Achy Pains? Try These Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Got achy pains? Your chronic achy joints and arthritis are caused from chronic inflammation. Inflammation starts out as your body’s attempt to correct a problem. (Think the throbbing you feel after a paper cut, or the pain and redness after an injury.)

In addition, research now shows that inflammation could be the beginning to a number of health problems. The list of prolonged inflammation can include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, high blood pressure, and the list goes on.

The good news is that you can take preventative measures to avoid these chronic diseases (and likely even control them) by the foods that you put into your mouth.

Find out which foods are inflammatory & anti-inflammatory in this article. 

Achy Pains? Try These Anti-Inflammatory Foods

With each bite you take, you decide which side of the balancing scale the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory compounds in your body shift to.

Shift the balance in your favor, by eating more anti-inflammatory foods, and avoiding (or limiting) which foods which are known to cause inflammation.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods:

Here is a list of anti-inflammatory foods that you will want to make sure you include in your diet:

• Omega 3 fatty acids (including flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and some seaweeds)
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Horseradish
• Hot Red Peppers
• Garlic
• Green Tea (in moderation)
• Vegetables (and lots of them! Preferably raw.)
• Sprouts
• Fruits (especially low glycemic fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, apples, grapefruit, and grapes)

Inflammatory Foods:

There are also foods to avoid or significantly limit, that cause inflammation. These include:

• Alcohol
• Coffee/Caffeine
• Sugar & Artificial Sweeteners
• Refined Grains (i.e. white rice & white bread)
• Trans Fats
• Foods heated at high temperatures
• Gluten
• Dairy/Casein
• Meat
• Processed Foods

Lastly, if you are fighting the inflammatory beast, you will also want to make sure to monitor your weight. Being overweight promotes inflammation in your body. The foods you eat, will significantly help with your inflammation and achy pains, but you also want to make sure that you are getting enough exercise too. (Move that tush!)

Shakin’ It Pain Free,

Heather

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