)
9–13 years	600 mg (900 IU)	600 mg (900 IU)
14–18 years	800 mg (1,200 IU)	800 mg (1,200 IU)	800 mg (1,200 IU)	800 mg (1,200 IU)
19+ years	1,000 mg (1,500 IU)	1,000 mg (1,500 IU)	1,000 mg (1,500 IU)	1,000 mg (1,500 IU)

How much is too much? Honestly, if you just stick by taking a One A Day vitamin everyday, you really don't have to worry about overdosing on vitamin E. However, vitamin E is a blood thinner so check with your doctor before adding it to your diet in pill form because that could create serious problems. Seriously though? Check with your doc before starting ANY new vitamin.

What foods can provide vitamin E? Here is another awesome chart provided by http://ods.od.nih.gov

Food	Milligrams (mg) per serving	Percent DV*
Wheat germ oil, 1 tablespoon	20.3	100
Sunflower seeds, dry roasted, 1 ounce	7.4	37
Almonds, dry roasted, 1 ounce	6.8	34
Sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon	5.6	28
Safflower oil, 1 tablespoon	4.6	23
Hazelnuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce	4.3	22
Peanut butter, 2 tablespoons	2.9	15
Peanuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce	2.2	11
Corn oil, 1 tablespoon	1.9	10
Spinach, boiled, ½ cup	1.9	10
Broccoli, chopped, boiled, ½ cup	1.2	6
Soybean oil, 1 tablespoon	1.1	6
Kiwifruit, 1 medium	1.1	6
Mango, sliced, ½ cup	0.7	4
Tomato, raw, 1 medium	0.7	4
Spinach, raw, 1 cup	0.6	3

*DV stands for daily value

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans describes a healthy diet as one that:

Emphasizes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
Vitamin E is found in green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and fortified cereals.
Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
Nuts are good sources of vitamin E.
Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
Vitamin E is commonly found in vegetable oils.
Stays within your daily calorie needs.

Provided from: <http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamine>

Vitamin C, The Super Hero of Vitamins

2011-09-03T23:46:00.000-07:00

Now-a-days, vitamin C is well known as essentially the super vitamin that cures all. Well maybe not that dramatic, but when you think of all of the benefits of vitamin C, it's hard to argue that it isn't awesome.

Found in several foods including oranges, tomatoes, liver, strawberries, sweet potatoes and even mangos, vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid that helps protect the immune system. It's an anti-oxidant too!

What are some of the coolest benefits of vitamin C?

It can help fight the common cold
It boosts the immune system which can prevent you from getting a cold, along with helping you fight off infection once you develop a cold.
Helps the healing of wounds
Vitamin C is a huge factor in the production of collagen. When ingested, vitamin C can help heal cuts, scrapes, deep cuts, broken bones, and surgical wounds.
Can help with acne
For many people (including myself!) vitamin C can significantly improve the appearance of acne because it helps with collagen production and fights the actual infection (the acne). Dozens of people comment that it helps heal existing eruptions and prevent future break outs.
Helps reduce the symptoms of asthma
By helping reduce inflammation, asthma patients report significant relief of symptoms while taking vitamin C regularly.
Can reduce the chance of several cancers
Lung cancer, cervical cancer and pancreatic cancer.
You won't get scurvy like a pirate!
Arrrrghhh!

What are some symptoms of deficiency?

Swollen arms and legs
Muscle cramps
Scaly, dull skin
Wounds that take forever to heal
Bleeding gums
Teeth may feel lose or fall out
Dry hair that breaks easily
Fatigue
Nose bleeds

Let's not get crazy here…

Even though vitamin C seems like a miracle, it's definitely possible to take too much. The maximum dose per day for adults (unless okay-ed by your doctor) is 2,000 milligrams. Too much vitamin C can lead to diarrhea, stomach pain, headaches and cramps in some people. It can also make vaginal secretions acidic which can lead in trouble trying to conceive.

Here's a good chart to go by if you have questions (provided by web MD):

Category	Vitamin C: Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) For children under 1, only an adequate intake (AI) is available
CHILDREN
0-6 months	40 mg/day Adequate Intake (AI)
7-12 months	50 mg/day Adequate Intake (AI)
1-3 years	15 mg/day
4-8 years	25 mg/day
9-13 years	45 mg/day
FEMALES
14 to 18 years	65 mg/day
19 years and up	75 mg/day
Pregnant	18 years and under: 80 mg/day 19 years and over: 85 mg/day
Breastfeeding	18 years and under: 115 mg/day 19 years and over: 120 mg/day
MALES
14 to 18 years	75 mg/day
19 years and up	90 mg/day

Here is the MAXIMUM dosage:

Category (Children & Adults)	Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) of Vitamin C
1-3 years	400 mg/day
4-8 years	650 mg/day
9-13 years	1,200 mg/day
14-18 years	1,800 mg/day
19 years and up	2,000 mg/day

How to make sure you're getting enough:

By eating a balanced diet rich in foods jam-packed with vitamin C, it's pretty safe to say that you're getting a good amount of what you need. But if you're like me, where you find yourself slacking, taking a supplement is definitely okay. Personally, I go between two varieties. When I wasn't taking my one a day multivitamin, I took 1,000 mg a day of super strength vitamin C. When I feel a cold coming on or my face is going to break out, I'll take an extra one making my dose hit 2,000 mg per day.

Here is the complete super charged list of food that contains different levels of vitamin C (provided by www.whfoods.com)

World's Healthiest Foods ranked as quality sources of: vitamin C
Food	Serving Size	Cals	Amount (mg)	DV (%)	Nutrient Density	World's Healthiest Foods Rating
Bell peppers, red, raw, slices	1 cup	24.8	174.80	291.3	211.1	excellent
Parsley, fresh	2 tbs	2.7	9.97	16.6	110.8	excellent
Broccoli, steamed	1 cup	43.7	123.40	205.7	84.8	excellent
Cauliflower, boiled	1 cup	28.5	54.93	91.5	57.8	excellent
Strawberries	1 cup	43.2	81.65	136.1	56.7	excellent
Lemon juice, fresh	0.25 cup	15.2	28.06	46.8	55.2	excellent
Romaine lettuce	2 cup	15.7	26.88	44.8	51.4	excellent
Mustard greens, boiled	1 cup	21.0	35.42	59.0	50.6	excellent
Brussel sprouts, boiled	1 cup	60.8	96.72	161.2	47.7	excellent
Papaya	1 each	118.6	187.87	313.1	47.5	excellent
Kale, boiled	1 cup	36.4	53.30	88.8	43.9	excellent
Turnip greens, cooked	1 cup	28.8	39.46	65.8	41.1	excellent
Grapefruit	0.50 each	36.9	46.86	78.1	38.1	excellent
Kiwifruit	1 each	46.4	57.00	95.0	36.9	excellent
Cantaloupe, cubes	1 cup	56.0	67.52	112.5	36.2	excellent
Oranges	1 each	61.6	69.69	116.2	34.0	excellent
Cabbage, shredded, boiled	1 cup	33.0	30.15	50.2	27.4	excellent
Tomato, ripe	1 cup	37.8	34.38	57.3	27.3	excellent
Swiss chard, boiled	1 cup	35.0	31.50	52.5	27.0	excellent
Collard greens, boiled	1 cup	49.4	34.58	57.6	21.0	excellent
Raspberries	1 cup	60.3	30.76	51.3	15.3	excellent
Asparagus, boiled	1 cup	43.2	19.44	32.4	13.5	excellent
Celery, raw	1 cup	19.2	8.40	14.0	13.1	excellent
Spinach, boiled	1 cup	41.4	17.64	29.4	12.8	excellent
Cucumbers, slices, with peel	1 cup	13.5	5.51	9.2	12.2	very good
Fennel, raw, sliced	1 cup	27.0	10.44	17.4	11.6	excellent
Pineapple	1 cup	76.0	23.87	39.8	9.4	excellent
Watermelon, diced	1 cup	48.6	14.59	24.3	9.0	excellent
Green beans, boiled	1 cup	43.8	12.13	20.2	8.3	excellent
Cranberries	0.50 cup	23.3	6.41	10.7	8.3	excellent
Summer squash, cooked, slices	1 cup	36.0	9.90	16.5	8.2	excellent
Cloves, dried, ground	2 tsp	14.2	3.56	5.9	7.5	very good
Winter squash, baked, cubes	1 cup	80.0	19.68	32.8	7.4	very good
Basil, dried, ground	2 tsp	7.5	1.84	3.1	7.3	good
Cayenne pepper, dried	2 tsp	11.2	2.72	4.5	7.3	good
Blueberries	1 cup	81.2	18.86	31.4	7.0	very good
Carrots, raw	1 cup	52.5	11.35	18.9	6.5	very good
Garlic	1 oz-wt	42.2	8.85	14.8	6.3	very good
Apricots	1 each	16.8	3.50	5.8	6.2	very good
Calf's liver, braised	4 oz-wt	187.1	35.16	58.6	5.6	very good
Sweet potato, baked, with skin	1 each	95.4	17.06	28.4	5.4	very good
Plum	1 each	36.3	6.27	10.4	5.2	very good
Green peas, boiled	1 cup	134.4	22.72	37.9	5.1	very good
Onions, raw	1 cup	60.8	10.24	17.1	5.1	very good
Oregano, dried, ground	2 tsp	9.2	1.52	2.5	5.0	good
Chili pepper, dried	2 tsp	25.5	3.84	6.4	4.5	very good
Leeks, boiled	0.50 cup	16.1	2.18	3.6	4.1	good
Potato, baked, with skin	1 cup	133.0	15.74	26.2	3.6	very good
Yam (Dioscorea species), cubed, cooked	1 cup	157.8	16.46	27.4	3.1	good
Banana	1 each	108.6	10.74	17.9	3.0	good
Apples	1 each	81.4	7.87	13.1	2.9	good
Beets, Boiled	1 cup	74.8	6.12	10.2	2.5	good
Pear	1 each	97.9	6.64	11.1	2.0	good
Grapes	1 cup	61.6	3.68	6.1	1.8	good
Corn, yellow, cooked	1 cup	177.1	10.16	16.9	1.7	good
Avocado, slices	1 cup	235.1	11.53	19.2	1.5	good

World's Healthiest Foods Rating	Rule
excellent	DV>=75%	OR	Density>=7.6	AND	DV>=10%
very good	DV>=50%	OR	Density>=3.4	AND	DV>=5%
good	DV>=25%	OR	Density>=1.5	AND	DV>=2.5%

Migraines, AKA, Demon Beasts from Hell

2011-09-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

Migraines are awful. Nearly everyone has had one in their lives and for the people who have to deal with them constantly, it can be unbearable. I suffered with near constant migraines during several points in my life and I am no stranger to their pain. Courtesy of migraine.com, here is a list of the most common symptoms associated with migraines.

Throbbing, pulsating pain – 85 percent
Light sensitivity – 80 percent
Sound sensitivity – 76 percent
Nausea – 73 percent
Pain on one side – 59 percent
Vision changes, blurred vision – 44 percent
Aura – 36 percent
Vomiting – 29 percent

So how can you tell the difference between a migraine and just a regular headache? For me it was simple. With a headache, I could take a few aspirin and be on my merry way in thirty minutes or so. With a migraine, however, I could feel one coming on and instantly feel depleted. My head would throb, sounds and lights were killer and sometimes I would even throw up. The only help I could come by for a few hours of relief was to sleep. Once or twice it even got so bad that I had to go to the ER to get rid of the damn thing.

Medical field workers still aren't positive as to why migraines happen, but there are common lists of trigger things that seem to perpetuate them. Foods high in MSG's, excessive crying, heavy emotional situations, loud sounds, bright lights, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, hormone fluctuation, spending too much time in front of the computer, negative stress, too little sleep, skipping meals and certain smells all seem to trigger the monster.

In the conventional medical field, there are tons of medications that can help get rid of migraines. This is all good and fine, if you get one migraine a year. But if you were like me, getting migraines 4, 5, sometimes even 6 times a week, taking over the counter drugs just aren't good for you. In my case, I was flooding my system with anything that I could find. Aspirin, Excedrin, Advil, Tylenol… You name it, I tried it. The only problem with most of the above listed medications is that they contain NSAIDS.

To be honest, I really didn't give a flying frick what they contained as long as they got rid of the pounding devil burrowed in my temples. But my body did. I started experiencing some of the NSAID overdose symptoms and honestly it wasn't pretty. And my migraine still wasn't staying continuously away.

So what to do?

In this article, I'm going to go over ways to get rid of it once you have it, but more importantly I'm going to explain ways to prevent it.

At the first moment you feel a migraine approaching:

I recommend taking Excedrin Migraine right off the bat. It usually does the trick in a small dose and keeps it away.
A) Second best idea- Take Aleve. This usually works decently well, but if the migraine is past the point of no return, it won't do anything.
B) If you're not near any medication, find a caffeinated drink and start chugging. Caffeine can help eliminate headaches.
Warn the loudest of your family members to keep it shut for a while and try to get yourself to a quiet location.
Start drinking water. You might just be dehydrated.

When the migraine starts getting too intense:

Help fix the nausea with ginger!
Two 500 milligram capsules of ginger should curb the nausea. If that doesn't work, try taking mint or fennel and turn them into tea. Over the counter remedies that work pretty well are anything containing Dramamine. Caution though, they will almost always make you very sleepy, so don't take if you need to be up.
Some people find that rubbing or squeezing their heads can help.
For me, when the migraines got bad enough, this really didn't help me. But I've heard a lot of positive words in regards to headache self massage. Squeezing my head or applying pressure worked best in my cases. Definitely worth a try if you're desperate.
When all else fails, try your best to keep yourself in a quiet and dark place. If you've flooded your body with everything, it needs time to work.

Okay, let's say that you're prone to migraines…How can you prevent them?

Get your sleep and eating schedule in check.
Moderation of eating and sleep can help prevent migraines.
Work on your caffeine consumption.
Wean yourself off of the coffee slowly and your body will thank you. Go cold turkey and it could actually trigger a migraine.
Avoid over consumption of alcohol and cigarettes.
Duh.
Start adding regular exercise into your everyday life
Vitamins that rock?
Magnesium- 1,000 milligrams of magnesium aspartate before falling asleep
Vitamin B2- 200 milligrams twice a day

Magnesium helps prevent muscle and blood vessel spasms throughout the body as well as in the brain.
Avoid these foods. (List provided by www.umm.edu)

Chocolate

Cheese

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer found often in food from Chinese restaurants

Foods containing the amino acid tyramine (found in red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans)

Nuts

Peanut butter

Some fruits (like avocado, banana, and citrus)

Onions

Dairy products

Meats containing nitrates (bacon, hot dogs, salami, cured meats)

Fermented or pickled foods

Drink lots of fluids especially water!

Typically, a migraine attack can last a few hours and sometimes even longer. But if you feel that your headache is suddenly different or way more intense than you've ever had before, it's time to get it checked out. If you've tried everything you can and it STILL doesn’t go away, that can be a sign that there is something seriously wrong. Especially if there is a change in neurological symptoms such as delayed speech and coordination, these could all be really serious signals. Please get yourself checked out by a professional just to be on the safe side.

Migraines are beasts sent from the depths of hell to torment individuals with their unyielding pain. Fortunately, in our day and age there are several ways to combat them and prevent them. Try your best to start tracking what causes the migraines and what helps to stop them, and before you know it, you'll have an arsenal of knowledge to help get rid of them forever!

*I am not a doctor and in no way am I prescribing medical treatment to the reader. Please ALWAYS consult your doctor before you try something whether it be natural or conventional.

Chronic Inflammation, Do YOU have it?

2011-09-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

What is it exactly?

Inflammation is meant to help the body deal with problems and infections. The act of inflammation it's self is not the problem and when in proper working order, it's exceptionally helpful. It helps make blood clot when there is a wound as well as increases the blood flow. Wherever there is a threat to the body, whether it be perceived (emotional hurt) or serious i-just-tore-off-my-leg kind of action, the process of inflammation is ready to act.

We run into a problem when inflammation continues on too long and becomes chronic inflammation. It kills off the good and healthy cells in an attempt to get rid of the bad bacteria. Look at it this way: Cops are often great at hitting the scene of the crime efficiently and taking care of the problem. But what would happen if they stayed there too long and perceived everything as a threat, no matter how normal the situation? The cops would start creating new problems, and what was once a great help now hinders the normal functioning processes.

And especially now-a-days when people are putting their bodies through the max every waking moment (and sometimes sleeping!) the process of inflammation is on overdrive. Gum disease and painful stomach ulcers can be linked with the over production of H. pylori bacteria. When the process of inflammation lasts too long, it can easily spread to other parts of the body from where it originally started.

What are some of the problems it can result in?

List Courtesy of 'Best Remedies' by Mary L. Hardy (MD) and Debra L. Gordon

Acne
Allergies
Alzheimer's disease
Asthma
Burstitis and tendinitis
Some cancers
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Congestive heart failure
Coronary artery disease
Dandruff
Type two diabetes
Diverticulitis
Eczema
Endometriosis
Fibromyalgia
Gum disease
Hepatitis
Herpes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Hives
Inflammatory bowel disease
Lupus
Menstrual cramps
Obesity
Parkinson's disease
Peripheral vascular disease
Premenstrual disorder
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rosacea
Sinusitis and sinus infections

What are the huge contributors to chronic inflammation?

Belly fat (AKA, your husband's regal beer gut and your best friend's darling muffin top!), lack of adequate sleep, foods high in trans-fat, saturation, heavily processed foods and heavy meat diets, and living life in the fast lane (heavy emotional ups and downs CONSTANTLY). Oh, and smoking. But you knew that one right? ;)

But looking at it realistically...?

It's been said that life isn't worth living without a little fun. I can safely say that up until recently, I definitely participated in many of the above activities. I'm nineteen for flip's sake. And to be completely honest, if I hadn't have been diagnosed with my IBD (or IBS) and my interstitial cystitis, I would still be rocking out life like there was no tomorrow. Not that I don't rock life now, but in a significantly more beneficial way. Granted I do still pull the all nighters and sneak in a burger now and then.

I get it. Life happens and it's really hard to take control of everything flying around you. Especially when the things around you are super fun or ultra demanding. It can seem impossible to change up the habits that are harming you. But like my car tire example (here), or the empty gas tank idea (you can't run a car without gas), your body WILL run out of steam eventually. And if you could do all of the same awesome things you do now; party with your friends, run a corporation, raise your screaming triplets and compete in the rodeo, AND feel great at the same time, wouldn't you? That's what shaking up your lifestyle is all about. Trading in the bad for the good to get better results.

K, great, but how? Can I start right now? How long is this whole thing going to take?

Jeeze, get to the point shall we? Well, here's the truth. Changing your world around takes time. It's not an overnight process and it's not like a pill that you can pop to get rid of your headache. It takes commitment to yourself and a true desire to want to change. Sometimes that desire can be because you're sick of dealing with the repercussions of your actions. In my case, I could choose to eat that delicious steak and gobble up every bite. BUT, I soon realized that I would pay for that choice by spending the next several hours in hell-fire pain and literally able to watch my colon spasm through my belly. Clearly, my choices were laid out for me. For a lot of people, maybe even yourself, the choice of change has to come through willpower. Stay up all night, drink fifty coffees to stay awake and feel like crap later? Or pace yourself, stop procrastinating and get the project or job done earlier so that you can sleep. Instead of coping with stress by smoking, you could try walking? Honestly, as you're reading these examples, so many of them are going to sound so cliché that you will probably block them out. The whole point is, if you want to make the change to get rid of your chronic inflammation, YES you can start now. But it start's with YOU. *Only you can prevent forest fires ;) *

Diet

One of the most potent ways to stop chronic inflammation in it's tracks is by switching up things in your diet.

Omega 3's- Lay off the fatty beef and switch to fish. Tuna, salmon, sardines, herring along with halibut and mackerel all have high amounts of omega-3's in them. Seafood has shown to have more omega-3's than fresh water fish. Also if you can, try to get wild fish rather than the farm raised fishies.

Hate fish?- Start with tuna. It's less fishy than the rest. And no, fish sticks don't count as fish.

Oils- Stay away from most vegetable oils and add more olive oils and canola oils. Vegetable oils that won't cut it include corn, cottonseed, peanut, safflower, sunflower and sesame. They have omega-6's that are through the roof.

Switch up your greens- Or more literally, make sure that your salad actually IS green. Change up your cabbage for spinach. Two servings or more of dark, leafy greens should do the trick.

Lay off the trans-fats and saturated fats. - The FDA is now required to put trans-fat ingredients in the label, so start reading. Even if you can cut out one fatty food that you eat regularly, it will slowly by surely help make a difference.

Legumes!- Walnuts, peanuts, pumpkin seeds… You can't go wrong. Just don't eat more than an ounce a day. That would be bad. So just, no. Mmkay?

Organic- If you're like me, you probably don't fully believe that organic is any better for you than regular food. But for argument's sake, lets just assume that it is and start trying to incorporate more organic food in your diet. I started off by getting organic spinach for my salads. I'm still not super organic, but I've upped it to getting organic eggs too. It's baby steps that turn into running, my friends :)

Fruits and veggies- Incorporate more berries and vegetables to get all of their wonderful antioxidant benefits

Fun Stuff? - Dark chocolate, moderate wine consumption, green and black tea and berries.

Lifestyle Lifts

Easy things to change- Start taking short walks and try to add an hour more of sleep to your night. Add 81 milligrams of baby aspirin a day (after getting your doctor's okay!). Drink more water!!

More difficult things to adapt to- Work on adding 30 minutes of exercise a day, maintain an average of 7-8 hours of sleep a night, and start working on getting existing conditions cleared up with antibiotics from your doctor.

Things that require the most commitment? - Getting acupuncture weekly (sorry, but I definitely don't have the time or cash for that one) and quitting smoking.

The bottom line?

Chronic inflammation can take a HUGE toll on your body in everything that you do. By alleviating some of the causes of it, you can start changing how you look and feel and begin ridding yourself of common ailments that can rule your life completely.

In addition, here's a list of different vitamins and minerals that can make a difference in your world. However, before you start popping a handful of vitamins thinking it's going to fix everything, go re-read this post. The change has to start in your LIFE. No worries though, you can do it.

Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin E, ginger and green tea have all been showed to reduce chronic bodily inflammation.