Science has discovered close connections between food, inflammation and various diseases. Eat yourself healthy. It’s easier than you think!
What causes inflammation? Stress, lack of exercise, genetic predisposition, and exposure to toxins can all contribute to chronic inflammation, but dietary choices play a big role as well.
“Learning how specific foods influence the inflammatory process is the best strategy for containing it and reducing long-term disease risks.” Dr. Andrew Weil.
We can see inflammation when it occurs on the outside of our bodies, but what about when it occurs on our insides? Chronic inflammation may look like this: cancer, heart-disease, arthritis, colitis, asthma (to name a few).
The Anti-Inflammatory Diet
How do we control inflammation with food? By selecting and preparing foods that will reduce inflammation as well as provide steady energy by being rich in vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids & fibre.
Simple Eating Habits to Combat Inflammation:
- Include as many whole foods as possible
- Minimize your consumption of processed foods, refined foods & fast food
- Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables of different varieties including bright colours and the cruciferous kin
- Eat more whole grains
- Eat more beans, winter squash & sweet potatoes
- Eat a plethora of avocado, nuts & seeds
- Incorporate Omega-3 Fatty Acids by including flax, flax-oil, hemp seeds, hemp-seed oil, chia seeds & algal oil in your diet
- Use raw oils: olive & coconut
- Include organic soy in your diet
- Drink herbal tea or good quality white, green or oolong instead of coffee
- Dark chocolate (70%+) as a small treat daily
- Choose one serving of red wine over other alcoholic beverages
HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE! Drink more water! Or drinks that are MOSTLY water (tea, very diluted fruit juice, water with lemon, mint, cucumber) throughout the day.
I, personally, am on a new cold herbal tea kick (trying to manifest better weather, maybe?!).
I brew a few litres of tea per day and cool them in 1L jars.When they have cooled, they go in the fridge.
I drink 3L of cold tea per day – it’s so easy when you like the taste!
Ok, so what about Supplements you ask?
Well, that is more of a personalized regime. As a nutritionist, and in a perfect world, I want everyone to get their nutrients from FOOD and use supplements only as insurance when needed, however, I do understand that supplements are imperative in certain cases.
For most clients, I recommend supplements for temporary trials depending on the assessment. But, for purposes of this informative post, for inflammation, I would personally recommend a good turmeric supplement and a good dose of flax oil daily.
And there you have it folks! Calm down your insides, and help create an internal (thus external) environment perfect for balance & feeling GREAT!
Holistic Health Disclaimer: All information and services provided by Nikki Hurst & Veganomical Living Inc. are at all times restricted to consultation on the subject of health matters intended for general well-being and not meant for the purposes of medical diagnosis, treatment or prescribing of medicine for any disease, or any licensed or controlled act which may constitute the practice of medicine.
