Inflammation is a natural response our bodies assume when we are faced with stress, illness, and even trauma. When the body is faced with some foreign irritant, it sends out white blood cells to heal itself. This can cause swelling and even bloating in the case of an inflamed gut lining. Inflammation is widely considered as an undesirable state to be in, hence the popularity and trendiness of anti-inflammatory diets, supplements, and products on the market. It turns out, nature has provided us with an abundance of foods, herbs, and roots that contain beneficial chemicals that have been shown in some cases to help decrease inflammation caused by allergies, processed foods, arthritis, and more. We decided to compile a list of the six most effective remedies for inflammation to get you feeling as good as possible.
1. Green Tea
Technically, all teas have anti-inflammatory properties, however, green tea specifically ranks as number one. When the unoxidized tea leaves are steamed, the polyphenols in the leaf are preserved which combat inflammation. There are numerous studies that have been conducted over the years to prove the benefit of green tea in animal, human, and cellular experiments. The major component of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), successfully suppresses inflammation-related enzymes. Try swapping out your morning coffee for green tea or try to drink a cup after a meal to help mitigate bloating and/or inflammation.
2. Ginger
Ginger root has an extensive history in herbal medicine and Southeast Asian cooking. It contains chemicals such as gingerol and zingerone that help with digestive issues and nausea. Most people can probably recall grabbing a can of ginger ale when they have a stomachache. Another benefit of ginger is its power to balance blood sugar and cholesterol. Ginger tastes great and can really elevate any dish as well. An easy way to incorporate ginger into your diet is adding it into a tofu stir fry or in your morning juice.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric has been the It Girl of the health and wellness milieu for a few years now, and for good reason! Commonly used in Indian cuisine, turmeric contains a chemical called curcumin. In eastern medicine, turmeric, like ginger, has been used for thousands of years to help combat both inflammation and oxidants. Because of its high concentration of curcumin, it also may decrease muscle recovery time in active people and athletes, aid with anxiety, and arthritis.
4. Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and cranberries have tons of antioxidants and anti-inflammation properties. Some studies show that a diet that incorporates berries correlates to lower risks of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. Berries taste delicious and can be eaten for breakfast, as snacks, and as dessert too.
5. Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is currently considered as a superfood supplement. It has proven anti-inflammation properties among many other benefits such as anti-aging, antioxidant, and iron boosting qualities. It’s eco-friendly and when taken alongside probiotics, it can enhance the body’s gut health by promoting growth of beneficial intestinal microbiota. Because spirulina comes in the form of a powder, it’s super easy to add a teaspoon or two to a smoothie or acai bowl.
6. CBD
While there are still very few studies on CBD combating inflammation in humans, the studies that have been done on animals show positive effects of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory results as a direct result of cannabidiol. In the future, we can probably expect more concrete studies linking the evidence of CBD’s effect on inflammation and pain. A benefit of utilizing CBD for pain and inflammation is that it’s easy to dose, it kicks in fast, it’s easy to incorporate into daily life, and it’s available online.
