Andre Parker - Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Heal Your Body

Introduction

What is an Anti-inflammatory Diet?

Anti-inflammatory diets have been in the spotlight for quite some time now as being a great diet to improve our overall health. There is a great deal of evidence that these diets reduce inflammation in the body and our chances of getting sick, whether with the common cold or a more serious illness, are therefore much lower. Whilst following an anti-inflammatory diet can help improve anyones health, they are especially helpful for those of us who suffer from inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, gout, lupus and scleroderma to help to reduce the systemic inflammation that occurs with these conditions.

If you have ever heard of the saying, you are what you eat, this is entirely true. If you put processed, inflammation-causing foods into your body, you are going to cause inflammation, which is then going to result in unwanted reactions, such as digestive distress, skin conditions, mood disruptions and even disease. If you fuel your body with powerful inflammation fighting foods that are rich in phytonutrients and have the ability to fight disease, you are feeding your body what it needs to function at its most optimal level. An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on just that, feeding your body with the foods that it needs in order to thrive.

The anti-inflammatory diet is a diet full of wholesome, healthy and unprocessed foods. These wholesome foods act to naturally reduce the inflammation in your body and therefore prevent disease. There have been numerous research studies carried out on the benefits of anti-inflammatory diets. One study has shown that unresolved inflammation in the body has been linked to the early development of disease and argues that controlling inflammation should be a key future preventive and therapeutic target ( ). Another study indicated that consuming certain foods, such as: citrus fruits; tomatoes; dark, leafy greens; and wild-caught salmon, can fight disease-causing inflammation in the body ( ).

So, you may be wondering what you would be eating on an anti-inflammatory diet. An anti-inflammatory diet is rich in healthy fats, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, which are not only great for combating inflammation, they are great for brain health as well. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids include wild salmon, sardines, avocados, flaxseeds, hempseeds and walnuts. Fruits and vegetables should be enjoyed in abundance on an anti-inflammatory diet and provide the body with powerful antioxidants to fight off free radicals that are causing damage and inflammation to our organs. Herbs and spices are also commonly seen on an anti-inflammatory diet. Herbs and spices such as turmeric, garlic, ginger and green tea have been known to help to fight inflammation, and promote health, for centuries. These herbs and spices are also rich in bioflavonoids, which can help to reduce the amount of free radicals in the body. As far as proteins go, proteins such as grass-fed animal products are the protein of choice as opposed to grain-fed animal products that will produce more inflammation. Organic, pasture-raised eggs can also be enjoyed on an anti-inflammatory diet.

There are still so many delicious foods that can be consumed and incorporated into your everyday diet when following an anti-inflammatory way of eating. By eliminating foods that are processed, high in sugar, refined, grain-fed animal products, alcohol or contain excessive caffeine, you will be hugely helping to reduce the overall inflammation in your body.