Most of us treat inflammation as the enemy. Carl Pradelli, CEO and Co-Founder of NatureCity, makes the case that you couldn't stay healthy without it, and how your body finishes an inflammatory response may matter as much (or more) as how it starts. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Inflammation has a beginning, a purpose, and an ending. This episode focuses on that ending, the active biological process researchers call resolution. Carl explains why resolution isn't inflammation simply fading on its own, and why some of that cleanup machinery may become less efficient as we age. You'll learn what specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) like resolvins, protectins, and maresins do, and how omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA supply raw materials the body uses to make them. Carl covers the lifestyle factors that keep low-grade inflammation simmering, including visceral fat, poor sleep, chronic stress, smoking, and being sedentary. He closes with three researched nutrients that support the healthy inflammation response and how each works: omega-3s (EPA and DHA), curcumin from turmeric, and PEA (Levagen+) found in NatureCity's TrueJoint FLX formula. EPISODE SUMMARY Carl Pradelli, CEO and Co-Founder of NatureCity, opens with a reframe: inflammation isn't a mistake your body makes, it's an essential defense and repair system. Cut a finger, fight an infection, or exercise, and an inflammatory response is part of how you heal, respond, build muscle, and adapt. The problem starts when that response becomes excessive, lingers too long, or doesn't resolve once its job is done. To make it concrete, Carl uses a kitchen-fire analogy. When there's a fire, you want firefighters to rush in, break a door or window if needed, and spray water. You don't complain about the mess in that moment because you need them there. But once the fire is out, the hoses have to stop, the damaged material has to be cleared, and rebuilding has to begin. That second phase is resolution, and Carl describes it as an active process in which the body produces signals that stop the response, clear damaged cells, and shift tissue from defense mode into repair. The episode connects this to aging. Persistent low-grade inflammation, sometimes called “inflammaging”, becomes more common as we get older. Newer research adds a layer: we may not just be triggering more inflammatory responses with age - we may also become less efficient at resolving them. Carl introduces specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) and the cleanup work of macrophages, then keeps the science practical with a single takeaway: putting out the fire is not enough, someone has to clean up the mess. Carl grounds the discussion in what people can influence. Lifestyle matters tremendously, from visceral fat and metabolic health to smoking, chronic stress, poor sleep, and being sedentary, along with a diet built on minimally processed foods. Supplements, he stresses, should support those fundamentals rather than replace them. He then walks through three researched ingredients working through different mechanisms toward the same goal. Omega-3s EPA and DHA supply building blocks for pro-resolving mediators, with human studies showing changes in circulating lipid mediators involved in inflammation and resolution. Curcumin, the key compound in turmeric, has been studied for modulating inflammatory signaling and oxidative stress, with favorable effects on markers including CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. PEA (Levagen+) in NatureCity's TrueJoint FLX is a lipid signaling molecule the body already makes to help regulate inflammatory and discomfort responses. Carl ends with a clear note of care: persistent, severe, or unexplained inflammation isn't something to self-treat, and it deserves evaluation by a healthcare provider. His closing line ties the science back to the analogy: inflammation isn't the enemy, and healthy aging depends on a response that has a beginning, a purpose, and an ending. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Why inflammation isn't the enemy1:51 — Resolution, the active cleanup process4:06 — “Inflammaging” and why aging changes it4:56 — SPMs and the cleanup crew explained6:39 — Lifestyle factors you can influence7:48 — Omega-3s EPA and DHA as building blocks9:16 — Curcumin and PEA for joint support11:23 — Three takeaways and a caution If this changed how you think about inflammation, like the episode and subscribe to the NatureCity YouTube channel for more researcher-formulator conversations from Carl Pradelli. You can also follow along on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. LINKS & RESOURCES TruJoint FLX (with Levagen+ PEA): https://www.naturecity.com/products/true-joint-flx?srsltid=AfmBOoqlTsL3oXxAy39DBSD1wHaZijVWMyDJNiINfhPwbTA_i32z5F6G NatureCity website: https://www.naturecity.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-naturecity-podcast/id1678816753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64DPMHuV8FtOTommUSBxnG?si=85959191581e49a1 #inflammation #omega3 #healthyaging #curcumin #NatureCity
