Inflammation is what causes pain, swelling and disease in our bodies. Many of us would like to avoid putting drugs and chemicals into our body and so, natural anti inflammatory foods are useful to know about.
Eating naturally anti inflammatory produce can help delay certain diseases like Alzheimer’s and heart disease, and help control symptoms of arthritis and other disease.
We look at the natural anti inflammatory foods that can help prevent and reduce inflammation in the body.
Fruits and vegetables
It goes without saying that natural, whole foods are best for health. In particular, berries and brightly colored vegetables are known to have antioxidant properties that help to prevent and fight inflammation.
Cruciferous vegetables like kale, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts as well as leafy greens are loaded with antioxidant properties.
Have lots of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, organic as far as possible, which will help to reduce inflammation.
Sweet potato is another of the natural anti inflammatory food. It is a great source of fiber, complex carbs and certain essential minerals that helps to naturally reduce inflammation in the body.
Healthy fats
We know that trans-fats actually cause inflammation and lead to disease. However healthy, unrefined fats have the opposite effect.
Monounsaturated fats that are present in some seeds, nuts, in olive oil, canola oil, avocado and so on make these as natural anti inflammatory foods.
Even oily fish is known to contain healthy anti-inflammatory constituents – wild Alaskan salmon is thought to have the best quality of omega 3 and could help reduce inflammation. Fish supplements could also help reduce inflammation.
Whole grains and whole soy foods
Processing and refinement, addition of preservatives, flavorings and other additives robs food grains of their natural goodness and nutrients and causes inflammation in the body. However having whole grains has the opposite effect. Beans legumes, whole or cracked grains, and whole soy foods such as soymilk, tofu, soy nuts etc have an anti inflammatory effect on the body.
Herbs, spices and other natural anti inflammatory foods
Green tea is known to contain natural antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body and hence is recommended as an herbal anti inflammatory.
The spice turmeric has been widely researched in recent times and has been seen to have powerful anti inflammatory effects on the body. It is even known to help prevent or delay the kind of brain inflammation that leads to Alzheimer.
Kelp, a kind of seaweed is one of the most highly recommended natural anti inflammatory foods. Similarly shitake mushrooms are also known to have anti inflammatory properties.
