Foods That Help You Fight Inflammation

Knowledge is power. And not everyone knows about the foods they eat, so we’re going to point you in the right direction. Diet makes up a huge part of your health and if you don’t know that already–or maybe you do, but you just love burgers and fries too much–we’re here to give you a friendly reminder. Today we’ll focus on foods that will give you a leg up on fighting inflammation. Consider adding these foods to your diet if you aren’t already. 

Over the counter meds like ibuprofen help you deal with inflammation, but it’s a good idea to maintain a healthy diet that already contains anti-inflammatory foods, especially if you have chronic inflammation. 

Put very simply, inflammation is caused by your immune system trying to protect against that your body views as “foreign.” So that’s why allergies, for example, can result in inflammation of your skin, sinuses, airways, or digestive system. Already having an anti-inflammatory diet will help your body be prepared to combat inflammation at any time (but obviously, it won’t solve all of your inflammation problems). 

As a general rule of thumb, foods that cause inflammation are: high processed foods, refined carbs, greasy/fried foods, and super sweet foods (like soda). 

As a surprise to no one, the foods that fight inflammation are: fruits and veggies, whole grains, legumes, healthy fats, and certain spices. 

Some specific foods that fight inflammation are: 

• Leafy greens like kale, spinach, and broccoli 
• Tomatoes
• Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, walnuts, flax seeds
• Lentils and beans
• Olive oil
• Avocadoes
• Fatty fish like tuna and salmon
• Berries, especially blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and cherries 
• Green tea
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Dark chocolate
• Garlic 

As you’ll see, all of the foods in the list above are beneficial in more ways than one. They are all nutrient-packed and have other health benefits as well. Of course, no single food will provide a magical cure to your problems. As with most things, balance is good. Eating as much variety of these foods means that you’ll be diversifying the nutrients you consume. Try to keep these foods in mind next time you’re making your grocery list!