The Best Anti Inflammatory Foods and Supplements

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation can cause many diseases and disorders in the body but there are ways to prevent it and this post is a great resource.

Inflammation is the body's response to something unfamiliar in the body like bacteria, virus or toxic substances. The result can be swelling or bruising as well as many other ailments that you may not be able to see.

As someone who has had certain viruses and autoimmune diseases countless times and they continue to wreak havoc on my body, I am always looking for ways to reduce inflammation in my body. Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases attack healthy cells in the body and all of mine typically present in the joints.

Inflammation can really wreak havoc in your body, both acutely (suddenly) and chronically (continually). I have been fighting chronic inflammation for years and decided to share my findings with you.

It's been years that I have been fighting the effects of inflammation and I most likely have tried every nutrition recommendation that's out there. Hopefully this post helps to prevent you from wasting money and buying products and food that actually help you.

I just experienced my 4th intestinal blockage so although I am extremely careful about what I put into my body, I want to pay extra attention to reducing inflammation.

Looking for some healthy anti-inflammatory recipes? You will love this Carrot Ginger Soup and especially this Slow Cooker Thai Curried Chicken Soup!

All of these would be even more yummy with some Eggnog Latte, Low Carb Bulletproof Hot Chocolate, Apple Chai Latte and definitely some Spiked Apple Cider.

Also, my cookbooks are both on sale now and would make a great gift! The Everything Wheat Free Diet Cookbook and The Greek Yogurt Cookbook are both the lowest prices I have seen!

Best Anti Inflammatory Foods

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil - One of the healthiest fats to cook and consume. Olive oil is rich in anti-oxidants and has been shown to be a powerful anti-inflammatory.
• Berries - Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries all contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Studies show they are great at fighting inflammation and supporting your immune system.
• Green tea - One of my absolute favorites! Green tea or matcha is one of the most nutritious beverages you can drink. Loaded with powerful antioxidants that help fight against diseases and obesity.
• Fatty Fish - These are a great source of omega-3-fatty acids that help reduce inflammation in the body. Some sources of fatty fish are salmon, sardines, mackeral and anchovies.
• Avocados - Packed with potassium, magnesium, fiber and heart healthy fats. Avocados also contain carotenoids which have shown to prevent certain diseases.
• Dark chocolate - This is great news, huh? Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants, may improve brain function, lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol. I enjoy a small piece of dark chocolate to help with sweet cravings.
• Spices - There are so many flavorful spices you can add to your dishes that will have a strong anti-inflammatory effect and most you can easily find in the grocery store. Turmeric (Curcumin), Ginger, Cinnamon, Garlic, Cayenne and Black Pepper are all wonderful examples.

Best Anti Inflammatory Supplements

Of course as a Nutritionist, I will always recommend getting all of your vitamins and nutrients through whole foods, but I am also a busy, working mom that understands that isn't always realistic. I realize we can't always eat perfectly and well balanced so here are the best anti inflammatory supplements that I recommend that we can pair with following a whole food diet.

Prioritizing eating anti inflammatory foods is always the first choice and supplementing is also beneficial.

• Turmeric - I take two of these Turmeric supplements every morning to help relive my symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. These are allergy friendly, GMO free and are an extremely powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
• Ginger - These ginger supplements are vegan, organic and are 100% pure ginger root and nothing else. Ginger helps to calm nausea, has shown to lower blood sugar and blood pressure and helps with digestion, gas and bloating.
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids - This supplement is one of the best anti-inflammatories for brain and heart health. This is best taken daily with food to increase the absorption.
• Vitamin D - This is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that has shown to help immune support and bone health. Vitamin D is best taken with Vitamin K2 because it helps make sure Calcium is absorbed in the body. Vitamin D should also be take with food to increase the absorption.

Inflammatory Foods to Avoid or to Eat Sparingly

• Processed foods- Probably the most obvious choice for many but potato chips, fast food, packaged foods (like donuts, muffins and cookies) and products with large amounts of refined sugar should be eliminated or eaten sparingly.
• Processed meats, especially ready to eat, cured meats like bacon, deli meat, ham and hot dogs. If you do enjoy these foods make sure they say "nitrate free" and "uncured".
• Sugar sweetened beverages- yes that includes your favorite coffee drinks! Soda, sports drinks and sweetened teas and coffee contain almost if not more sugar than some donuts and cakes in grocery stores.
• Fried foods especially those that are cooked in vegetable and seed oils which are extremely inflammatory.
• Refined grains and bread products like white bread, white rice, pasta and breakfast cereal.

*I am not saying that you can't enjoy these foods in moderation. This post is strictly for education purposes.