Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Inflammation is the body's response to the invasion of foreign particles in the body. It can be seen when a person suffers from an infection or injury. However, in case of some diseases, known as the autoimmune diseases, the body's immune system triggers off an inflammatory response even in the absence of any foreign particles. This chronic inflammation leads to other severe health conditions like heart diseases, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, etc. In order to prevent this, it is essential to treat inflammation as early as possible. There are various anti-inflammatory drugs and medications available in the market. However, there are several anti-inflammatory foods that also effectively help in reducing inflammation. Let us have a look at them in detail.

What are Anti-Inflammatory Foods
One may not be aware but a person's diet plays an important role in causing inflammation. Most of the time, foods rich in vegetable oils, spices, and sugars lead to inflammation. Foods that cause inflammation are known as pro inflammatory foods. Most of the junk and processed foods like chips, fried foods, soft drinks, baked foods, etc. fall in this category and hence, lead to inflammation. Also, red meat and certain milk based products that are high in fat content result in inflammation. Therefore, it is essential to limit or avoid consumption of these foodstuffs. On the contrary, there are several other foodstuffs that contain anti-inflammatory agents that help in reducing inflammation in the body. These are known as anti-inflammatory foods. The following is the anti-inflammatory foods list that will be helpful to you.

Natural Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Foods containing essential omega-3 fatty acids are very beneficial in treating inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It is mostly found in sea foods and fish. Secondly, curcumin (found in turmeric) and oleic acid (found in nuts like almonds) are other components found in certain foodstuffs which reduce inflammation. Also, several foodstuffs in the anti-inflammatory diet contain antioxidants that inhibit reactions caused by oxygen. The following is the list of the best anti-inflammatory foods.
  • Vegetables
    • Bell Peppers
    • Broccoli
    • Spinach
    • Brussels Sprouts
    • Cabbage
    • Olives
    • Cauliflower
    • Collards
    • Fennel Bulb
    • Mushrooms
    • Sweet potatoes
    • Green Beans
    • Asparagus
    • Spring Onions
    • Kale
    • Kelp
    • Leeks
    • Turnip
    • Olives
  • Fruits
    • Plums
    • Apples
    • Hazelnuts
    • Papaya
    • Avocados
    • Watermelon
    • Black Currants
    • Grapes
    • Blueberries
    • Guavas
    • Peaches
    • Almonds
    • Kiwifruit
    • Kumquats
    • Lemons
    • Rhubarb
    • Walnuts
    • Oranges
    • Raspberries
    • Mulberries
    • Strawberries
  • Meat and Dairy
    • Salmon
    • Tuna
    • Sardines
    • Eggs
    • Cod
    • Striped Bass
    • Dog fish
    • Herring
    • Oysters
    • Whitefish
  • Others
    • Turmeric
    • Brown rice
    • Basil
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Cocoa
    • Green tea
    • Oregano
    • Soybean
    • Parsley
People suffering from inflammation should plan their diet such that maximum aforementioned foods are included in the diet everyday. One of the other advantages of these anti-inflammatory foods is that they also contain vitamins, proteins and other essential minerals required by our body. For e.g., most of the vegetables and fruits are rich in fibers and carbohydrates; fish and eggs contain good amounts of proteins; and nuts and seeds contain the essential oils and fats. Apart from the foods mentioned above, green tea also contains certain anti-inflammatory components that help in reducing inflammation. It is recommended to have a cup of green tea everyday, as it also helps in reducing risks of heart diseases.

These were some anti-inflammatory foods that help in treatment and prevention of inflammation. Lastly, one should also remember that along with the diet, regular exercise also helps in enhancing immunity and keeping diseases at bay. Take care!