If you're a fan of whole grains and wonder which you should choose to include as a part of an anti-inflammatory diet, there's no wrong choice! Oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain wheat bread, barley, buckwheat, bulgur and millet are all exceptional options.
Steel-cut oats are an excellent soluble fiber to add to the diet that also acts as a prebiotic food. These oats are beneficial to promote anti-inflammatory integrity in the intestinal bacteria. Steel-cut oats are less processed than old fashion rolled oats and have a lower Glycemix Index.
Red meat and processed meats, including bacon, hot dogs, lunch meats and cured meats. Refined grains, including white bread, white rice, pasta and breakfast cereals. Snack foods, including chips, cookies, crackers and pastries.
1. Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements. These supplements may help fight several types of inflammation, including vascular inflammation.
Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts contain high amounts of fiber, calcium, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin E and Omega-3 fats which all have anti-inflammatory effects.
Dairy Research
Despite conflicting information, overall, research paints a positive picture for milk-based products. A 2017 review of 52 clinical studies, published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, concluded that dairy generally has anti-inflammatory effects, except in people allergic to cow's milk.
Active principles in plant-based foods, especially staple fruits, such as bananas and plantains, possess inter-related anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidative, and neuromodulatory activities.
The star components of apples—fiber, vitamin C, pectin, and polyphenols—have been associated, primarily in animal studies, with anti-inflammatory effects and an increase in beneficial microbes in the gut.
Dates have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral characteristics, as well as the ability to prevent chronic inflammation and other disorders, due to their high phenolic content.
Guidelines for an Anti-inflammatory Diet
Choose mostly whole grains as opposed to foods made from refined flours. Whole grains include millet; basmati, brown or wild rice; quinoa; amaranth; flax; wheat berries; barley; steel cut oats and buckwheat.
Refined carbohydratesFoods that contain flour, such as breads and crackers, and foods such as white rice and instant mashed potatoes are high-glycemic foods that cause inflammation. These refined carbs are also linked to obesity and a host of chronic conditions.
“Adding sugar or syrup to an already carbohydrate-rich breakfast can cause it to become imbalanced, as it's high in carbs but low in fat and protein,” says Hultin. Make sure you're using dairy milk, unsweetened nondairy milks, and unsweetened nut butters to restrain added sugar.
DON'T Avoid Nightshade Vegetables
Tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers, and eggplants are sometimes called “nightshade” veggies. Some people say they have less joint pain and inflammation when they stop eating nightshades, but research hasn't shown this.
Like dairy products, whole-wheat products can be part of a healthy diet. However, a protein found in wheat, called gluten, is associated with inflammation and joint pain in certain individuals.
As a food, cucumbers offer superior hydration, as they are about 95% water. They have been used for decades for their anti-inflammatory benefits on skin, soothing properties for digestion, and other therapeutic uses.
Walnuts: Have the highest amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) than any other nut. ALA is well known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
Research links eating plenty of nuts with decreased concentration of markers of inflammation in the blood. It doesn't matter which nut is your favorite — walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios, and more all have anti-inflammatory benefits.
Your diet, including what you drink, is important when it comes to controlling inflammation. Many drinks such as coffee, fruit and vegetable juices, green tea, hydrogen water, chlorella water, and milk have anti-inflammatory benefits. Inflammation is a natural way for your body to protect itself.
Acetaminophen is a safe alternative to NSAIDs for people who are allergic or hypersensitive to ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. In addition, certain supplements can help provide relief from inflammation and pain. Common alternatives to NSAIDs include arnica, curcumin, and bromelain.