If you have followed my articles over the years, you know that I focus on inflammation reduction. This is not because I am fixated on inflammation due to a personal obsession, but rather because the subjection of inflammation demands our attention. That said, at first glance, the notion that the brain can be inflamed may appear silly. This is because we typically view inflammation in the context of swelling after an injury. However, the contemporary view of inflammation is that it reflects a manner of cellular communication and need not involve any of the classic signs of inflammation, such as redness, swelling, heat and pain. In fact, one can be systemically inflamed and have no symptoms at all.
The Consequences of Inflammation
For example, type 2 diabetes is caused by chronic inflammation, and its development is without the signs and symptoms classically associated with "inflammation." Consider the following statement by a researcher in this area: "Unequivocal experimental, epidemiological and clinical evidence produced during the past decade causally links inflammation, or the molecules and networks integral to inflammatory responses, to the development of these metabolic diseases and/or the complications that emerge from these pathologies, particularly in the context of obesity and type 2 diabetes."1
Table 1 lists the predictors for the presence of metabolic syndrome X, which exists before a patient is obese or has type 2 diabetes. If a patient has three of these predictors, they have the metabolic syndrome and are inflamed.
| Table 1: Diagnostic Predictors for Insulin Re-sistance Metabolic Syndrome X2 | |
| Predictor | Abnormal Value |
| Blood sugar | > 100 mg/dL |
| Triglycerides | > 150 mg/dL |
| HDL cholesterol | < 50 for women; < 40 for men |
| Blood pressure | > 130/85 mmHg |
| Waist circumference | > 36 inches for women; >= 40 inches for men |
The reason for our detour into the metabolic syndrome, obesity and diabetes is because the cytokine-mediated inflammatory state that causes these conditions1,3-4 is also what leads to hypothalamic inflammation.5 Indeed, a high-calorie, fat-rich diet causes cytokines to be expressed in the hypothalamus, contributing to the activation of intracellular inflammatory signal transduction. The outcome is insulin resistance within the hypothalamus and a reduction in satiety signaling, leading to overeating and weight gain.5 In other words, the brain of an overeater is inflamed.
Dietary and Supplemental Deflaming of the Brain
The reduction of systemic inflammation can begin at the next meal. A diet rich in vegetables, fruit and lean meat reduces systemic inflammation.4 Additional calories can come from nuts and seeds, particularly chia and hemp. Grains, legumes and dairy should be consumed in modest amounts. Foods that should be avoided included refined sugar, flour and oils, as they are all highly inflammatory and yet, at this point they represent approximately 60 percent of the calories consumed by Americans.6
Supplements that help to reduce the inflammatory state include a multivitamin, magnesium, omega-3 fish oils, and vitamin D.7-10 Supplements that can specifically help improve insulin sensitivity and help reduce inflammation include chromium and lipoic acid.11-12
While the notion of brain inflammation might be new, the approach to reduce systemic inflammation is quite straightforward. Operationally, many patients only need to lose 5 percent to 20 percent of body weight to reduce or eliminate the metabolic syndrome,13 which means that reducing systemic and brain inflammation can be realized by all of your patients.
References
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
