What's all the fuss about Inflammation?

When we look at the diseases that plague our society — arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — we see that long-term lifestyle changes are needed. What might not be as obvious is the common denominator tied to all of them and more: inflammation is at the root of most diseases.

Inflammation as a bodily function is not necessarily a bad thing. When the body is injured or ill, the lymphatic (immune) system springs into action, bringing the immune system’s army of white blood cells to the area of concern via increased blood flow.

With the increased attention to the area, there might also be swelling, redness, heat, and pain or discomfort. You’ve probably seen this inflammatory response in action, as a cut or scrape becomes hot and puffy around the wound while the extra blood runs. Inflammation, in a healthy body, is the normal and effective response that facilitates healing.

Sadly, we know this isn’t the whole story.

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Inflammatory effects also are linked to arthritis and fibromyalgia symptoms, as well as celiac and irritable bowel disease (IBD). Certainly, there is more we can do to promote anti-inflammatory lifestyle changes.

By addressing the inflammation with anti-inflammatory foods, not only can the symptoms of these diseases be alleviated, but we could even see them disappear. Let’s dive into the top foods that will combat inflammation.

The Anti-Inflammation Diet

To move toward an anti-inflammatory diet and anti-inflammatory foods, we primarily move away from the abundance of overly processed, unbalanced diets of the West and toward the ancient eating patterns of the Mediterranean. A Mediterranean diet comprises plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, little to no red meat, certainly no chemicals or meat additives, and an abundance of omega-3 foods.

As we look into the anti-inflammatory components of certain foods and herbs, we can see how this kind of diet is linked with lowered inflammation. Among the many compounds found in fresh produce, a few general categories stand out as beneficial when attacking inflammation and inflammatory diseases at their source. These are found in foods that contain certain minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids.

Top anti-inflammatory foods

Leafy green veg, bok choy, celery, beets, broccoli, blueberries, pineapple, wild salmon, bone broth, walnuts, coconut oil, chia seeds, flaxseeds, turmeric, fresh ginger.

Great recipes containing these ingredients? Try https://thedoctorskitchen.com/recipes

Changing your diet can be challenging We get into habits and tend to eat the same foods frequently. If you would like to find out how you can change your eating habits to include more of these foods, or would like to know more about nutrition and healthier eating, please get in touch for a no obligation chat https://www.gfycoach.co.uk/contact