Chronic Systemic InflammationSummary* Chronic systemic inflammation (CSI) is a low-grade, pervasive form of inflammation that damages the endothelial linings of arteries and is a cause of insulin resistance. It has also been implicated in damage to a variety of other tissues and organs. * CSI may be caused by a number of factors including obesity, infection, toxins and autoimmune diseases, and it can lead to several other diseases, including cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. * Disorders associated with CSI typically exhibit immune dysfunction, oxidative stress and free-radical production. The phytonutrients found in spices can reduce the pathological effects of CSI by acting against each of these contributory factors as well as by direct anti-inflammatory action. * The most powerful anti-inflammatory spices include bay leaf, black pepper, garlic, ginger, oregano, rosemary, thyme and turmeric. Inflammation
Inflammation is the immune system’s response to infection, injury and chemical or physical irritation. Broadly divided into acute and chronic forms, inflammation is one of the body’s essential defence mechanisms and plays a vital role in protecting us against microbial attack, external and internally-produced toxins, as well as damaged and diseased cells and tissues. The inflammatory response is a multifaceted, highly complex collection of processes that depend on the coordinated action of a variety of different cells and molecules. The most important components involved in the inflammatory response include several types of specialised immune cells, platelets, antibodies, chemical messengers called interleukins and cytokines, and other chemicals like histamine and prostaglandins. One of the important effects of inflammation is to increase the permeability of blood vessels, allowing blood plasma to escape into the tissues and organs. The increased permeability improves access for the immune cells to damaged and infected tissues, thereby facilitating the destruction and removal of damaged and diseased cells. Unfortunately, this process is inherently destructive, and both acute and chronic inflammation may cause damage to healthy tissues. Typically, the longer the inflammatory process lasts, the more damage it does to the tissues involved. In the case of a local infection, inflammatory damage often manifests itself as scar tissue and if a wound becomes infected or fails to heal quickly, it will leave more scar tissue than it would have had it healed normally. Similar but less visible processes are at work in a lower grade form of this process called chronic systemic inflammation. This type of inflammation can cause widespread damage to a range of different tissue types that ultimately leads to specific disease entities. Chronic systemic inflammation
Chronic systemic inflammation (CSI) is a low-grade, pervasive form of inflammation with potentially devastating consequences. The inflammatory reactions characteristic of CSI are less severe than those seen in acute inflammatory responses. However, CSI has been implicated as a major causative factor for several serious chronic diseases. From this perspective, it is one of the most dangerous – if insidious – types of inflammation. Although CSI and local inflammation share the same biochemical processes, CSI is not restricted to a specific tissue or organ, but instead involves the endothelial lining of blood vessels and several other tissue types. As a result the disruptive effects of CSI are far reaching, causing damage to the nervous, endocrine and other systems. This damage may, in turn, precipitate or exacerbate a wide variety of other pathological processes. CSI is, for example, closely implicated in the development of insulin resistance – and thereby metabolic syndrome and diabetes – which is rarely found without raised levels of the circulating inflammatory markers associated with CSI. Damage to the arterial endothelium and the subsequent development of atherosclerosis has also been linked to CSI. In addition to its important underlying role in obesity, insulin resistance and heart disease, CSI has also been implicated in some forms of depression and even sleep disorders. Only recently identified and subjected to scientific investigation, CSI is still considered to be more of an underlying pathological process rather than a particular disease entity, and there are no specific diagnostic tests or targeted treatment interventions for it. Spices and CSI
The first step in dealing with CSI is to find and treat the cause of the inflammation. This may require improving dental hygiene, stopping smoking, avoiding allergens, or losing weight. Such interventions can be dramatically augmented by the consumption of spices, several of which have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Among the most potent of these are bay leaf, garlic, ginger, oregano, rosemary, thyme and turmeric. The anti-inflammatory phytonutrients contained in these spices act on a variety of mechanisms including the inhibition of COX-I and COX-2 enzymes and chemicals such as prostaglandins that are all important components of the inflammatory response. Other spices, in particular black pepper and garlic, counteract CSI by modulating the immune system thereby limiting the excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, as many of the causes of CSI – including obesity, toxins and infections – are associated with oxidative stress, the antioxidants found in most spices help control this condition too. The myriad spice-derived antioxidants are able to “mop up” a wide range of inhaled, ingested and internally produced free radicals that can lead to CSI. Indirectly, spices’ antimicrobial phytonutrient can also fight CSI, by protecting against the infections that precipitate this inflammatory response. In short, spice-derived compounds have all the attributes required to minimise the impact on our health of the insidious, destructive and potentially lethal effects of CSI. Some causes of CSI
Although the precise causes of CSI are not currently clear, a number of factors have been implicated in the condition.Obesity Infections Infections that could contribute to CSI include undiagnosed kidney or bladder infections, low-grade gall bladder infection, chronic tonsillitis, diverticular disease, hepatitis, chronic viral diseases like HIV, cytomegalovirus and infectious mononucleosis or any other chronic infection such as Lyme disease or brucellosis. Periodontal disease, in particular, has been closely linked to CSI. Periodontal Disease All of these can contribute to a low-grade CSI in tissues far from the mouth. The treatment of periodontal disease substantially reduces the quantities of circulating pro-inflammatory agents, and can even reverse some of the damage done to the endothelial lining of the arteries. Intestinal Parasites Intestinal parasites such as giardia, roundworms, hookworms and others set up potent inflammatory responses in the lining of the intestines resulting in the release of inflammatory products into the blood stream. These substances can, in turn, contribute to CSI. Environmental Toxins, Drugs and Tobacco Allergies and Autoimmune Disease There is, moreover, some evidence to show that periodontal disease and other chronic infections may actually initiate some allergies and autoimmune disorders, thereby contributing both directly and indirectly to CSI. Anti-inflammatory properties of key spices
Direct anti-inflammatory action:bay leaf, garlic, ginger, oregano,rosemary, thyme, turmeric Immune modulation and control of pro-inflammatory cytokines: Protect against lipid oxidation associated with inflammation:
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