Anti-inflammatory foods

Inflammation can be acute or chronic and is the result of the activation of inflammatory compounds, such as cytokines and the increase in blood flow around the body.

Acute inflammation is short-term and occurs when your body experiences trauma. For example, if you fall over and cut your knee, it might swell up and become painful to touch. This occurs because your body is trying to protect the area from further damage.

Chronic inflammation occurs over the course of several months or years. It usually results from health conditions, such as diabetes or autoimmune conditions, or psychological stress that cause the body to be in a constant state of physical stress.

Lowering inflammation with anti-inflammatory foods

You can help lower the levels of chronic inflammation in your body by managing your chronic health conditions and reducing your psychological stress.

Another great way to help reduce inflammation in your body is to eat a balanced, nutritious diet that contains anti-inflammatory foods. A lot of plant foods contain beneficial compounds that naturally tackle inflammation in the body and help reduce the risk of disease.

However, there are some animal-based foods that can also reduce the levels of inflammatory markers, like many species of fish.

Here are some amazing foods to consume in your diet to support minimizing the levels of inflammation in your body:

• Grapes
• Avocadoes
• Spinach
• Berries
• Mushrooms
• Cocoa or dark chocolate
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Oily or fatty fish
• Seeds and nuts
• Olive oil

Foods to avoid when you want to lower inflammation in your body

There are lots of foods you should avoid when you’re concerned about the levels of inflammation in your body. Generally, high-fat, fried foods contribute to inflammation and are associated with an increased risk of several chronic health conditions.

Here are the main foods to eat sparingly to help keep inflammation low in your body:

• Fried foods
• Processed meat
• Refined carbohydrates
• Trans fats, including shortening
• Sodas and sugary drinks