Eat these foods to help combat inflammation
/First and foremost, it's important to understand the source and the cause of inflammation. Whether it be acute or chronic, caused by environmental irritants or what we're eating -- many factors go into why we're dealing with inflammation.
Chronic inflammation can indicate the body's inability to respond to its irritant. Infections can jumpstart an inflammatory response, along with other sources of inflammation such as stress, unhealthy habits, and other underlying health issues.
The good news, though, is there are natural remedies for inflammation, and a lot of those are naturally available foods that are probably already in your kitchen.
Filling your kitchen with anti-inflammatory foods will help combat your inflammation on a regular basis. Some powerful anti-inflammatory fruits include blueberries, strawberries, cherries, oranges, and pineapple. Many of these contain bromelain and quercetin which are incredible for helping ease inflammation in the body.
Some other anti-inflammatory foods to keep around include...
Ginger. Adding ginger to your routine can be quite simple -- add it to your meals, toss some in your juicer, or make some fresh ginger tea.
Green tea. Trade out that afternoon coffee for a green tea to enjoy the natural anti-inflammatory benefits it provides.
Beets. Beets can get a bad rap, but they are oh so good for you. Filled with the betalain pigment along with countless other beneficial nutrients, beets provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that your body will love. Toss some on your salad or in your smoothie and reap the benefits.
Tomatoes. The lycopene found in tomatoes helps provide the body with an anti-inflammatory benefit. Summer is a fantastic time to enjoy loads of tomatoes, so eat up!
Garlic. Garlic is so versatile and can be added to nearly everything. Take advantage of that and toss it in your home cooked meals to enjoy its anti-inflammatory benefits regularly.
Along with these important foods, sleep is another powerful element in reducing the risk of inflammation. If you’re in need of improving your sleep quality, take this as a sign to begin now. Sleep is such a crucial link in your overall well-being, not just with controlling inflammation. Making healthy lifestyle choices gives your body a better chance of curbing inflammation in the future, so start with baby steps.
What can you do this week to make healthier habits?
I eat clean most of the time. I have a way of eating that has served me well for the last 5 years or so. Until suddenly it wasn’t. You already know that I am a sugar addict and I was definitely struggling with that this last year and a half. Although I was going thru the motions of watching my sugar intake the last few months, my body was still feeling the strain. Sugar was still in the front of my mind. I was beginning to think the breakfast that I consumed every morning might be contributing to that (a large bowl of chia seed oats, a dollop of plain greek yogurt, berries and walnuts). For me change can be most effective when it is done in a radical way. So I joined a raw food teacher who was doing a group cleanse with doTerra’s Cleanse and Restore products. I am half way thru and my sugar cravings are almost gone. The best part? I did not have any of the typical effects of withdrawal and I have to think the great supplements helped me thru. I will keep you posted on this.
I made this delicious Ginger Tea that I think you will enjoy. I had the first cup hot, but being it’s summer I decided to try it iced. I think this way is my favorite! (but come the colder days, I will be back to drinking it hot, trust me.) The ginger gives it a beautiful “kick”. You can drink this delicious beverage thru the day to help lower inflammation in your body.
If you try it, let me know which way you like it best.
Ginger Tea
2 inches of fresh ginger peeled, and sliced
2 cups of water
Optional lemon, lime slices and raw honey
Simmer ginger in water on stove for at least 10 minutes. (If you have time, remove from heat and let steep longer).
Strain into your mug and serve with lemon or lime slices
Want it chilled? Pour tea over lots of ice and garnish with lemon
If you want a dash of sweetness add a teaspoon of honey.
Enjoy!
** Disclaimer: I do not provide the services of a licensed dietician or nutritionist, information received should not be seen as medical or nursing advice and is not meant to take the place of seeing licensed health professionals.
