If You Deal With Inflammation, Keep These Foods On Hand
If you have an auto-immune disorder, there’s a good chance you deal with inflammation. Outside of that, there are other things that we all come into contact with daily that can cause inflammation in the body for certain people. Foods, toxins in the air, stress and other things could be contributing to inflammation in your body. But according to a dietitian, there are foods that can help reduce that inflammation.
In 2005, I was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease. Apparently, I’d had it a long time as my levels were at zero. My doctor was surprised I was still alive. Grave’s Disease is an immune system disorder resulting in the overproduction of thyroid hormone. After I was diagnosed, I took radioactive iodine the next day, which causes the body to go from hyper to hypo. I have to take medication to try and regulate my thyroid.
In 2020, I was having issues with joint pain, swelling, and I got this weird, itchy rash. After lots of doctors and tests, my rheumatologist said I either had Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis. I don’t get the rash often, so my guess is R.A. as my aunt also has it. I take meds which help, but daily I deal with random pain. For whatever reason, my left foot often feels like it’s broken. It’s not, it’s just the arthritis, but it sucks. When I wake up in the morning, it takes a few minutes to be able to walk properly. Good times!
Many people deal with autoimmune issues. Outside of medication, there are other things you can do to help your body. Exercising is great! Something I need to start doing. In addition, eating certain foods can be helpful.
Foods To Keep On Hand
According to Eating Well, Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RD says theses are foods that are good for reducing inflammation:
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Turmeric
- Canned tuna
- Kidney beans
- Almonds
- Canned tomato
- Garlic
As much as I love almonds, they don’t always agree with me. Walnuts are also good for you. I always have kidney beans in my cabinet along with pinto beans, black beans, and cannellini beans. I’m not sure if all kinds of beans reduce inflammation, but I do know they’re healthy and a great option for protein if you’re cutting back on meat. Canned tuna is something I also have around most of the time. I know it’s not for everyone, but I like it once in a while.
Cooking with extra-virgin olive oil is healthy and part of the very healthy Mediterranean diet. It’s the only oil I use when cooking. Canned tomatoes and fresh tomatoes, especially in summer, are so yummy! And it’s a versatile fruit. I know some people, like a former roommate, couldn’t eat garlic because it caused migraines, but I’m a huge fan!
There are other foods I’ve read about that can help with inflammation. Pineapple is supposed to be good, as are cherries and berries. Unfortunately, sugar is bad for inflammation, and that’s something I’m working on cutting out of my diet as much as possible. Now, I use cane sugar in my coffee and I’m not letting that go! But in the last year or so, I’ve been eating way too many treats. It’s caused inflammation in the form of fat! LOL!
If you Google foods that reduce inflammation, you’ll be able to find a food or foods that you enjoy. Pinterest also has some great charts you can check out.
These 8 Healthy Habits Could Add Decades To Your Life
1. Exercise
The study’s authors find that working out is one of the most important behaviors anyone can do to improve health. It can lead to a 46% decrease in the risk of death from any cause compared to those who don’t exercise.
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2. Not becoming addicted to opioids
Opioid addiction became an epidemic in America beginning in the 1990s, largely due to nefarious marketing tactics and over-prescription. Avoiding a dependency on opioid drugs can reduce the risk of early death by 38%.
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3. Never using tobacco
The study finds that never smoking can lower the risk of death by 29%. However, even if you have used tobacco products, stopping at any point in life comes with major health benefits.
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4. Managing stress
While some amount of stress will always be with us, especially during our working years, it behooves us to find ways of reducing its effect on our health. Managing your stress can reduce the risk of early death by 22%, according to the study.
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5. Eating a plant-based diet
This is one of the most challenging ones on the list. Shifting to a plant-based diet requires real commitment, but it appears to be worth the effort. The study shows doing so could raise your chance of living longer by 21%.
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6. Avoiding binge drinking
Not having more than four alcoholic drinks a day reduces the risk of death by 19%, study results show. As with opioids, alcohol addiction can lead to devastating outcomes, both for the user and the people around them.
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7. Getting a good night’s sleep
Along with managing stress, it pays to be mindful of one’s sleep. The study’s authors say that at least seven hours a night can reduce early death by 18%. I think it’s even worth investing in some things, like a humidifier, that can help with your sleep quality.
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8. Having positive social relationships
The COVID-19 pandemic showed what social isolation can do to a person’s well-being. Loneliness has actually been called an epidemic of its own, especially among the elderly. We all need supportive people in our lives. Those healthy relationships with family and friends can help boost longevity by 5%.
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