With the holiday season ahead, more time off, and an abundance of holiday meals on the calendar, many of us tend to go overboard, and as a result, throw the body off balance.

You have probably heard about the word 'inflammation' before, but what does it really boil down to?

In our lives when we get injured, like a sprained ankle or broken arm, the body moves into a natural and healthy inflammation response that begins the healing process of the affected area.

The other side of the coin involves silent inflammation, which is the result of an overconsumption of sugar, trans-fats, and chemical-laced foods, as well as chronic stress, poor sleep, and a sedentary lifestyle.

If you are curious whether or not you are chronically inflamed, take inventory of your life:

Do you have a large belly and are overweight? Is your digestive tract bothersome? Do you sleep poorly at night and are always fatigued? Are you depressed?

To treat silent inflammation, step into the role of scientist. Next time you see your doctor, get a C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test, which will give you a baseline of the silent inflammation in your body.

• Less than 1.0 mg/L, your levels are low.
• From 1.0 to 3.0 mg/L, you are in the average range.
• Anything higher than 3.0 mg/L, you are in the high-risk category.

If you have high inflammation, take some steps to lower it naturally; begin small, with only two or three of these and then build on your successes:

• Drink more water; sip throughout the day to stay hydrated.
• Eat more fruits, veggies, herbs and spices.
• Move your body, but make it fun as opposed to an obligation.
• Transition from white flour foods, refined sugars, and chemical-laced sweeteners to higher quality ones, like whole grain breads, raw honey, maple syrup, and brown rice syrup.
• Take a probiotic for 30 days to support your digestive wellness.
• Eat red meat only once or twice a week.
• Explore a gluten-free diet, incorporating more brown rice, quinoa, organic corn, and millet into your daily eating.
• Increase your Omega 3 intake of low on the food chain fish, like sardines, anchovies, and wild Alaskan sockeye salmon. If you are vegetarian or vegan take a sea vegetable omega 3 supplement, which is much more effective than vegetarian sources for most.

Especially during a time of many gatherings and celebrations, don’t be a scrooge and deprive your heart of joy.

Yet at the same time, strive to celebrate with the highest quality ingredients, those that won’t aggravate the internal fire -- or left unchecked -- will create many challenging moments for your health and vitality in the new year.

For a bit more info on silent inflammation, take a look at this video blog by the acclaimed Dr. Mark Hyman.

More about Danny Arguetty, M.A.

Danny Arguetty, M.A., a Nutrition, Health and LIFE (Living in Free Expression) Counselor, has been involved in the health field for the last decade. He guides and works privately with clients utilizing customized programs based on bio-individual needs and diverse life situations.

He specializes in yoga privates, weight loss, digestive disorders, healthy aging, sugar/caffeine dependencies, persistent fatigue, chronic stress, relationship support, life coaching and practical healthy living strategies.

Arguetty is also a faculty member at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Adjunct Faculty at Williams College, and author of Nourishing the Teacher: inquiries, contemplations & insights on the path of yoga. He leads 200hr Yoga Teacher Trainings in Southern California and Advanced 500hr Trainings in Kerala, India.

Learn more about him at nourishyourlight.com or email him at danny@nourishyourlight.com. You can also follow him on Facebook.