6 Foods That Fight Inflammation

Most chronic illnesses can be linked in some way to an inflammatory condition in the body. Especially in the gut. By increasing our intake of anti-inflammatory foods and decreasing our intake of pro-inflammatory foods, we can go a long way to treating many symptoms of chronic illnesses. Following are a few ideas for increasing your intake of anti-inflammatory foods.

Cold Water Fish - Salmon, Herring, Mackerel, Sardines, Tuna. Wild caught, cold water fish are very high in the Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These Omega 3's fight the inflammation produced by taking in too many omega 6 fatty acids. When we eat diets high in natural unsaturated fats, our body turns them into anti-inflammatory molecules and eliminates inflammation and damage caused by free radicals.

Green Tea - Green tea has long been known to be a powerful anti-oxidant, meaning it neutralizes free radicals in the body thereby reducing inflammation as well as oxidation. We now know of at least 51 anti-inflammatory compounds found in green tea. 3-4 cups a day will produce significant relief. If you need to avoid caffeiene, there are decaf green teas available as well.

Colorful Fruits And Veggies - As a rule, the more colorful your veggie and fruit selection, the more anti-inflammatory properties you will reap. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are high in bioflavinoids which reduce inflammation and actually have been shown to inhibit COX-2 (which is the enzyme responsible for the production of major inflammatory compounds.)
If you have a chronic inflammatory disease, chances are good you are familiar with a class of medicines called COX-2 inhibitors. A study at the University of Michigan has shown that as few as 20 cherries has the same pain blocking power of 2 aspirin - without the chemicals.

Some good choices for fruits and vegetables are: carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, broccoli, most berries (especially blueberries),avocados. But avoid plants from the nightshade family. That would be white potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant.

Water Is Necessary - Stop drinking nutrient and energy robbing drinks such as colas and energy drinks. Your body was designed to function at peak performance with water as your primary form of hydration. Water flushes toxins from the body (including pro-inflammatory molecules) while colas and other drinks add toxins. So how much water should you be drinking? We absorb about 8 ounces of water per hour, so at least that amount is wanting to be used by your body. Extra water helps to flush out toxins. If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated, so keep pure water handy for drinking all the time.

Nuts Are Good For Snacks - When you need a little snack, don't reach for fried potato chips or candy bars. Nuts are great for a little pick-me-up between meals. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats and oils. The nuts with the most anti-inflammatory properties are walnuts, almonds, and brazil nuts, although there are many other good choices. Note that peanuts don't count - they are not nuts at all.

Gluten Free Grains - If you are having a flare up of inflammation related symptoms, you should probably avoid grains all together for at least 90 days. But once the inflammation is under control, you may try gluten free grains such as oats, millet, wild rice, buckwheat. Also spelt wheat, but NEVER again should you introduce refined grains (white flour) into your diet. This is one of the biggest thieves of nutrition in modern America.

A little study will show many more anti-inflammatory foods that would be helpful to those who suffer from chronic inflammation illnesses. But this little list will get you started.