Slayer's Den

[01dragonslayer]

The Reaper Process​

Most people die of the same process or condition. Here's what it is and how to fight it off for as long as possible.​

Let's get morbid. How do you think you're going to die?

I'll go first: I'll win the Most Awesomest Person of the Millennium award, then die that night after a heart-stopping bedroom romp at the age of 126.

Okay, probably not. Nope, I'll kick the bucket in one of the usual boring ways, the same as you. Luckily (unluckily?), we already know the top ten causes of death. By knowing the names of all ten Grim Reapers, we can do our best to scare them off. Here they are in order of most likely to kill you:

1. Heart Disease (20.6%)
2. Cancer (17%)
3. Accidents (6%)
4. Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (5.8%)
5. Stroke (5%)
6. Alzheimer's Disease (4.3%)
7. Diabetes (3%)
8. Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis (2.5%)
9. Kidney Disease (1.8%)
10. Suicide (1.7%)

But how are we supposed to do battle with every category of killer? Well, don't get fat, don't smoke, and wear your seatbelt. But what else? The answer is both simple and complex: stop being chronically inflamed.

Out of the ten leading causes of death, eight are either caused or worsened by chronic inflammation. And even the other two – suicide and accidents – are "associated" with inflammation.

Depression and anxiety are linked to suicide, and both have been called inflammatory responses. The accidents category includes unintentional drug overdoses, and drug users often have underlying emotional issues, made worse by brain inflammation. Even recovering from a car accident is tougher if your body is already chronically inflamed.


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So, What is Chronic Inflammation?​

Chronic or low-grade inflammation is a prolonged, persistent inflammatory response lasting weeks to years. Don't confuse it with acute inflammation, a short-term healthy response that helps you heal from a mild injury, infection, or even a tough workout.

In chronic inflammation, the immune system remains activated for too long, damaging healthy tissues and cells. Normally, the immune system balances pro-inflammatory signals (which help fight infection or injury) with anti-inflammatory signals (which promote healing). In chronic inflammation, this balance is disrupted, and pro-inflammatory signals dominate.

The end results? Tissue damage, accelerated aging, and chronic disease.

What Causes Chronic Inflammation?​

• A crappy diet
• Excess stress
• Overtraining (lack of recovery)
• Metabolic imbalances (obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome)
• Exposure to environmental irritants (pollution, smoking, alcohol, certain chemicals)
• Autoimmune diseases
• Unresolved infections

Is There a Test for Chronic Inflammation?​

Yes, several. Chronic inflammation is detected through blood tests that measure inflammation markers. The most common test looks for C-reactive protein (CRP), produced by the liver in response to inflammation. Ask for the standard CRP test or the high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) test. Other tests look at erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and measure cytokines.


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How to Squash Chronic Inflammation​

Cut out the sugar, trans-fats, and seed oils. Don't get fat. Manage stress. Work out, but not excessively. That's the basic stuff.

Supplementally, there's a lot you can take to tamp down and control inflammation:

1. Fish Oil​

If you can only choose one, pick up an omega-3 supplement (EPA and DHA). Fish oil reduces chronic inflammation through several mechanisms. It reduces pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and cytokines. EPA and DHA are also precursors to specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). These molecules actively work to resolve inflammation.

Fish oil also modulates immune cell activity, decreases the expression of NF-kB (a transcription factor that activates the expression of pro-inflammatory genes), reduces oxidative stress, improves endothelial function, and lowers C-reactive protein levels.

Just use a concentrated formula containing caprylocaproyl polyoxyl-8 glyceride, a solubilizer and an emulsifier.

2. Curcumin​

Curcumin inhibits several key inflammatory molecules, including NF-kB, which regulates the production of inflammatory cytokines. It also reduces oxidative stress.

Curcumin is derived from turmeric, but you can't eat enough to trigger an anti-inflammatory effect. So look for a supplement containing "solid lipid curcumin complex" or the micellar form. It increased curcumin's bioavailability by at least 95 times over raw curcumin.

3. Resveratrol​

Resveratrol inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines and NF-kB, and reduces oxidative stress. It also helps modulate immune function.

4. Vitamin D​

Deficiency in vitamin D is linked to higher inflammation levels. Vitamin D modulates immune function by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting anti-inflammatory cytokines. Supplementation reduces CRP, too.

5. Magnesium and Zinc​

Low magnesium levels are associated with increased inflammation. Magnesium also reduces CRP levels. Zinc supports immune function and acts as an anti-inflammatory by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines.

Only use the chelated form of each to ensure absorption.

6. Miscellaneous Inflammation Fighters​

Through various mechanisms of action, these supplements and foods show promise as inflammation fighters:

• Vitamins C and E
• Ginger
• Boswellia (Frankincense)
• Probiotics (fermented foods)
• Green Tea Extract (EGCG)
• Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)
• CoQ10
• Quercetin
• N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)
• Spirulina (blue-green algae)