The Anti-Inflammatory Diet – The What, Why & Does It Work?

Some chronic health concerns revolve around inflammation of the body. When joints swell on a consistent basis, for example, that’s rheumatoid arthritis. One way to reduce or even eliminate such swelling is the change your diet to one that is anti inflammatory. Certain foods can cause swelling in the body, or make the body more likely to swell. And other foods not only don’t have this issue, they can do the opposite and encourage the body to reduce existing swelling that might exist.

The basis of the anti inflammatory diet is high quality fruits and vegetables, accompanied by equally healthy carbohydrate sources. The plant based foods are high in antioxidants and have little or no chance of causing chronic swelling. The good carb sources will be ones that are fiber rich, which helps maintain good metabolic health and regular digestion. That fiber also helps minimize the impacts of meat consumption.

As for meat sources, fish protein is better than animal meat. Fish is generally very healthy, full of omega-3 fatty acids and low in fat. It’s also loaded with several key vitamins that help promote anti inflammation. Spices are another central aspect to this diet; cinnamon and turmeric are both good at reducing swelling and helping achieve the central goal of the anti inflammation diet.

Eliminate: Processed carbs, Pink meats, High saturated fat foods

Reduce:   Dairy, Pork, Fats, Sugars

You may lose weight with this diet.   But again weight loss is about calories consumed versus calories burned, so you would still need to be aware of the amount of calories you are eating if weight loss is your goal.