The Dr. Hyman Show

Is Low-Grade Inflammation Making You Sick?

Oct 9, 2023

Dr. Shilpa Ravella, a gastroenterologist and author of 'A Silent Fire,' joins to discuss the hidden impact of low-grade inflammation on health. They explore how modern diets contribute to chronic inflammation, increasing risks for major diseases like heart disease and diabetes. The conversation touches on the microbiome's role in health, social oppression linked to inflammation, and the importance of lifestyle in prevention. Dr. Ravella highlights the significance of addressing root causes through diet, stress management, and personal resilience.

53:10

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Shilpa Ravella

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Quick takeaways

Chronic inflammation is a precursor to major chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and dementia.

The Western diet, high in sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and processed foods, triggers chronic low-grade inflammation.

Inflammation is influenced by a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, and interrupted sleep patterns from conditions like sleep apnea.

Deep dives

The Impact of Inflammation

Inflammation is a crucial element in many chronic conditions, with our modern diets and lifestyles contributing to chronic inflammation. This chronic inflammation can lead to various health problems and is even considered an independent cause of certain diseases. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders are just a few examples of conditions linked to chronic inflammation. Unfortunately, many people are unaware that they are inflamed because the symptoms are not always obvious. Recognizing and treating the root causes of inflammation is key to improving health and preventing chronic diseases.

The Harmful Impact of Snoring and Mouth Breathing

00:31

The Link Between Dysbiotic Microbiome and Inflammation

00:32

Intro

3min

Inflammation and Its Roots

17min

The Microbiome and Its Role in Inflammation and Health

5min

Healing Through Connection

11min

Root Cause Medicine: Tackling Inflammation

14min

The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Health and Resilience

3min

This episode is brought to you by Rupa Health, Beekeepers, and Cozy Earth.

Inflammation is our body’s natural defense system and can be a good thing. However, when your immune system shifts out of balance, inflammation can run rampant—leading to every one of the major chronic diseases of aging: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, and more.

In today’s episode, I talk with Dr. Shilpa Ravella, Dr. Rupa Marya and Raj Patel, and Dhru Purohit about why chronic inflammation is a precursor to disease and how we can live a more anti-inflammatory lifestyle.

Dr. Shilpa Ravella is a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. She is the author of A Silent Fire: The Story of Inflammation, Diet & Disease, which investigates inflammation, the hidden force at the heart of modern disease. Her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Slate, Discover, and USA Today, among other publications.

Dr. Rupa Marya is an associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, where she practices and teaches internal medicine. Her research examines the health impacts of social systems from agriculture to policing. She is a cofounder of the Do No Harm Coalition, a collective of health workers committed to addressing disease through structural change.

Raj Patel is a research professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs, a professor in the university’s Department of Nutrition, and a research associate at Rhodes University, South Africa. He serves on the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems and has advised governments on the causes of and solutions to crises of sustainability worldwide.

Dhru Purohit is a podcast host, serial entrepreneur, and investor in the health and wellness industry. His podcast, The Dhru Purohit Podcast, is a top 50 global health podcast with over 30 million unique downloads. His interviews focus on the inner workings of the brain and the body and feature the brightest minds in wellness, medicine, and mindset.

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Full-length episodes of these interviews can be found here:

Dr. Shilpa Ravella

Dr. Rupa Marya and Raj Patel

Dhru Purohit