Reduce pain and inflammation with these foods

Are you suffering with pain and inflammation? Did you wake up this morning feeling stiff? Do you have sore muscles? Are you overweight? Do you have poor concentration or poor memory?

We all have our moments of excess, whether it’s with alcohol, fried food, coffee or sugar, but these inflammatory foods may be contributing to our weight gain, high blood pressure and stiff joints. Inflammation has also been implicated in mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Why suffer when food may help you?

There are lots of ways that we can help combat this process in the body besides exercise and cutting out the foods that encourage it, but these are my top 3 foods you can include on a regular basis while you gradually change your lifestyle.

1. Eat more curries and feel less sore!

Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Photo courtesy of greenkitchenstories

Curry powder contains turmeric, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It’s been used traditionally in Chinese and Indian systems of medicine to treat many conditions. Clinical studies demonstrate its active ingredient curcumin is comparable to potent drugs such as hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over the counter anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen. Unlike drugs, which result in side effects such as ulcer formation, intestinal bleeding and decreased white blood cell count, curcumin produces no toxicity. Other studies demonstrate effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis and its anti-oxidant capabilities enable it to protect against cancer from DNA damage.

2. Olive oil reduces swelling

Olive oil is an important part of the Mediterranean diet.

Extra virgin olive oil reduces inflammatory markers and actually promote ‘healthy ageing’!  Olive oil is part of the well-researched Mediterranean diet and recognised world wide as contributing to good health and longevity because of the monounsaturated fats. But that’s not the only reason.

The other main reason for this effect is that olive oil contains polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that changes abnormal cell activity. This is excellent news as olive oil is so easy to find. For the highest level polyphenols and best effect on your health, buy and store your oil in dark glass bottles.

3. Drink ginger tea to lessen pain

Fresh ginger tea

Ginger has been used effectively for gastrointestinal issues for centuries. In herbal medicine, ginger is also used as an excellent carminative and spasmolytic. That’s a substance that promotes the elimination of intestinal wind and relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract. Its active ingredient gingerol and other active ingredients also help with nausea. Like turmeric, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and has been effective in reducing the pain and swelling of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis as well as muscular discomfort. Consume it raw, cooked or drunk in tea.