6 Foods That Decrease Inflammation And Why You Should Eat Them

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Last Edited 9 years ago 5 min read

Inflammation is one of the most significant health problems that can result from your diet, but it's easy to overlook since some of the effects of chronic inflammation can go unnoticed. Inflammation can be described as the body's immune response which is used to fight off an infection, or in the case of food induced inflammation the immune response is caused by a compound in the food. For instance, it is now known that several people suffer from gluten sensitivity, and many gluten free foods are now labeled for those with Celiac disease and other gluten sensitivities. Gluten is a protein in wheat that causes an immune reaction, and it is one of the most common causes of inflammation, however it is not the only cause.

Why you should eat foods that reduce inflammation

Chronic inflammation is thought to be tied to many different chronic illnesses and health problems including allergies, heart disease, and even weight gain. Inflammation is thought to be tied to leptin production. Leptin is a hormone involved in appetite, and inflammation is thought to affect it. Chronic inflammation causes the body to release chemicals that interact with leptin. The chemicals involved in inflammation may cause the hormone to be less effective, which means that high leptin levels which are supposed to reduce appetite no longer have that effect, a condition that is called "ÂÂleptin resistance"ÂÂ by some.

Leptin resistance can be combated by eating more of the right foods that are known to reduce inflammation levels, and avoiding certain types of fat that are not healthy and cause inflammation. Omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation levels for example, while omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce them. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is highly recommended for most people who are trying to stay healthy and keep their inflammation levels low, but the best source for these important fatty acids is through diet. The foods below are known to be effective at reducing inflammation and have many other health benefits.

Avoiding wheat is important for reducing inflammation

Clearly, avoiding wheat is crucial for reducing inflammation levels since foods made with wheat have gluten. Some nutritionists and medical experts think that there are many more people who suffer from gluten sensitivities than previously thought. So, reducing inflammation by avoiding certain foods is just as important as eating the right foods.

Some of the foods that are known to cause inflammation include sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, omega-6 fatty acids (which are found in certain types of oil such as sunflower, soy, peanut, corn, safflower, and salad dressing oils), refined carbohydrates, MSG, casein (a protein found in dairy), aspartame, and alcohol. As you can see this list includes foods that you want to avoid for reasons outside of inflammation because foods like sugar and refined carbohydrates are known to lead to rapid weight gain. The added effects of inflammation that these foods cause are thought to make the weight gain effect even greater and more dangerous to long term health.

Below are some of the best foods to fight inflammation, and you should try to include as many of them in your diet as you can and notice if you have any improvements in your health, particularly weight loss. Low levels of inflammation may be tied to weight gain and even if you don't know where the inflammation is coming from you can reduce or eliminate it by eating these foods.

Inflammation Fighting Food #1 - Olive Oil

Olive oil, particularly extra virgin olive oil, has shown to be effective at reducing inflammation levels because it contains compounds that can reduce pain and inflammation called oleocanthal. The compound has a similar effect as painkillers, and it is in a higher concentration with extra virgin olive oil. And of course there are dozens of other health benefits for consuming olive oil on a regular basis including improved cardiovascular health and more.

Inflammation Fighting Food Â #2 - Berries

Berries and virtually every other fruit are good at fighting inflammation because they have high levels of antioxidants. Berries have substances called anthocyanins that give them their color, and these compouds have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have shown for example that women who eat strawberries regularly have lower levels of C-reactive protein in their blood.

Inflammation Fighting Â Food #3 - Fatty Fish

Fish of all types have proven to be a potent anti-inflammatory food. Fatty fish in particular have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which are effective at reducing inflammation levels. Omega-3 fatty acids can lower the risk of certain diseases such as heart disease and stroke. Most omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation levels while omega-6 fatty acids can increase inflammation levels. A modern diet often has too many omega-6 fatty acids so it is important to consume as many omega-3 fatty acids as possible to balance them out. Keep in mind that certain types of fish have high levels of mercury, PCBs and toxins, however wild Pacific and Alaskan salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Inflammation Fighting Â Food #4 - Tart Cherries

Cherries are thought to be an anti-inflammation superfood, and several studies have promoted the use of cherries to fight certain types of inflammation, particularly arthritis. In animal studies for example, cherry juice reduced inflammation levels in lab rats by up to 50%. Athletes who drink cherry juice also have a reduced need for anti-inflammatory medications and better performance. To get the anti-inflammatory effect of cherries, it is recommended to eat at least 1.5 cups of cherries per day and only tart cherries because sweet cherries do not have the same effect.

Inflammation Fighting Â Food #5 - Garlic

Garlic has several health benefits and one of its most potent effects is that it reduces inflammation levels by blocking some of the chemical pathways that medications like NSAIDs do. The diallyl sulfide and thiacremone in garlic have shown to have anti-arthritis properties among other chemicals, and similar chemicals can be found in onions. Garlic is such a strong anti-inflammatory food that it can substitute for NSAIDs in some cases. Garlic is thought to be helpful in fighting obesity for the reasons described above, with inflammation levels being potentially tied to obesity.

Inflammation Fighting Â Food #6 - Dark Leafy Vegetables

Dark leafy vegetables like spinach, collard greens, kale, broccoli and others are thought to reduce inflammation levels because they have high levels of Vitamin E, which is a key vitamin that protects the body from the damaging effects of inflammatory compounds. The darker the greens are the better, as the darker greens have many other vitamins, anti-oxidants and minerals in them. They also contain an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linoleic acid which has similar health benefits to the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your physician about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Nu Image Medical may not offer the medications or services mentioned in this article.

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6 Foods That Decrease Inflammation And Why You Should Eat Them

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

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6 Foods That Decrease Inflammation And Why You Should Eat Them

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