8 Foods That Fight Inflammation
Conditions like arthritis are painful due to intense inflammation. While there’s no cure for arthritis, there is promising research around therapies that could help prevent arthritis. In addition to this research, there are also many different tricks, tips, and strategies that you can implement on your own to reduce the pain caused by inflammation. A good example is adding a luteolin supplement to your diet, which will help reduce the overall inflammation in your body.
Current research around klotho therapy may be used in the future to prevent arthritis. Klotho proteins are naturally occurring in humans and influence longevity. By delaying age-related deterioration, klotho therapy may soon be a solution for arthritic pain, too.
Until a klotho protein therapy becomes readily available as a way to treat and prevent arthritis, you can still look to other ways to reduce inflammation include losing weight, acupuncture, and using hot-cold therapy. You can help minimize arthritic pain by following an anti-inflammatory diet.
These eight foods all have anti-inflammatory properties:
- Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a lycopene-packed food that is great for your health. Lycopene decreases inflammation. Lycopene absorption is aided by olive oil, so foods like bruschetta are a great snack to add to your diet to reduce inflammation.
- Turmeric
Turmeric is commonly found in curries. It can also be used to give soups and stews an attractive yellow color. Turmeric is chock full of curcumin, a very potent anti-inflammatory. Spicing up your favorite foods with turmeric can be an easy way to combat inflammation.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is jam-packed with healthy fats and oleocanthal. Oleocanthal is an antioxidant with properties similar to ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is a common anti-inflammatory. Drizzling a couple teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil on your salads, roasts, and bread can mimic the anti-inflammatory effects of ibuprofen.
- Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is teeming with flavanols, another notable anti-inflammatory. To get the most out of your dessert, choose a chocolate with high cocoa content: 70% or higher is best.
- Avocados
This superfood is packed with important vitamins and minerals, and also contains carotenoids and tocopherols, which may help prevent cancer risk. The fruit is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties, too, so try adding a few slices to your sandwich or salad to help reduce the pain associated with inflammation.
- Berries
Berries are healthy, delicious, and full of antioxidants called anthocyanins. These compounds are thought to reduce inflammation, reduce your risk of heart disease, and supercharge your immune system. Whether you prefer blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries, these fruits can be a tasty and healthy addition to any meal.
- Salmon
Salmon is a readily-accessible fatty fish that is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon also contains EPA and DHA, both of which help the body reduce inflammation. Salmon is easy to cook, quite forgiving, and mild in flavor, so it’s a great addition to any meal.
- Cruciferous Vegetables
Broccoli, kale, cauliflower and brussels sprouts are all super healthy vegetables that are easy to cook, and versatile. Broccoli in particular is loaded with sulforaphane which is an antioxidant that reduces inflammation. Try any of these roasted vegetables with olive oil as a side dish to help ease the pain associated with inflammation.
Arthritis can be a painful condition to manage. Luckily, with the promise of klotho therapy and the help of these anti-inflammatory foods, the pain that comes with arthritis can be reduced.
