If you struggle with a health condition that causes inflammation in your body, you know how hard it is to get your symptoms under control. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, asthma, autoimmune disease, Hashimoto's, Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, endometriosis, and more can affect anyone of any age. Modern medicine has its merits, but many inflammatory diseases have no cure, only treatment of symptoms. Medical researchers have found that diet can play an important role in reducing frequency of flare-ups and helping decrease the severity of those flare-ups.
What is an anti-inflammatory diet?
An anti-inflammatory diet is a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, plant-based proteins, fatty fish, fresh herbs and spices.
Fruits and vegetables: reach for a wide variety of colors. Diversity in your choices will ensure you are receiving a wide selection of nutrients.
Legumes: Beans are high in fiber and laden with antioxidants.
nuts: Nuts contain healthy fats, so reaching for olives and avocados are a safe bet!
Fish: Fish are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, key to combatting inflammation
Herbs and spices: Adding fresh herbs and spices deliver antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory properties. For example, Turmeric contains Curcumin, a very powerful anti-inflammatory.
What are inflammatory foods?
Highly processed foods, overly greasy foods and sweets are all inflammatory. sugar, soda, cakes, cookies and other empty-calorie foods can lead to weight gain, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory disease. Cutting out foods known to cause inflammation can help reduce symptoms.
Meats:
Avoid highly processed meats like hot dogs, fast food burgers, and canned meats. These are all packed with saturated fats and preservatives.
Dairy:
Reach for low-fat dairy products because, again, many dairy products are laden with saturated fats and can cause inflammation.
Oils:
Avoid Canola oils and reach for avocado oil or MCT oils instead. These oils are more nutritionally stable and anti-inflammatory.
Trans Fats:
Coffee creamers, margarine and other trans fat foods (partially hydrogenated oils) raise cholesterol and cause inflammation.
The anti-inflammatory diet guidelines can help you regain control of your body and reduce the severity and frequency of inflammatory symptoms. Please continue to consult your treatment team before making changes.
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