Inflammation is one of those things that it seems no matter how many supplements we take to help combat it and its effects on our bodies, it somehow still manages to work its way in. However, I might just have the trick that will finally allow you to get rid of that inflammation that we all dread. This can simply be done with the foods that we put into our bodies. Adding certain foods into our diets, as well as taking away others, can help with getting rid of inflammation. Here is a list of ways we can look to make changes in our diets that will not only help us with inflammation but also help improve our overall diet.
Eat a Varied and Well-Balanced Diet
Eating a varied and balanced diet is one of the most important things when it comes to any type of diet, and gives us numerous benefits. One of the benefits that we can see from having this well-balanced diet is it will help us get rid of inflammation in the body. The easiest way to do this is just by making sure that we have a good balance of fats, carbs, and protein. In addition to that, making sure that we are taking in our recommended daily amount of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Taking in the right amount of each of those will help our bodies function to their full potential, and therefore will help them successfully fight off those unwanted annoyances such as inflammation.
Try and Incorporate Foods Rich in Omega-3s
Omega-3s are extremely beneficial for our bodies, yet most of us lack getting in the proper amount that we need. Omega-3s have been found to contain one of the best anti-inflammatory properties and have even been found to lower the risk of a number of different chronic conditions. When it comes to consuming Omega-3s, men should look to consume 1.6 grams per day, while women should consume 1.1 grams. Omega-3s are most commonly found in seafood, flaxseed, avocado, walnuts, beans, and vegetable oils. However, we can also take Omega-3 supplements if we don’t eat much of these foods to help us get up to our desired Omega-3 levels.
Go For Natural Sweeteners Instead of Refined Sugars
Most of the foods that we know and love are made with refined sugars. Not only are these sugars bad for our overall health, but in addition, they can actually also cause more inflammation in our bodies. This is why when it comes to sweeteners, we want to try and steer more towards natural sweeteners. Things like stevia or honey are great natural sweeteners that we can use to sweeten up our foods or drinks. Also, fruits and vegetables such as apricots, apples, watermelon and carrots are also good sources that contain lots of phytonutrients. A final way that we can add natural flavors is by adding herbs and spices. We can add herbs and spices that are already known for helping to reduce inflammation such as: ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, rosemary, garlic, and black pepper.
Avoid Processed Foods
This is a recurring theme when it comes to anything with healthy eating. Eating processed foods provides us no benefit nutritionally, and in the long run may end up causing us more problems than anything. All of the processed foods are fatty and greasy foods that don’t only make us feel terrible, but they can also make it harder for our bodies to recover due to the lack of nutritional content. Because of this, we tend to experience more inflammation in our bodies. This includes foods such as processed meats, all fast food, chips, pretzels, sweets, and bread. Even beginning to eliminate items such as soda and alcohol will also help our bodies begin to fight off inflammation on their own.
Eat Lots of Fruits and Vegetables
This is another one of those things that we seem to hear over and over when it comes to eating healthy and taking a look at our diets. But us hearing this over and over must mean it actually works then right?! One of the reasons that we hear that we need to eat more fruits and vegetables is not only because most of us don’t eat our recommended amounts, but also because fruits and vegetables provide us with numerous health benefits. One of the first benefits we get from fruits and vegetables is they are rich in fiber, which makes them great for improving our overall health and keeping us fuller for longer amounts of time. In addition to that, fruits and vegetables are filled with phytonutrients, as well as vitamins and antioxidants. Not only will consuming these help your body fight off illnesses and infections, but it will also help your body fight off inflammation.
As you can see, there are several ways that we can help our bodies fight off inflammation without having to take several supplements a day. Being more conscious of what we are putting into our bodies when we eat can be all we need to get rid of that pesky inflammation. So next time you feel that inflammation is sneaking up, take a look at what you’ve been eating and try to begin to make changes. Sometimes making some small adjustments can have a huge impact.
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