Diet to Reduce Inflammation

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet is  a special diet designed to help reduce chronic inflammation in the body.  Now, inflammation is not always a bad thing - it’s actually the body’s natural response  to injury, pain, illness or stress.  For example, if you accidentally cut your finger, it will become hot and swollen - in other words inflamed- and this is an important part of the healing process.

If that inflammation lasts indefinitely, however, for example in your arteries or in your joints, it becomes what we call chronic,  and that’s not a good thing because it’s causes stress on your body and impacts your health. 

Conditions like, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes - virtually every condition and disease known to man is accompanied by chronic inflammation in the body.  So it makes good sense to try to help your body stay healthy by eating a diet that aims to reduce inflammation. 

The Focus of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet

And that’s exactly what the Anti-Inflammatory Diet is supposed to do.  It emphasizes foods that are fresh, nutritious and unprocessed. For example, fresh fruit and vegetables, lean animal protein, nuts, seeds and healthy fats and oils - especially those that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.  Refined and sugary foods, as well as those in the nightshade family are generally avoided.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Anti-Inflammatory diet - including specific foods to enjoy and avoid - please visit About.com