My Favorite Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Whenever I go grocery shopping every week, I always strive to add a couple of anti-inflammatory foods to my shopping list. If you’ve never heard of them, they aren’t far out of reach. They come in the form of everyday produce like kale, nuts, and olive oil. 

Anti-inflammatory foods are foods that can help your body get itself back in check regarding its inflammatory response. The nutrients in specific foods help the activation and protection of the immune system when the body recognizes anything foreign, like some invading microbe, chemical, or plant pollen. This natural response from specific foods helps protect your health and keep everything in balance and functioning properly. 

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC INFLAMMATION?

A sign of inflammation is when your body heats up, gets red, or swollen. When it happens for a prolonged period of time, it becomes chronic. You might not even be aware that you have chronic inflammation until you after the effects kick in. Maybe you feel a little under the weather or simply do not feel your usual energetic self, or maybe you are feeling more pain in areas of your body than before. This chronic inflammation has been linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s. 

The foods that you choose to eat can have a direct effect on this immune response. Some foods fight against inflammation and have been shown to reduce the risk of illness, while others can trigger and accelerate the inflammation process.

SOME FOODS HELP, SOME FOODS HINDER

An anti-inflammatory diet is an opportunity to load your body with foods to make you vital and energized. It can improve your long-term health and enable you to level up your current health status as long as you choose the right foods to boost and protect your immune system. 

To start, top anti-inflammatory foods include those which are high in natural antioxidants and polyphenols. An anti-inflammatory diet consists of whole, natural foods, with a focus on fruits and vegetables. But as a general guideline, think natural, not processed! Start with a foundation of plant-based foods (fruits, veg, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes) and organic, pasture-raised, grass-fed, or wild animal food sources. 

TOP ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

Here are some of my favorite foods and some of the best foods for inflammation:

VEGGIES

• Kale
• Mushrooms
• Broccoli 

FRUITS

• Pineapple
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Oranges 

FERMENTED FOODS

• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Miso
• Pickles 

FATTY FISH

• Wild salmon
• Mackerel
• Tuna 

ANIMAL-DERIVED FOODS

• Bone broth
• Collagen

SPICES & HERBS

• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Garlic 

A good guideline is to start to incorporate some of the best foods for inflammation in your diet to reduce overall inflammation levels. Remember, a healthy diet is one rich in variety. You don’t have to be perfect, but making some smart choices in your diet could give you great benefits in your overall health and wellbeing. Why not start by adding some anti-inflammatory breakfast foods this next week and see how you feel.