Are you afraid that you will get prone to diseases with age? Medical conditions like arthritis, inflammation, and joint stiffness concern most middle-aged people. The real issues are that such diseases hamper your ability to perform daily tasks. Inflammation is one of the major setbacks that people experience with age. Inflammation may seem harmless, but it causes various issues such as redness, swelling, and stiff joints. Loss of energy is also one of the critical factors that happen due to inflammation in the body. Controlling inflammation through natural remedies and foods is the best way. Hence, we mention some foods that beat inflammation and provide instant relief. Let’s begin!
What is inflammation?
Before we dive right into the food that reduces inflammation, let’s look at what it is and its effects on the body. Inflammation is a condition that causes redness, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. When a particular part of your body is getting infected, the white blood cells in your body create a chemical for defense. The chemical flows to the target area, and fluids often seep into the tissues causing swelling. Some symptoms of inflammation are headache, joint stiffness, body ache, loss of energy, fatigue, fever, chills, etc.
Foods that help reduce inflammation
Inflammation has various causes; however, eating few foods can help reduce it significantly. You must run to the grocery store and get yourself these foods if you deal with inflammation often. Here are some foods:
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Citrus foods
We know most people run miles away from fruits, and the idea of having them does not cut it for them. However, you need to lose something to gain something. If you have packet fruit juice, try to make fresh fruit juice for yourself. Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, oranges, and kiwi are magical for inflammation. Berry smoothies are one of the critical resources for athletes to recover from an intense practice session.
They have a lot of vitamin C, which helps in boosting energy and reducing swelling. On the other hand, the anti-inflammatory properties of fruits are exceptional in helping you prevent infections in your body. If you don’t like consuming raw fruits, try to add them to your smoothies and have them as a healthy snack.
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Turmeric
You must be living in an alternative universe if you haven’t heard of turmeric benefits and how it helps with almost every medical condition. The magical spice is a part of Asian cuisine used in almost every dish. One of the critical properties of Turmeric is the anti-inflammation property. The spice is known to heal faster and keep bacterial infections at bay.
Curcumin content in Turmeric is significantly high, so it helps with osteoarthritis. The high antioxidant content helps regulate normal body function and strengthen the immune system. Turmeric for inflammation works phenomenally; hence, you can consume it in its raw form or apply its paste to the target area. Turmeric does leave a stain; hence, you must be cautious when using it.
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Avocados and fatty fish
Fatty acids play a pivotal role in regulating healthy body functions and reducing the risk of catching fatal diseases. Sources such as avocados and fatty fishes are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps in a better lubrication of joints.
You are less likely to catch diseases such as metabolic syndrome, arthritis, diabetes, and kidney issues if you eat such foods. Avocados are the best for inflammation as they are rich in magnesium and potassium. If you don’t like avocados or fatty fish, you can consume fish oil tablets daily, especially in winters.
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Mushrooms
Who does not like devouring buttery mushrooms with an English breakfast each morning? You will start to love mushrooms even more after knowing their ability to reduce low-grade obesity. They are high in phenols which is an excellent source of antioxidants.
Foods rich in antioxidants are known to lower inflammation and redness. The first to reduce inflammation is managing your weight. Researchers found that mushrooms help with obesity and weight management. Hence, it is a great food to incorporate and absorb its unconditional benefits into your daily lives.
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Dark chocolate
Chocolates are many people’s weaknesses, but they make you weaker over time. Dealing with inflammation is not all fun, and games, eating sugary and milky chocolates can worsen your condition. If you can’t beat the itch to have chocolate all the time, replace milk chocolates with dark chocolates.
Did you know dark chocolate is filled with antioxidants? That’s surprising, but the cocoa content within dark chocolate makes it rich in antioxidants which helps reduce inflammation significantly. Now, you can kill two birds from the same stone, have chocolate and still improve your health.
Foods to prevent when dealing with inflammation
They say health is wealth, and it is crucial to do everything to keep your wealth intact. If you deal with inflammation often, boycott these foods:
- Desserts are a strict no for inflammation as they are rich in sucrose and fructose, which hamper the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Carbohydrates can trigger inflammation as they have no fiber, which helps digestion and is stored within the body.
- Trans fats from vegetable oil can weaken your immune system over time; they should be avoided overall.
- Consuming alcohol can cause bacterial growth in your body, attacking your immune system in the long run.
- Red meat is not the safest choice for people dealing with inflammation as it is tough to digest.
Sadly, many people in their late 30s and early 40s deal with inflammation which can turn into arthritis. Preventative measures are much better than treatment; hence, making your health a priority is a must. Incorporating healthy foods into your lifestyle will save you from falling into a ditch. On the other hand, making yourself fond of healthy foods will help you significantly in the long run.
