Eating foods that work to counteract inflammation will lead to a healthier body. By including anti-inflammatory food into every meal and eliminating those that contribute to inflammation, the effects of this diet are beneficial.
Features
There are plenty of foods to choose from when switching to an anti-inflammatory diet. Foods included in this type of diet create anti inflammatory prostaglandins, which are hormones that regulate your body's response to inflammation. Prostaglandins are produced from the fats that we ingest. Include foods with good fats to gain the effective properties of this diet. Foods with good fats include salmon, sardines, herring and other fish with omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts, almonds and sunflower seeds also contain good fats. Foods high in vitamins A, C and E contribute to anti-inflammation as well. Choose fruits and vegetables like broccoli, carrots, squash, kale, strawberries, peaches or apples. Grains such as lentils, brown rice and oatmeal are instrumental as well. Ginger and turmeric add to the benefits of the anti-inflammatory diet.
Benefits
By following an anti-inflammatory diet, you might notice better digestion, reduced pain for arthritis sufferers and lower cholesterol levels. It has even been shown to have favorable effects of relieving symptoms of depression.
Considerations
Knowing what causes inflammation in your body is essential to knowing how to prevent it. Food can be a prime source of inflammation. Diets that are high in sugars and hydrogenated vegetable oils like those found in potato chips, margarine and baked pastries are likely to aggravate inflammation.
Diet is not the only way to prevent inflammation, however. Maintaining a healthy body weight and exercising regularly are both important to reducing inflammation.
Warning
Following the anti-inflammatory diet will not produce results as fast as taking anti-inflammatory medicine. The results of this diet are not immediate, but symptoms can begin to be relieved after following it for at least two weeks. If inflammation is too severe, seek the expertise of a doctor.
Misconceptions
When following a diet specific to an ailment or condition, it is often thought that your diet must be limited and bland. Eating meals using anti inflammatory foods is not as limiting as some might think. Counter inflammation by including fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, herbs and spices in your meals.
