Stop Chasing Numbers: Here’s How to Know Your Inflammation is Really Improving

Inflamed in the Brain

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Show Notes:
In this eye-opening episode of Inflamed in the Brain, host Krissy tackles a topic that resonates with many—how to know if your inflammation is improving without relying on lab tests or weight loss. As a registered dietitian who has personal experience managing inflammation from MS, Krissy dives into practical ways to recognize progress beyond the numbers.

Introduction to the Episode:
Krissy kicks off by acknowledging the overwhelming pressure to lose weight or rely on expensive lab work to gauge inflammation. She highlights that weight isn’t the root cause of inflammation and debunks the idea that weight loss alone will make it disappear. By addressing visceral fat and inflammation, Krissy shows the complexity of the body’s relationship with fat, emphasizing that not all fat is harmful and that inflammation impacts everyone differently.

Weight and Inflammation:
Krissy offers listeners a compassionate reminder that hyper-focusing on visceral fat can increase stress—and stress, as she explains, is another inflammatory trigger. She shares insights into body acceptance, the nuanced role of fat in inflammation, and why focusing on bigger-picture lifestyle changes is more effective than obsessing over weight loss.

She warns against extreme diets and low-calorie eating patterns that leave you feeling hungry and deprived, noting that these approaches can worsen inflammation by increasing stress hormones and dysregulating hunger cues.

Why Lab Work Isn't Always the Answer:
Although there are lab tests like CRP, ESR, and organic acid tests to measure inflammation, Krissy reminds listeners that these are expensive, not always accessible, and don’t paint the full picture. Lab numbers can fluctuate due to various factors, including genetics and lifestyle. She even shares her personal story of navigating lab results during her first MS flare-up—highlighting that, despite normal CRP levels, she still experienced symptoms.

Krissy’s focus today is on empowering her audience to tune into their body’s own cues, offering ways to recognize improvement that aren’t dependent on weight or labs.

Main Points Covered in the Episode:

1. Improved Symptoms: Krissy emphasizes that improvement in the symptoms that first led you to the doctor is a clear indicator that your inflammation is improving. Whether it's chronic fatigue, joint pain, or digestive issues, reduced severity or frequency of these symptoms is a key sign that your efforts are paying off. Krissy shares her experience with MS symptoms, reminding listeners to reflect on their progress, even if it’s gradual.
2. Boosted Energy Levels: Chronic inflammation often causes fatigue. When your energy starts improving, it’s a sure sign that your inflammation is decreasing. Krissy explains how a reduction in chronic inflammation allows the body to redirect energy away from fighting inflammation and towards daily tasks, leading to fewer naps, better motivation, and more consistency in life.
3. Better Digestion: Improved digestion—fewer instances of bloating, constipation, and diarrhea—is a huge sign that inflammation in the gut is decreasing. Krissy talks about the connection between gut health, dysbiosis, and systemic inflammation, explaining how inflammation in the gut can lead to a wide range of issues. As your gut heals, these digestive issues often resolve, showing your body is healing from the inside out.
4. Reduced Joint Pain and Stiffness: Joint pain isn’t just an issue for the elderly. Krissy dives into how inflammation impacts joints and how r

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