Maintaining a healthy weight not only makes you feel better, but also is implicated in extending lifespans. The standard advice to lose weight is to reduce calorie intake and exercise more. While this advice is simple, it is not necessarily easy. The body is a complicated organism and there are other components at play that are responsible for weight loss and gain.

One component is inflammation. Chronic inflammation plays a significant role in the development of weight gain through several intricate mechanisms:

Inflammatory Markers and Weight Gain

Weight gain is associated with increased inflammation in the body. A 2019 study published by Elsevier found that levels of a key inflammatory marker in the blood known as C-reactive protein (CRP) increased as weight increased. Other proinflammatory markers, including IL-6, tumor necrosis factor, and adiponectin, are closely associated with gaining weight.

These markers contribute to hormonal imbalances and disruptions in metabolic processes. Importantly, these proinflammatory markers remain elevated until excess weight is effectively shed.

Insulin Resistance and Inflammation

One of the key pathways through which inflammation contributes to weight gain is creating insulin resistance. Inflammation disrupts the normal signaling and function of insulin, a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels.

This disruption leads to higher glucose levels in the bloodstream and encourages fat accumulation in the liver. The presence of these conditions can contribute to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction.

Cycle of Inflammation and Weight Gain

A critical aspect of the connection between chronic inflammation and weight gain is the cyclical nature of their interaction. As weight increases, inflammatory markers also rise. This inflammation further impairs insulin signaling, promoting the accumulation of more fat and exacerbating insulin resistance.

Consequently, this creates a self-perpetuating loop where inflammation fosters weight gain, and weight gain, in turn, sustains inflammation.

Leptin Dysfunction and Appetite Regulation

Chronic inflammation can disrupt the proper functioning of leptin, a crucial hormone in regulating appetite and metabolism. As weight and inflammation increase, the effectiveness of leptin diminishes.

This results in an altered appetite regulation process—individuals experience increased hunger and a slowed metabolism, mirroring the body's response to starvation. This can lead to overeating which further contributes to weight gain.

Additional Contributing Factors

External factors like stress, lack of sleep, consumption of processed foods, and a sedentary lifestyle can also influence chronic inflammation and weight gain. These factors can exacerbate inflammation and weight gain, creating complex interactions that hinder weight loss efforts.

How To Reduce Inflammation To Lose Weight?

The standard advice to reduce inflammation and lose weight is generally as follows:

1. Dietary Adjustments — eliminate processed foods and incorporate anti-inflammatory produce rich in antioxidants

2. Get Adequate Sleep — aim for 8 hours with consistent sleep and wake times

3. Reduce Stress — incorporate more time outdoors, relaxation, and leisure activities

4. Regular Physical Activity — engage in daily exercise, even if it is as simple as going for a walk

All of the above recommendations are sound advice, and are well known by most people. The problem with them are that they require a disciplined commitment to adjusting diet and lifestyle factors. For busy individuals it is not always easy to make massive adjustments to diet and lifestyle. Demands on ones time and energy can leave little leftover to make large changes.

A Simple, Easy Adjustment to Make

There is a simpler, easier adjustment to make that can help substantially with the first point above, shifting towards an anti-inflammatory diet. The benefit of anti-inflammatory foods are their ability to quench inflammation in the body by donating an electron. Free radicals, which are electron deficient compounds, steal electrons from healthy cells, damaging them and causing inflammation. Anti-oxidants are able to act directly on these free radicals by donating an electron to stabilize these molecules and prevent them from damaging other cells.

Reaserchers are able to determine the anti-oxidant capacity of different foods by measuring their ORAC values (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity), which is effectively how many electrons these foods have to donate. This is how it is determined that foods like blueberries are great anti-oxidants.

There is another source of anti-oxidant electrons, that is nearly unlimited, and does not require you to eat it. Just making direct contact with this source of electrons allows the body to harvest the electrons and transport them to where they are needed in the body to reduce inflammation.

This source is the earth. The surface of the earth carries a surplus of electrons which can be gathered by the body through direct contact. When someone walks barefoot on the beach or through grass, these electrons are conducted into the body. This is one of the reasons why people feel great after a vacation at the beach. Making direct contact with the ground has been shown to reduce inflammation and increase wellbeing. It is much easier and simpler than making diet and lifestyle adjustments.

However, it is not always convenient to go outside and make direct contact with the ground. Busy schedules and inclement weather make it difficult to spend time outdoors. Fortunately, there is a way to access these same anti-inflammatory electrons from inside your home. The ground port of an outlet is connected directly to the earth, which is why it is called the ground port. The same source of electrons can be harvested from this port by making direct contact with it.

One way this can be done is by using a conductive material that makes contact with the body. TerraLink offers premium, made in the USA, socks with silver fibers that conduct electrons. Using this method is as easy as putting on a sock and can be done inside the convenience of your home. All of the same anti-inflammatory benefits from making contact with the ground can be achieved in a simple, easy, and effortless manner.