Keeping the condition in check can help protect healthy tissues and support overall health<\/a>, experts say.<\/p>\n POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS MAY HELP PROTECT AGAINST A DEADLY DISEASE, DOCTOR SAYS<\/a><\/p>\n Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist and metabolic medicine expert based in Texas, told Fox News Digital that inflammation can be influenced by a variety of factors beyond injury or infection.<\/p>\n Inflammation is a natural immune response that helps protect the body from injury and infection, but chronic inflammation can damage healthy tissues and contribute to serious diseases. (iStock)<\/p>\n LaValle first pointed to the gut-immune-brain connection \u2014 the communication between gut microbes, the immune system and the central nervous system \u2014 as one pathway that can influence the body’s inflammatory response.<\/p>\n Beyond gut health, he said several everyday lifestyle factors<\/a> can play a role in preventing chronic inflammation.<\/p>\n DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE<\/a><\/p>\n No. 1: Manage stress<\/p>\n Managing stress and anxiety<\/a> can help support the gut-brain connection and keep inflammation in check, according to LaValle.<\/p>\n He pointed to cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, which he said can “wreak havoc on your chemistry” when levels remain elevated.<\/p>\n Stress can “wreak havoc on your chemistry,” the expert warned. (iStock)<\/p>\n Chronic stress can also affect the intestinal barrier, potentially allowing substances that would normally remain inside the gut to pass through more easily, LaValle said.<\/p>\n This increased intestinal permeability is sometimes called “leaky gut.”<\/p>\n ZERO SUGAR, MORE PROBLEMS? STUDY REVEALS SURPRISING GUT HEALTH EFFECTS<\/a><\/p>\n “So, it turns out that if I’m stressed out a lot, I can be more prone to irritable bowel<\/a>,” LaValle said, as stress can trigger or worsen digestive symptoms in some people.<\/p>\n No. 2: Watch for food triggers<\/p>\n Diets high in sugar, fat and ultraprocessed foods<\/a> can also affect gut health.<\/p>\n Paying attention to which foods trigger certain symptoms may help identify potential food sensitivities or intolerances, LaValle noted.<\/p>\n Paying attention to what kinds of food trigger certain reactions or sensitivities may help signal what is causing inflammation in the body. (iStock)<\/p>\n Symptoms such as bloating, rashes or discomfort after eating certain foods<\/a> may signal a food-related reaction, although they can have other causes.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n Certain medications, including antibiotics, may also alter the gut microbiome, but their effects vary depending on the drug and the individual, the expert said.<\/p>\n No. 3: Keep blood sugar in check<\/p>\n Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is another important factor in managing inflammation, according to LaValle.<\/p>\n Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is another important factor in managing inflammation. (iStock)<\/p>\n LaValle noted that conditions such as diabetes<\/a> and insulin resistance are often associated with chronic inflammation.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n Research suggests that GLP-1 medications, commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, may have anti-inflammatory effects, while scientists are investigating other potential benefits beyond weight loss and blood sugar control.<\/p>\n No. 4: Be aware of environmental exposures<\/p>\n The “exposome,” or the environmental exposures<\/a> people experience throughout their lives, can influence inflammation and the risk of chronic disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\n Microplastics could trigger inflammation signaling, according to the expert. (iStock)<\/p>\n LaValle pointed to emerging research on how environmental exposures \u2014 including “forever chemicals,” microplastics, metals and pesticides \u2014 may affect weight<\/a>, blood sugar regulation and other aspects of health.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n “A lot of us don’t think about that kind of impact on our health and how that could trigger inflammation signaling,” he added.<\/p>\n No. 5: Don\u2019t over-train<\/p>\n Regular exercise<\/a> supports overall health, but intense workouts without adequate recovery time can put additional stress on the body, LaValle cautioned.<\/p>\n![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/young-man-early-parkinsons.jpg\")
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