Inflammation in the body can be associated with the onset of many different diseases and taking pharmaceutical drugs is not good for your health long term so why not try including some anti inflammatory foods into your diet to help chill your body out. Below are 7 super foods to help.
1. Ginger
Although ginger is a spicy and tangy food it is well known for it’s calmative and anti inflammatory effects on the body. It contains potent enzymes that prevent inflammation. Stuides have shown that regular consumption of ginger helps reduce joint and muscular pain and increases mobility. It’s also a super powerful antioxidant and helps fight off free radicals that attack your body’s cells. This combination could make it’s anti inflammatory effects more potent. Include ginger in your cooking or put a slice in your green tea, or even on it’s own brewed with hot water, lemon and honey.
2. Tumeric
Used in both India and in Chinese medicine for centuries as an anti inflammatory. It’s an excellent source of manganese and iron and has been shown to help cancer, many inflammatory conditions, digestive problems and more. The active ingredient cucurmin in turmeric helps to lower the levels of two of the enzymes that contribute to inflammation. Turmeric is also another powerful antioxidant food. This super food has been shown to reduce the inflammation just as effectively as some of the pharmaceutical drugs. However the great thing is it has no toxicity on the body, making it an excellent food to eat more of if you suffer from inflammatory conditions. Eat mild turmeric curries on a regular basis.
3. Kelp
One of the seas most powerful vegetables (I guess you could call it that). It might seem slimy if it gets you while you’re swimming but this sea plant is super good for you. The active ingredient in kelp is fucoidan, a natural anti inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti tumor agent. It is also a great source of iodine and many other vitamins and minerals. It’s also has antioxidant properties. Try adding kelp to soups and stews. Or make some delicious sushi rolls on a regular basis.
4. Salmon
Wild salmon is an excellent source of Omega 3 fatty acids. It’s these fatty acids that help reduce inflammation. Because most people in the modern world have an imbalance in Omega 6 and Omega 3’s, Omega 6 overload promoting more inflammation. It is very important to get adequate amounts of Omega 3s into your diet. I posted a delicious salmon cake recipe recently, check that out here.
5. Shitake mushroom
I think the Asian people have their diet worked out much better than us as they often eat foods that have powerful health benefits, shitake mushroom another of them. Shitake helps to inhibit phospholipase activity, an enzyme that promotes an acid in the body that promotes inflammation. It’s also a great immune booster and anti viral and helps with the absorption of vitamin D. You may also be interested to know that it is considered an natural anti aging food.
6. Green tea
Studies have shown that green tea helps prevent bone breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis patients and helps reduce inflammation in joints. It is also one of the most powerful antioxidants and has many other health benefits. It can help promote weight loss too so drink it daily for best results.
7. Cruciferous vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables such as brocolli, kale, cauliflower, bok choy and cabbage are some of the most nutrient dense vegetables available. They are well known for being cancer preventitive foods. Crucifurous vegetables inhibit prostaglandins, known as PGE2, that cause inflammation in the body. So eat your vegetables and loads of them!
One thing all of these anti inflammatory foods have in common is that they are all powerful antioxidants as well. This makes them all some of the best foods for fighting disease, preventing the aging process and keeping you healthy. So be sure to include them in your diet regularly 
Do you eat any of these foods regularly? I’d love to know so why not share it by leaving a comment below.
Have a great day
Jedha
Regarding cruciferous vegetables, I have read you should not over eat them do to properties of causing hypothyrodism to name one. What is a healthy balance consumption of Cruciferous Vegetables weekly? Thank you. Lisa Olszanski
Great question. I searched the medical journals and researched this a bit because I had not heard that it could ’cause’ hypothyroidism. The evidence revealed that the substance in conciferous vegetables known as goitrogens is an antithyroid substance. However I could only find one study that showed it actually caused hypothryoid and that was in animals, and another that showed severe hypothyroidism from consumption of over 1kg day of raw bokchoy per day over several months. People in some countries with excessive intake, combined with low iodine experience a condition known as goitre, an enlargement of the thyoid gland and bulging of the neck. Most other studies only point to the great benefits of cruciferous vegetables in helping to reduce inflammation and help disease. One other article suggested that the cooking process reduces alot of the goitrogenic potential so in my opinion I’d say eating them daily is fine because that is certainly not overconsumption. Hope that helps
It’s difficult to find knowledgeable people for this topic, but you sound like you know
what you’re talking about! Thanks