“8 Natural Ways to Reduce Pain & Inflammation” (Part 2)

Luke is back with part 2 of this topic, sharing 4 additional natural strategies you can use to reduce pain and inflammation, without relying on medications (or at least not as your first option).

Show Notes

• The show starts with a quick review of the last episode, which included the first 4 ways to naturally reduce pain and inflammation. Make sure to check out that episode before listening to this one. Here’s a quick recap of those first 4: eating less sugar and simple carbs (and eating more high-quality proteins and fats instead), eliminating food allergies and/or sensitivities, reducing your toxic load (related to things like pesticides or other chemicals around the home) and getting more probiotics in your diet (with fermented foods and/or supplements). 
• Also, recall the lead in to this topic: One of the biggest frustrations in medicine these days is that people feel like they’re being “farmed out” to multiple specialists for their various conditions, and no one is in charge of finding the underlying, root cause of the problem. For example, you might see a GI specialist for your stomach issues, an Endocrinologist for your Diabetes, and a Rheumatologist for your joint pain. But what if the underlying issue with these conditions was simply too much systemic inflammation and an overactive immune system? Wouldn’t it make perfect sense to reduce your level of information, with the hope that it would have a positive impact on every aspect of your health? This is the focus of these 2 episodes
• Below are the last 4 strategies (5-8)
• Strategy #5: Nutrient Density. When it comes to food, most people thinking of controlling their weight vs. obtaining as many vitamins and nutrients as possible. This is a big problem! So, if I’ve convinced you to eat fewer carbs and instead eat better quality proteins, fats and veggies, you’ve already taken a great step towards increasing the nutrient density in your diet. And if you want to take it one step further, consider trying to eat veggies that are grown in nutrient-dense soil. I’ll explain what this means on the episode. 
• Strategy #6: Increased Outdoor Time. Most of us spend way too much time indoors, with little to no exposure to natural light. In addition, we have increased exposure to other sources of “unnatural” light via our cell phones, computers, TVs and indoor lighting. There are several benefits to increasing your exposure to natural light, while decreasing your exposure to other sources of light, which I discuss in detail in this episode. 
• Strategy #7: Regular Exercise. This may sound like a no-brainer, but don’t overlook the importance of regular exercise! The obvious benefits include things like: improved bone density, stronger muscles, improved balance, and the benefits to the heart and cardiovascular system. However, there are multiple other benefits to exercising, which are being well researched lately. This includes improved brain function and reduced rates of many chronic diseases (things like Diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s, just to name a few!). Also, there are many emotional/social benefits to exercising when you join one of the many exercise group options (such as walking groups, yoga classes, Pilates, etc.). More details in the episode, of course!
• Strategy #8: More Sleep! I saved the best and possibly most important tip for last! Getting a solid 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night can have a significant impact on just about every aspect of your health. In this episode, I talk about some of the benefits of improving your sleep, as well as some of the challenges and strategies when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. 
• I hope you enjoyed part 2 of this topic! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me at Luke@GordonPhysicalTherapy.com. Thank you for listening! - Luke Gordon