Inflammation and the Oxidative Stress Loop

Inflammation Produces Free Radicals

When your body mounts an inflammatory response (due to stress, overuse, infection, etc.), immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages release reactive oxygen species (ROS)—a type of free radical.

• These ROS are meant to kill pathogens and signal repair
  
• But in excess, they damage nearby healthy cells, lipids, and DNA
  
• This damage itself is inflammatory—triggering more cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6

This is known as a feed-forward loop: inflammation → ROS → tissue damage → more inflammation

Oxidative Stress Amplifies Inflammation

ROS activates key inflammatory transcription factors, especially NF-κB, which turns on genes that produce pro-inflammatory cytokines.

This process:

• Keeps tissues in a state of low-grade, chronic inflammation
  
• Is implicated in conditions like arthritis, metabolic syndrome, depression, gut dysfunction, and skin disorders

Research shows this loop underpins many chronic lifestyle-related conditions—even when there’s no active infection or injury.

How Ritual Cubes Help Break This Cycle

• Curcumin: Inhibits NF-κB and COX-2; reduces cytokine production; quenches ROS
  
• Gingerol: Suppresses prostaglandin synthesis; reduces IL-1β and TNF-α; antioxidant action
• Piperine: Increases curcumin bioavailability up to 2000% (Shoba et al., 1998)
• Olive oil: Supports fat-soluble absorption and adds mild anti-inflammatory lipids

Key Effects

• Less ROS production
  
• Neutralisation of existing free radicals
  
• Reduced activation of pro-inflammatory genes
  
• System-wide calming of inflammation in joints, brain, gut, skin, and immune cells