The inside of your body is a war zone. You don’t notice it, but there’s a constant battle going on between good and bad. And it starts in your mouth.
But it doesn’t end there. What happens in your mouth can affect the 93,000-mile long system of blood vessels that deliver oxygen to every cell in your body.
When bacteria collect in your mouth the vessels can become inflamed, scorching their delicate lining. And this lining, called the endothelial cell barrier, or ECB for short is under constant attack from foreign invaders as well as inflammation.
You know that your body responds to these kinds of attacks by unleashing an army of white blood cells to surround and destroy them.
But what most people don’t know is that as they attack harmful bacteria and other microorganisms, your white blood cells also release hormones called “cytokines.”
Cytokines kick your immune system into high alert, signaling for “reinforcements” of white blood cells to help combat diseases.
Unfortunately, they also cause an inflammatory response across your entire body – especially in your ECB.
This is why people who don’t floss regularly are at greater risk for atherosclerosis and heart attack. The presence of cytokines is directly linked to the risk of fatal heart attack. In one study, German researchers looked at over 150 patients suffering from chronic heart failure. They found that high concentrations of cytokines in the bloodstream were the strongest predictor of death.1
Fortunately, you can fight the buildup of cytokines and help keep your ECB system clean and free of inflammation and damage – safely and naturally – in four easy steps:
Step 1: Outgun cytokines with CoQ10. It’s the number one antioxidant for fighting inflammation in your gums. There are two reasons for this. The first is that CoQ10 is one of the most powerful antioxidants we know of. And studies show that antioxidants dramatically lower cytokines in inflamed gum tissue.2
The other reason is that inflammatory cytokines can cause dysfunction in the energy-producing centers of critical immune cells called PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells).
Two kinds of PMBCs you may have heard of are kinds of white blood cells called “T-cells” and “natural killer” cells.
The engines that power these immune defenders need as much energy as possible to fight off infectious diseases. And the fuel they use for energy is CoQ10.
PMBCs from people with gum disease are known to be deficient in CoQ10.
To reduce cytokine production and stop this from contributing to heart disease, I recommend that everyone take CoQ10 regularly as a constant source of new energy for your cells. Especially the new form of CoQ10 called ubiquinol, that’s 8 times more potent than regular CoQ10.
Step 2: Blast away oral inflammation with boswellia: The resin of the boswellia tree has been used to calm inflammation for centuries in India’s Ayurveda medical tradition.
Researchers have uncovered why it works: It has boswellic acid, an especially potent inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme responsible for inflammation.
Boswellia is especially effective at reducing oral inflammation. In a double blind randomized placebo controlled trial, 75 people with inflamed gums got either 100 mg of boswellia extract or 200 mg of powdered boswellia. After just a few days, everyone had significantly reduced inflammation.3
Step 3: Shut down inflammation with Omega-3. The latest research into omega-3s uncovered their two most powerful inflammation fighting compounds: resolvins and protectins.
Groundbreaking studies show these omega-3 components go to work almost immediately to relieve inflammation. In particular, they’ve also been shown to drastically reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory factors like cytokines.4
The most potent plant source of omega-3s in the world is Sacha Inchi oil. They are easy to digest and fully absorbed by your body. Its quick response time means it creates direct benefits you can feel right away.
1.Rauchhaus et al. “Plasma cytokine parameters and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.” Circulation. 2000. 102:3060-3067.
2.Chae HS, Park HJ, Hwang HR, et al. “The effect of antioxidants on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and orthodontic tooth movement.” Mol Cells. 2011 May 12.
3.Khosravi Samani M, Mahmoodian H, Moghadamnia A, Poorsattar Bejeh Mir A, Chitsazan M. "The effect of Frankincense in the treatment of moderate plaque-induced gingivitis…" Daru. 2011;19(4):288-94.
4.James MJ, et al. Dietary inflammatory mediator production. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Jan;71:343S-8S.