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Healthy Anti-Inflammatory Foods

What comes to your mind when you hear the word, “inflammation”? Think about a time when you cut your finger and it got infected. It probably got red and swollen and it hurt too – classic symptoms of inflammation, your body’s natural response to infection. Would it surprise you to find out that your body can become inflamed because of the foods you eat?

Inflammation in your body usually occurs when you eat foods that contain flour or sugar/sweeteners. These types of food also tend to pack on the pounds and being overweight can cause inflammation, speed up the aging process and put you at risk for heart disease.

So instead of eating bagels, doughnuts, cakes, red meat, processed foods, junk foods and fast foods with unhealthy oils and trans fats that cause inflammation, try some anti-inflammatory foods that reduce inflammation and promote health:

• Fish that is rich in omega-3 fats, including wild Alaskan (not farmed) salmon, herring, halibut, snapper, striped bass and tuna

• Grass-fed beef rather than grain-fed beef; grass-fed beef is higher in omega-3 fats while grain-fed has no omega-3 fats, but plenty of saturated, pro-inflammatory fats instead

• Extra-virgin olive oil rather than vegetable oil

• Salads that contain dark green leafy vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers, kale, broccoli and other vegetables that are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and other nutrients that help to reduce inflammation

• Fruits, such as cherries, apples, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, pineapple, oranges, lemons and limes; cherries and blueberries are especially effective anti-inflammatory fruits that are packed with antioxidants and available frozen all year round

• Herbs and spices that flavor foods but are no or low-calorie, such as turmeric, ginger, thyme, parsley, rosemary, basil, cinnamon and mint

• Green tea, which contains natural anti-inflammatory compounds that may reduce your risk of heart disease or cancer

When you replace pro-inflammatory foods with anti-inflammatory foods you reduce inflammation, promote weight loss, decrease pain associated with inflammation and lower your risk for chronic heart disease. Keep up with your regular chiropractic adjustments and add some inflammation-reducing exercise and you should be well on the road to experiencing true health.