Fight Inflammation with Diet

Inflammation is a driver for many types of disease processes from Alzheimer’s to Cancer and Heart Disease.  Inflammation also plays a role in tight muscles and chronic pains.  If you haven’t ever tried an anti-inflammation diet, then you probably don’t know just how good your body can feel. 

There are 8 easy rules to follow:

• No Processed foods
• Strive to eat 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day – with an emphasis on colors, extra points for red, blue and dark greens. 
• Proteins should be primarily fish, beans and whole soy products like tofu and tempeh.  Lean meats, eggs and cheese limit to 2 servings per week.
• Eat lots of fats each day including extra virgin olive oil, avocados, seeds and nuts, walnut or hazelnut oils. 
• Eat whole grains like brown, white or wild rice, barley, oats and quinoa daily.  Can also have rice noodles and Japanese noodles like udon and soba up to 3 servings a week.
• Drink lots of water and white, green or oolong teas daily.
• Include turmeric, ginger, garlic, chili peppers, cinnamon in your cooking
• Eat 70% dark chocolate as your dessert

Following these 8 rules will make sure that you get lots of antioxidants and plenty of fiber.  It is uncomfortable at first to forgo a lot of processed diet staples but eating whole foods like this should be our norm.  The processed foods should be treats only on occassion, and actually become less attractive once you eliminate the chips/crackers and cereals completely.  A diet like this is great to try for two weeks but if you can find a good rhythm with it, this is a long-term solution to reducing inflammation in your body.  Eating this way can help cure some common aches and pains while also helping prevent major health concerns.  Give it a try - you have everything to gain!