Ask a typical shopper if you could reduce inflammation without NSAIDS and see what response you will get. My guess is they would ask what on earth you were talking about. Mention words like aspirin or Ibuprofen and then they might ask you what they have to do with inflammation – good question.
Let’s do a quick review. Inflammation happens when our immune system gets out of whack. To be more precise, we need to have an equal amount of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids in the body.
Unfortunately, modern diets are radically deficient in omega 3s, which upsets the natural balance of the immune system, which in turn results in inflammation in organs all over the body.
This problem has gotten worse over the past fifty years. Too much processed foods, saturated fats and vegetable oils have taken their toll. The medical community is aware of the problem. One of their answers has been an increased reliance on NSAIDS.
NSAIDS are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They can be over-the-counter like aspirin or a prescription drug. The way they work is to block either of two enzymes called Cox-1 and Cox-2. It is these enzymes that eventually cause inflammation and even fever.
Great, you say. So why are consumers trying to reduce inflammation without NSAIDS? Several reasons. Whichever one is used has to be used consistently. An occasional aspirin will not help. Continual use can result in some pretty nasty side effects. The most common ones are nausea, diarrhea, constipation, skin rash, headaches and drowsiness.
The more potent prescription NSAIDS can even cause ulcers, kidney failure and even heart attacks.
Needless to say, consumers are looking for alternatives to reducing inflammation. The simplest one has been around for thousands of years. That is omega 3 fish oil.
The omega 3s in fish oil are the ones needed to balance that omega 3/6 ratio that I mentioned earlier. Other sources are either inefficient or impractical. This is the area that you need to concentrate your research – not in which NSAIDS product is the least harmful.
Before you run out and buy a few bottles of fish oil, here are a few tips.
First, if you really want to reduce inflammation without NSAIDS, then you need to take the supplement daily. Go with a high quality product. Fish have ocean contaminants in them like mercury or other heavy metals. A reputable manufacturer will remove these toxins.
Summing up, use a supplement that is highly concentrated in EPA and DHA. Check the company’s website. The good ones will provide lab reports that tell you exactly what is and is not [pollutants and chemical additives] in each soft gel capsule. Also, look for antioxidants like vitamin E. My website can be a good starting point.