Many of us don’t think twice about what we put into our bodies. (ie. the bag of cheetos I had last night) We eat whatever is convenient or tasty without considering the long-term implications it may have for our health. But did you know that the food you eat can have a significant impact on inflammation in your body? Let’s take a closer look at how the food we consume affects inflammation and what we should be eating to combat it, and go easy on yourself. Moderation is key 🙂
The Link Between Food and Inflammation
There is a growing body of scientific evidence that points to the direct correlation between inflammation and diet. Our bodies naturally produce inflammatory molecules, but when these molecules become excessive, they can cause serious health issues such as joint pain, digestive problems, heart disease, diabetes, and other autoimmune disorders. What we eat can exacerbate the production of these molecules and make existing inflammation worse.
Foods That Reduce Inflammation
Fortunately, there are certain foods that can help reduce inflammation in our bodies! These include fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants such as blueberries and broccoli; fatty fish like salmon and mackerel; nuts like walnuts; olive oil; whole grains like oats; turmeric; ginger; garlic; green tea; dark chocolate; and foods rich in vitamin D like mushrooms. Incorporating these foods into your diet will help keep inflammation in check.
In addition to reducing inflammation, eating these nutrient-rich foods offers other benefits—they provide essential vitamins and minerals that are necessary for good health, support weight loss efforts by making you feel full longer, boost energy levels throughout the day, increase mental clarity, improve digestion and gut health, strengthen bones and joints with essential omega fatty acids, stimulate muscle growth with protein sources such as nuts or fish…the list goes on, Yum.
Reducing inflammation through diet is an easy way to protect yourself from developing chronic diseases later in life. By incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into your meals each day you can enjoy all of the benefits they offer while ensuring your body is functioning optimally. Be well, and remember to enjoy every morsel.
