Eat these foods to help combat inflammation

by Wendy Humphris, ROHP

​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?