(First in a seven-part series about how inflammation affects health.)

Ladies, your body isn’t just tired, bloated, or moody for no reason.

You’re not crazy, lazy, or just getting old. You’re likely inflamed and the fire is burning under every plate you’re trying to spin. Inflammation is sneaky. It doesn’t announce itself with a flashing neon sign, rather, it quietly disrupts everything from your metabolism to your sleep, making every menopause symptom feel ten times worse.

Inflammation isn’t always the bad guy. In fact, it's actually good in small doses to help heal from a cut or fight off an infection. But just like anything, too much of a good thing is never a good thing. When it sticks around long after the threat is gone, it turns into chronic inflammation.

It’s like if you were to scratch off a scab on a cut and keep scratching it. It doesn't take long before the cut is nasty, infected and needs medical attention. Think of that going on inside your body.

It’s like having a slow-burning kitchen fire behind the wall. You don’t see it at first. You might just notice your energy is lower than usual, you’re more reactive, your joints feel a little stiffer, your digestion is off and the weight just won’t budge no matter how “good” you are.

Meanwhile, the structure of your health is damaged. Your hormones go haywire, your gut is compromised, your nervous system stays stuck in stress mode and your body starts hoarding fat and burning through........

© Castanet