Inflammation, Aging, and the IFM difference

What is inflammation? Our immune system is a complicated system that defends our cells from bacteria, viruses, toxins, pathogens, and allergens. This system will have a rapid response to these pathogens and will coordinate the destruction of pathogens, repair damaged cells, and eliminate infected cells.

A by-product of this process is CYTOKINES, as well as white blood cells, and immune memory cells. With chronic inflammation, there is some oxidative stress that is exerted on the cells, causing increased cellular death and damage to DNA which can then cause changes in cellular repair, possibly leading to abnormalities in the structure of the cells themselves, sometimes leading to tumors and cancers.

Chronic inflammation leading to oxidative stress can manifest itself in many ways: hypertension, “premature” aging, cancer, and degenerative diseases. Chronic infections such as hepatitis, h. Pylori, HPV, Epstein-Barr are known to cause cancers due to long-term inflammation.

We are continuously exposed to pro-inflammatory pathogens due to our diet and environment, so how do we live our healthiest life and limit damage and aging?

• Take care of our gut: the microbiome in our gut is where we digest and absorb vitamins and minerals, and supports metabolism and immunity. If our gut microbiome has been affected by inflammatory bowel disease, overuse of antibiotics, or poor diet, it is not functioning at it’s best and can be worsening our inflammation. We can take care of our gut by taking probiotics, increasing our fruits, vegetables and fiber, avoiding inflammatory meat, dairy, and corn products. Eliminating processed foods is also vital to our gut health.  Yogurt and fermented veggies can also help with our gut microbiome.
• Antioxidants: antioxidants are molecules that eat up those cytokines and the byproducts of cellular death, allowing our livers to eliminate them without causing oxidative stress. Our body naturally makes several antioxidants: ALA, COQ10, and glutathione. COQ10 is very well absorbed when taken orally, but glutathione and ALA can be difficult to take and absorb.

Here at IFM, we can help with chronic inflammation by multiple modalities:

1. Administering IV micronutrients. The Myer’s Cocktail has been shown to help reduce inflammation when administered consistently. This blend has magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, B12, B complex (among others) to restore nutrition at a cellular level and decrease inflammation. We also give high-dose glutathione intravenously to help with inflammation and antiaging.
2. Oral supplementation: we use high quality supplements to help restore your gut and keep your immune system in great shape.
3. Health coaching: if you are needing help with losing weight and changing your diet and exercise habits, we are here to support you with health coaching.

At IFM, we take your health seriously, and are here to get you and keep you healthy!

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