Fight Inflammation and Cut Pain With the Right Foods
By Sandy Schroeder
When the body struggles with constant inflammation, the risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression and arthritis goes up, along with pain. We can reduce the pain and risk of disease when we eat the right foods in an anti-inflammatory diet, according to Harvard Health.
Avoid eating these foods to reduce inflammation.
- French fries
- White bread and pastries
- Margarine
- Red meat
Eat these foods to fight inflammation in the body.
Pineapple - Enjoy this potent inflammation fighter in salads, desserts and snacks.
Apples - These versatile fruits are loaded with quercetin, an anti-inflammatory antioxidant. Pack them for snacks, bake them in pies or tarts, and slice tart green ones into leafy green salads.
Tomatoes - Toss them into salads, cook them into sauce for pasta or slice them for sandwiches to fight inflammation.
Seeds and nuts - Raw unsalted nuts help control inflammation. Choose walnuts, peanuts, flax and chia seeds, almonds, and pistachios.
Olive oil - Reduce pain and lower heart disease risk with a splash of extra-virgin olive oil on veggies, salad and french bread. Use olive oil to saute fish, chicken, and veggies, too.
Dark chocolate - Make sure your chocolate is 70 percent cocoa to get an antioxidant boost.
Grapes and wine - Snack on grapes or sip wine for a dose of resveratrol, which fights inflammatory enzymes.
Broccoli - Plus cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale deliver antioxidants and Vitamins C and K to flight inflammation and keep cells healthy.
Cherries - Fight inflammation the way aspirin does with cherries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.
Green leafy veggies - Kale, chard and bok choy fight inflammation as side dishes or salads.
Black or green tea - Fight inflammation and protect cells when arthritis strikes with green or black tea.
Salmon, trout and anchovies - Oily fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, making them powerful anti-inflammation fighters. Eat fish at least twice a week.
Soy beans, tofu, milk - Plus soy protein powder in a shake or smoothie can help deliver the soy protein that reduces osteoarthritis pain.
Mushrooms - Stir them into gravies, casseroles, omelets, soups and salads to get the phenols and other antioxidants that boost cells and reduce pain.
Avocados - Fight inflammation and reduce the risk for cancer with avocado toast, slices in salads, or guacamole.
Brown rice -The high fiber in whole grains lowers c-reactive protein, a substance found in the blood produced by the liver as it reacts to inflammation. Add brown rice to soups and casseroles or serve it as a side dish.
Add these key foods to your shopping list and make them part of your daily diet to reduce pain and fight inflammation in your body. Enjoy the difference.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Tempe, Ariz.