11 Best Anti-inflammatory Foods: What Foods Are Anti Inflammatory? - 4 minutes read
Inflammation causes dozens of health problems ranging from the frustrating-but-not-fatal things like acne and psoriasis to serious diseases like cancer and heart disease. Almost every serious disease is caused directly or indirectly by inflammation.
The good news is that we can avoid most of this inflammation simply by modifying our diet to include anti-inflammatory foods. An anti-inflammatory diet is a fantastic option because there are so many to choose from that you’ll never get bored of eating this way.
Here are 11 of the best anti-inflammatory foods:
BEST ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS
- Celery
Celery is probably the most underrated vegetable around. At this point, it’s known mostly as a great weight-loss food because you use more calories to chew celery than you get out of it, but celery also contains high concentrations of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help manage cholesterol and blood pressure levels. You can get many of the same benefits from adding celery seeds to your meals much the same way you would add hemp or flax seeds.
- Beets
Another highly underrated vegetable, beets contain high levels of potassium and magnesium, essential minerals that help reduce inflammation. Beets also have a large amount of calcium which makes it easier to digest both of these minerals.
- Broccoli
Broccoli is another vegetable with a high concentration of both anti-inflammatory ingredients and antioxidants, making it an excellent addition to any diet. Remember to only cook broccoli lightly as it loses over 50% of its nutritional value when too thoroughly cooked. Your broccoli should always be crispy.
- Blueberries
Blueberries contain a powerful combination of essential antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and other vitamins. They are one of the most nutrient-dense fruits and a handful sprinkled into some unflavoured yogurt makes a fantastic healthy dessert.
- Salmon
Salmon is something of a miracle food. It contains vitamins D, B6, and B12 which are essential to maintaining a good mood as well as omega 3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation. It’s also an incredibly high protein food, helping you build muscles and maintain a healthy weight. All in all, salmon is a great addition to your diet—just remember to go for wild salmon and limit how much you eat to avoid ingesting too much mercury.
- Walnuts
Walnuts are some of the healthiest nuts out there, containing high concentrations of several antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids. They also contain manganese, another anti-inflammatory. Eat about a quarter cup full of walnuts every day to get the best effect.
- Chia seeds
Chia is becoming the next big thing in the health food world thanks to its high concentration of nutrients. They contain large amounts of omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids, which also have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Turmeric
Wondering what is the best anti-inflammatory herb? Turmeric is often recommended as a supplement to prevent the occurrence or worsening of arthritis thanks to its intense anti-inflammatory properties. You can buy turmeric supplements at most health stores.
- Ginger
Ginger is a great accent for your food and it also happens to be one of the best anti-inflammatories out there. Stick with fresh ginger to get the biggest anti-inflammatory boost.
- Pineapples
Pineapples contain quercetin and bromelain, a combination that’s often used in supplements designed to reduce inflammation and related problems. They also have large amounts of antioxidants, potassium, and magnesium. This makes them one of the most powerful fruits to include in your diet.
- Leafy green vegetables
Leafy green vegetables contain high concentrations of a variety of nutrients including vitamin K, a vitamin strongly associated with reduced inflammation. Go for spinach, chard, or arugula instead of your normal lettuce for an incredible health boost—most of these vegetables contain at least twice the nutritional content of lettuce.
The Main Culprits For Inflammation
Now that we know which foods help to fight and offset inflammation, it’s important also to understand some of the foods that commonly cause issues within our bodies. Below are some of the foods that can create an inflammation response:
- 1. Dairy – Milk, cheese, butter, yogurt (which is also often high in sugar)
- 2. Sugar
- 3. Refined Flour – Common in pasta, pizza dough, and so on
- 4. Saturated fats (found in most takeaway/junk foods)
- 5. Artificial additives – think certain breakfast cereals that contain color or are very sweet!
- 6. Gluten from typical white bread
- 7. Artificial sweeteners
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