10 Anti-inflammatory Foods
Inflammation is part of the body’s immune response; without it, we can’t heal. But when it’s out of control it can damage the body. Plus, it’s thought to play a role in obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
Following are the top 10 anti-inflammatory foods:
Pineapple: Aside from being a great source of Vitamin C, it is also rich in the protein-digesting enzyme bromelain, making pineapple a natural anti-inflammatory agent that is quite helpful in reducing swelling, bruising and pain in musculoskeletal injuries, as well as arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis
Fatty Fish: Oily fish, like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines, are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation. Aim to eat fish several times a week, cooked in healthy ways.
Tomatoes: The tomatoes in your kitchen are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant found to fight inflammation. In fact, cooked tomatoes offer more lycopene than raw ones.
Almonds: Almonds are rich in Vitamin E and they also contain high amounts of unsaturated fats that reduce inflammation and assist in keeping joints lubricated.
Whole Grains: Consuming most of your grains as whole grains, as opposed to refined, white bread, cereal, rice, and pasta can help keep harmful inflammation at bay. That’s because whole grains have more fiber, which has been shown to reduce levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in the blood.
Green Veggies: These include kale, spinach, Swiss chard, bok choy, celery, and broccoli. According to Harvard Medical School, green veggies are high in natural antioxidants and polyphenols, which can help combat inflammation.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is a rich source of Polyphenols, which are known to have the ability to protect the heart and its blood vessels from inflammation. In addition, the monounsaturated fats than olive oil contains are also metabolized by the human body, producing anti-inflammatory agents that are beneficial for people with joint diseases such as arthritis.
Beets: This vegetable’s brilliant red color is a tip-off to its equally brilliant antioxidant properties: Beets (and beetroot juice) can not only reduce inflammation but may also protect against cancer and heart disease.
Garlic: Garlic also contains diallyl disulfide, an anti-inflammatory compound that helps fight the inflammation, pain, and cartilage damage so often associated with arthritis.
Green Tea: The natural Flavonoids that Green Tea contains harbor natural anti-inflammatory compounds which, according to many researchers, can help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
DISCLAIMER: This website is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice and treatment from your personal physician. Visitors are advised to consult their own doctors or other qualified health professional regarding the treatment of medical conditions. The author shall not be held liable or responsible for any misunderstanding or misuse of the information contained on this site or for any loss, damage, or injury caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by any treatment, action, or application of any food or food source discussed in this website. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have not evaluated the statements on this website. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
