Why do you keep having inflammation despite a healthy lifestyle?

You pay close attention to your diet, eat loads of vegetables and avoid sugar, yet you do not feel well. Vague aches, fatigue, or digestive issues keep returning. Many women over fifty run into this mystery.

Despite a conscious lifestyle, the body can still be in a state of low-grade inflammation. The root cause is often hidden deeper, such as in persistent nutrient deficiencies or an overactive immune system.

The indispensable role of essential nutrients

Even the healthiest diet cannot always prevent deficiencies. As women age, the absorption of nutrients in the gut changes. These are the key players in managing inflammation:

• Vitamin D: Regulates immune-specific behavior and acts as a natural brake on inflammation promoters, like cytokines. Low levels are associated with increased inflammatory activity and mast cell activation.
• Iron: Crucial for oxygen transport,energy production in cells, immune function and antioxidant enzymes; an improper balance disrupts cell metabolism, impairs immune cell function and tissue oxygenetion en increases oxidative stress.
• Magnesium: Helps muscles relax and dampens the general stress response in the body. Low magesium is linked to higher inflammatory cytokines production, endothelial dysfunction (decreased Nitric Oxide) and increased oxidative stress.
• Zinc and Copper: These minerals work closely together to activate antioxidants and protect tissues against oxidative stress. Zinc is essential for immune cell function and antioxidant defence. Zinc regulates inflammatory signalling. Low zinc can impair immune function and promote inflammation. Copper is requered for antioxidant enzymes. Both low and high copper can promote inflammation. Inflammation can alter the levels.
• Selenium: Is not only needed for healthy thyroid function, but also a powerful antioxidant (selenoproteins like glutathion peroxidase) that supports immune cells and helps prevent cell damage. These proteins protect against oxidative stress and help regulate inflammatory responses. Low selenium weakend antioxidant defense and promotes inflammation.
• Folate, and B12: Folate and B12 are essential for synthesis, methylation and red blood cell production. They also clear inflammation-promoting homocysteine from the blood. Low folate and B12 can raise homocysteine, increasing oxidative stress and inflammatory signalling. Do not just check B12 but check active B12, MMA and homocysteine.
• Vitamine B6: B6 is involved in many pathways and immune function. Inflammation can lower B6, this can impair immune and metabolic regulation.
• Vitamin C: A direct antioxidant that protects immune cells and helps regenerate other antioxidants. Low vitamine C can impair immune esponse and increase oxidative stress.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: The ultimate building blocks for anti-inflammatory hormones (eicosanoids) that put out the immune fire. Omega-3 promote resolution. Low omega-3 promotes inflammation and impairs resolution.

When deficiencies occur here, the body enters a state of oxidative stress, which continuously fuels inflammation.

Meet MCAS: the unknown troublemaker

A factor that is often overlooked in persistent inflammation is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). This can independently cause chronic inflammatory substances.

Mast cells are part of the immune system and reside everywhere in your body. With MCAS, these cells react overly aggressively to normal stimuli. They release substances such as histamine into your tissues too quickly.

• The link to food: Even healthy products like tomatoes, spinach, avocado, or leftovers can cause symptoms with MCAS because they contain a lot of histamine or liberate histamine.
• Nutrient deficiencies: MCAS often arises from a combination of factors, including the previously mentioned deficiencies in vitamin D, minerals, and B vitamins, which normally help keep mast cells calm.

How can you recognize MCAS?

Because mast cells are distributed throughout the entire body, symptoms can be very diverse and misunderstood. Common signs are:

• Skin reactions: Sudden redness in the face, hives, or itching without a clear reason.
• Digestive issues: Changing bowel habits, bloating, or abdominal cramps, regardless of what you eat.
• Respiratory tract: Stuffy nose, tickly cough, or shortness of breath that resembles allergies, while allergy tests are negative.
• General complaints: Chronic fatigue, headaches, heart palpitations, or poor tolerance to heat and cold.

Do you recognize these complaints despite your healthy lifestyle and do you need assistance to regain your energy and health?

Please give me a free 15 minute phonecall 0034 711093777 of mail me at lisagoudzwaard@gmail.com to see if we can work together.