Fight chronic inflammation by adding these foods to your smoothies or juice
Inflammation is a necessary part of the body’s immune response. It is the body’s endeavor to heal itself after an injury; defend itself against foreign invaders, like viruses and bacteria; and repair damaged tissue. For example, if you scrape your knee, the skin around that area gets red, warm, and a little puffy. This is acute inflammation and is a healthy response to the damage you suffered. Without inflammation, wounds would fester and infections could become deadly. Inflammation can also be problematic since it plays a role in some chronic diseases.
Chronic inflammation can cause heart disease, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, lung related issues and other illnesses. The components that can lead to chronic inflammation are personal genetics, a lack of exercise, stress, and exposure to toxins; yet the most significant causes is diet. Many of the foods common in most American diets cause chronic inflammation and resulting in illnesses.
The typical American diet contains inflammatory foods, like Trans fats, which are common in processed foods, sugar, and alcohol all of which cause inflammation. Fats from factory farmed animal sources including dairy and meat.
To reduce your overall amount of chronic inflammation, it is important to eliminate, or at least limit, the foods that cause it and increase your consumption of foods that inhibit inflammation. Here are some foods that fight inflammation and work well in many juice and smoothie recipes.
- Turmeric
The yellow pigment in turmeric is called curcumin. It has been shown in research to block chemicals in your body that produce inflammation - Ginger
Ginger reduces inflammation. Ginger root can be found at nearly any grocery store. Peel the skin off and put small pieces of the root into your smoothies. Ginger can soothe an upset stomach. - Berries
Any berry is a great ingredient in a smoothie. They taste great, add a natural sweetness and a beautiful color, and they reduce inflammation. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, as well as similar fruits like pomegranates and cherries are packed with flavonoids, compounds that are known to reduce inflammation. - Chia Seeds
These nutritious little seeds are high in omega-three fatty acids, which most of us need to increase in our daily diets. Many Americans consume an incorrect ratio of omega-three to omega-six fatty acids, and this leads to inflammation. By increasing the amount of omega-three fatty acids in your diet, you can reduce it. - Kiwi and Pineapple
These two flavorful tropical fruits are sweet and delicious, they can also reduce inflammation. Both are high in natural enzymes that enter your bloodstream and break down the proteins and other molecules involved in the inflammation pathway. - Greens
Greens, like kale, spinach, or chard can help reduce inflammation as they are high in the mineral magnesium. Research shows that people with a lot of chronic inflammation tend to have low levels of magnesium. Add a cup of greens to your next recipe and you will get all the nutrition without the flavor. - Tea
Green, white, and oolong tea are full of antioxidants and these are compounds that can limit inflammation. The antioxidants destroy free radicals in your body. These are compounds that cause a type of damage called oxidative stress, which in turn can cause inflammation. Use tea as the liquid in your next smoothie.
Take the necessary steps to lower chronic inflammation and reduce your risk of contracting heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and other inflammation-related conditions. Put the right foods into your smoothies, avoid the bad foods, and make some lifestyle changes. Get on the road to excellent health with less inflammation.
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