We know that exercise decreases chronic inflammation, a cause for diseases like cancer, arthritis, and heart disease.  But little was known, until now, about how it helped to reduce inflammation.

Exercise intervention not only helped patients reduce arthritic pain, but also lowered the levels of inflammatory substances called cytokines. Exercise triggered the body to produce a cannabis-like substance called endocannabinoids–a neurotransmitter with potent anti-inflammatory effects. Interestingly, new research has shown that exercise resulted in these changes by altering the gut microbes.

Scientists from the University of Nottingham found that increase in endocannabinoids was strongly linked to changes in the gut microbes that produced anti-inflammatory substances called SCFAS or short-chain fatty acids, critical to gastrointestinal health.

Patients who committed to the exercise intervention not only reduced their pain but also had more gut microbes of the kind that produce anti-inflammatory substances, higher levels of endocannabinoids, and lower levels of cytokines.

This research connects the positive benefits of exercise to the gut microbiome and pain reduction, opening holistic treatment possibilities.

At Doctor Joints this has been our MANTRA that body heals itself through exercises and diet.