Chances are, you’ve probably heard the word inflammation thrown around in natural health circles. It’s a buzz word that’s gotten a lot of attention in the scientific community as we try to better understand the role it plays in human health.
If you’ve ever twisted your ankle, you know that pretty soon after the adrenaline and shock wears off, your ankle is in throbbing pain and very swollen. This is your body’s natural defenses kicking in— and it’s totally normal. The inflammation (or swelling) helps defend against injury and turns on a variety of healing mechanisms the body has to heal itself so it can return to a state of symbiosis, or balance.
So it’s not black or white— inflammation is not inherently bad. However— too much internal inflammation can be very bad. This type of inflammation might not be visible like a swollen ankle, and instead shows up on lab tests and in the many symptoms of inflammation, such as weight gain and some diseases.
Inflammation can be caused by many lifestyle factors including:
Toxicity — from misuse of drugs, the environment or bad habits like smoking.
Diet — from a highly processed, standard American diet high in sugar.
Stress — from unresolved emotional trauma, stressful work, and sleep deprivation.
Too many times, people who are experiencing inflammation will treat the symptom, without ever treating the underlying cause. This is why I tell patients trying to lose weight, to focus less on calories in and out or what the scale says— and focus more on adding powerful, anti-inflammatory foods that are both filling and healing.
Diet is an extremely powerful and effective way to treat inflammation. Below are our top three anti-inflammatory food recommendations to add into your diet starting today. Worry less on restriction or removing foods, and just focus on adding these.
1. Turmeric
Turmeric is an Indian spice, known for it’s strong, earthy flavor. It contains a nutrient called curcumin, a very powerful anti-inflammatory agent known to help with inflammation-caused issues like arthritis, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. It is a very trusted and effective remedy— even for acute conditions, like headaches or athletic injury.
When combined with piperine from black pepper— curcumin absorption is improved by up to 2,000%! While adding these to food can be very healthy, taking a concentrated, isolated supplement version can be much more effective.
Functional Supplement Recommendation — Turmero. A powerful blend of concentrated turmeric and black pepper, designed to give you the maximum benefit of these food pairings in a convenient capsule form. Available in clinic only to current patients, call to inquire.
2. Berries & Grapes
Anthocyanins are an anti-oxidant found in berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. They are known to be anti-inflammatory and reduce risks for certain diseases. Similarly, grapes are an excellent source of resveratrol, a similar compound which fights inflammation.
Functional Supplement Recommendation — Resvero. A proprietary blend of Resveratrol, a powerful anti-inflammatory phenol founds in grapes, in a convenient capsule form. Available in clinic only to current patients, call to inquire.
3. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens, like spinach, mixed greens, kale, and broccoli contain vitamins A, C, E, K and many B vitamins. Greens also contain carotenoids antioxidants. These protect your body’s cells and can contribute to blocking early stages of cancer. Also, the abundance of fiber in greens, helps populate your gut full of balanced flora and keep you satiated longer and regular. Inflammation starts in the gut— so eating fiber rich, green foods is an awesome way to fight inflammation and stay healthy.
Functional Supplement Recommendation — Nourish Greens. A powerful blend of concentrated greens, designed to give you the maximum benefit of leafy greens in a convenient powder form. Available in clinic only to current patients, call to inquire.
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At Deep Roots Natural Medicine, we employ various methods such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Functional Medicine to help patients transform their outcomes. If any of these foods or supplement recommendations feel right to you, contact us today at 312-759-7600 to schedule a consultation.