Inflammation is your body’s way of protecting itself from infection, illness, or injury. Our bodies are extremely smart and they can detect when there is an excess amount of bacteria or a virus is in our body. Our bodies response to these bacterias and viruses is to send white blood cells to the site to try and protect us from infection.
One of the most powerful tools to combat inflammation doesn’t have to come from the medicine cabinet or pharmacy, the fight for inflammation can start right in your fridge or pantry.
The process of healing your body can be improved with small, simple changes. Many foods contain anti-inflammatory compounds that can alleviate pain and swelling, and help protect your body.
Here are just a few of the best anti-inflammatory foods:
- Cinnamon: Reduces inflammation, fights bacteria, assists with blood sugar control, and enhances brain function. I love adding cinnamon to my oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, coffee, or you can even take a cinnamon supplement!
- Ginger: Contains gingerols which are anti-inflammatory compounds. I will add ginger to my smoothies, in a salad, on top of my sushi, in a stir fry, or in my tea!
- Turmeric: A spice that gets its mustard yellow color from a compound called curcumin. Curcumin can help to improve pain by suppressing inflammatory chemicals in the body. Tumeric can be added to any recipe or can be added to tea.
- Pineapple: Contains the enzyme bromelain. Bromelain helps to improve digestion along with aches and pains associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Add pineapple to your smoothies, as a topping for yogurt, or eat it as a snack!
- Dark Leafy Greens: Spinach and kale are filled with flavonoids. Flavonoids are a phytonutrient that boosts your heart health and will aid in reducing inflammation in the brain. To get in dark leafy greens, eat salads or add them into smoothies.
- Tomatoes: Are high in lycopene which helps reduce inflammation.
- Foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, walnuts, flax seeds, mackerel, olive oil, soy beans, etc. Omega-3 fatty acids helps reduce inflammation throughout the body.
These are just a few foods among many others that are great anti-inflammatory foods. Adding these foods and spices into your diet will help you with random aches and pains, the possible start of infections, injuries, and slowing down of muscle recovery from stress put onto your body from work, illnesses, and exercise.
Much Love,
Alex
thebalanceddonut.com 