In all the years that I have worked with people with autoimmune and inflammatory health problems, I have always been amazed by how many people believe that what you eat has no effect on the amount of pain and inflammation you experience. Well, I’m here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth.
It breaks my heart to see you and so many others suffering unnecessarily. And worst of all, it doesn’t have to be this way. A few simple changes in the way you eat can result in dramatic improvements in how you feel, sometimes in a matter of days.
If you think of inflammation as fire and your body’s defense against it like firefighters, you can view food in a whole new way. Certain foods increase the fire and paralyze the firefighters. Other foods reduce the fire and strengthen the firefighters.
Anti-inflammatory medications work by decreasing the body’s production of inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins. You can think of inflammatory prostaglandins as fire. The problem with taking the drugs is that they also disable firefighters, also known as anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. What that means is that as soon as you stop taking the medications, the inflammation returns, sometimes worse than before because now your firefighters are sleeping on the job.
Choosing the right foods can dramatically increase or decrease inflammation, pain, and stiffness. There are many ways to control inflammation without medication. I would like to share three of them with you.
- Get an oil change. The fats you eat can dramatically affect the amount of inflammation your body produces. The most inflammatory fats are trans fats, which are found in partially hydrogenated oils and all heated polyunsaturated vegetable oils. These are found in all processed and packaged foods: cookies, crackers, desserts, and prepackaged meals. Meat, poultry, milk, and peanuts contain arachidonic acid, a precursor to inflammatory prostaglandins. Avoid them for a few weeks and see how much better you feel. Deep-sea fish contain anti-inflammatory fats, but the FDA warns against consuming fish more than once a week, due to the risk of heavy metal contamination. Flax, chia and hemp seeds, green leafy vegetables, and sea vegetables also contain anti-inflammatory fats and are safe to consume on a daily basis.
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidants and minerals, alkalizing.. To make more firefighters, you need B vitamins, vitamin C, and minerals like zinc and magnesium. Processed foods are deficient in these key nutrients and also deplete your stores of B vitamins. Fresh vegetables and fruits alkalize your body and provide you with the vitamins and minerals you need to build more firefighters.
- Use anti-inflammatory herbs and spices. There are several herbs that are extremely effective in putting out a fire. Among the most potent are ginger, turmeric, onion, and garlic. Other foods, such as berries, cherries, and grapes contain bioflavinoids that decrease inflammation. Use generous amounts of herbs and spices in your food preparation.
Living with pain and inflammation is no fun! While medications can provide temporary relief, they are not without side effects. Try these simple tips, and as your body regains balance, inflammation will become a thing of the past.