Last year I wrote a post about inflammation in the body. It receives hits daily, so I imagine it’s a pretty hot topic still in the health world, as scientists try to understand more about it. In short, inflammation is a relatively new topic that highlights how C-reactive proteins cause inflammation inside the body, which is linked to many diseases, including cancer, diabetes, arthritis, auto-immune diseases and more.
Since this type of inflammation is internal, you don’t notice it the way you would notice a swollen ankle, but it doesn’t make it less troublesome. Luckily there are some foods you can eat that help your body fight inflammation and stay in a healthier, less-inflamed state.
First, let’s jot down a few ‘what not to eats’
- processed foods
- ‘white’ foods (sugar, white flour, etc)
- sodas
Now, the good stuff. To decrease inflammation in the body, eat more…
Fermented Foods : To be honest with you, I don’t know much about fermented foods besides the fact that sauerkraut is a fermented food. So is yogurt. However, I do know that fermented food introduce probiotics into our systems, which help with digestion AND inflammation.
Omega-3s : These healthy fats are good for so many reasons. Load up on salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds and extra virgin olive oil for decreased inflammation, among many other healthy benefits.
Turmeric : Ok, some turmeric is a a spice, not a food, but use it in your dishes because it has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, on par with pharmaceutical drugs like hydrocortisone. Turmeric is used often in Indian cuisine, so don’t be afraid to chow down on some delicious curry!
Antioxidants : Another reason to load up on blueberries, red beans, broccoli, green tea, garlic, etc. Antioxidants provide anti-inflammatory protection.
Have you heard of inflammation?
Know anything about it that you’d care to share?
Kristin @ eat healthy. be happy. live well says
I’ve definitely heard about it, but don’t know too much. I know that it is bad and can lead to all sorts of issues in the body and that it is the cause for a lot of health issues people see these days.
I definitely stay away from processed foods and try to eat as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible to get my antioxidants!
I’m definitely going to read your first post on the matter to get a little bit more info on it 🙂
Liz @ IHeartVegetables says
I don’t really know much about it but I do know that I like a lot of those foods you listed! 🙂 I definitely need to cut back on my soda intake though 😉
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, and Beers says
I’ll take any excuse to eat more curry. 🙂
Jen says
Interesting! My husband’s boss is big into this, and is always giving Jeff tips. I’m all about omega-3s and antioxidants, but not so sure about eating fermented foods 😉
kalli says
i do know that inflammation causes all kinds of diseases and that keeping it under control is the key to health. i have heard that you should try to eat more alkalizing foods and my holistic doc has me taking a few supplements that help keep cortisol levels down which ( i think) contribute to inflammation. great topic!
Sarah for Real says
Perfect timing on this post! I’ve got this weird fluid/inflammation all up in my knee bone and was trying to figure out what foods could help me reduce that. Weirdly enough, I’ve been craving salmon! Guess my body knows what’s good for me!
Jane Preston says
Great topic! Eat those fruits and vegetables to help prevent most diseases that are caused by inflammation. That’s one of the many reasons I take JP+. 🙂
blackhuff says
I love this post of yours.
One thing I saw that you don’t have on it, is Honey. I drink honey once a day in my tea before bed time due to the health benefits namely decrease of inflammation.
http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/honey.php
Great post again.
Erin @ The Grass Skirt says
I have lupus which is an inflammatory disease, and I know that eating lean protein (especially fish) REALLY helps me. Too many refined carbs definitely leave me in pain, and it isn’t fun. I wish that I got to visit with you last night. So good to see your cute belly in person though. 🙂
Katie @ Legally Fit says
Great post, Brittany! I’ve heard of inflammation and all of these auto-immune diseases. I love these posts because I think diet definitely impacts our health and how we feel. Thanks for sharing!
Roz@weightingfor50 says
Great info Brittany!!! I’m a big fan of kimchi. Little did I know the good I was doing my body by eating fermented cabbage. Fun! Have a great weekend!!!
Corey @ the runner's cookie says
I don’t know much about this, but this is helpful! I try to get in omega 3’s everyday. This is also a great reminder / another reason why to not eat processed foods. Thanks for the interesting info!
Melinda says
There is an amazing book called Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz (he has lived a relatively healthy life despite having full blown AIDS for many, many years and believes his good health is due to fermented foods!) that you should certainly pick up. I have two very, very rare autoimmune diseases and I truly credit this book and what I’ve learned from it as the reason I’m still able to walk today. Annnnnnd, there is SO much more to fermented foods than yogurt and sauerkraut so check it out ya’ll:)
Melinda says
Oh and do be very careful about what types of fermented foods you eat while pregnant. There are some really great-for-you fermented bottled teas (kombucha) but due to the fermentation process they CAN have alcohol in them and are NOT classified as an alcoholic drink. I believe the amount of alcohol isn’t high but I wanted to be clear that you should research which ones are safe for you to eat and drink during this time in your life. Blessing to you in your Motherhood adventures!
Simply Life says
Great to know about this – thanks!
Sara @ Nourish and Flourish says
Awesome post, Brittany! Inflammation is one of those health buzz words that I’ve heard many times, but that I’ve never truly understood. You’ve definitely piqued my interest! I may go do a bit more investigating now. 🙂
As I was reaching for a sip of diet rootbeer (an occasional treat), I read that soda is an inflammation culprit. Ooops! You better believe I set that soda down! I’ve known for a long time that there’s *nothing* healthy about diet carbonated beverages , but I still choose to drink them from time to time. However reading the facts WHILE you’re taking a sip has a much more powerful effect! Maybe I can undo the damage by eating some sauerkraut or kimchi? 🙂
Sophie says
Oh thanks a lot for writing this post, it’s particularly relevant for me right now! I knew about turmeric being a good spice to help with inflamation but I didn’t know much about the others. Great post 🙂
Anastasia says
I’m already eating a lot of these foods which is good to know they help with inflammation! I use turmeric like crazy and am a sauerkraut lover for sure.
I really need to start drinking more green tea again because it’s so good for you.
Monique says
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Colynn says
Thanks for this post! I’ve been having a lot of issues with inflammation. The doctors think that it’s either an autoimmune issue or allergies. They just can’t pinpoint exactly what it is. I prefer to medicate myself with food anyways. I’ve found that raw garlic usually helps. 🙂
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