Inflammation is part of the body’s natural defense system, and in the right amount, it can be a good thing. But when your immune system isn’t working right, inflammation can get out of hand, causing a constant fire inside your body that can lead to disease, weight gain, and other problems.
What we eat is one of the most important things we can do to cause or stop inflammation:
• Processed food causes inflammation, oxidative stress, hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances, overloads your detoxification system, drains your energy, damages your microbiome, and changes your gene expression to turn on disease-causing genes.
• Food that is real, whole, and full of nutrients and phytonutrients does the opposite. It stops inflammation, boosts antioxidant systems, balances hormones and brain chemistry, speeds up detoxification, gives you more energy, makes your microbiome work better, and turns on genes that protect against disease and help your body stay healthy.
This is why it’s so important to control inflammation!
There are many anti-inflammatory chemicals and compounds in plants, fruits, and vegetables that help to reduce and get rid of low-grade inflammation. When you mix them together into a tasty drink, you have an anti-inflammatory remedy you can drink all day.
Here are some of my favorite drinks that can be made at home and taken with you wherever you go:
1- Ginger & Parsley Juice:
Besides its robust flavor, parsley is a good source of carnosol, a powerful chemical that has showed promise as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent. It has been shown to be effective at reducing rheumatoid arthritis-related inflammation.
Ginger is also a great root vegetable that can be used for reducing inflammation. Antioxidant components like zingerol found in it have been shown to lessen the body’s response to low-level tissue damage, therefore decreasing the overall degree of inflammation. In addition, ginger can help with digestion and ease muscle aches and pains, so there’s really nothing to dislike!
How to prepare it:
Put a handful of parsley and an inch or two of ginger in a juicer and process. Throw in one green apple to the juicer for extra taste. Squeeze in the juice from a whole lemon, add ice, and enjoy!
2- Lemon Turmeric Tonic:
This is an excellent choice for those looking to improve their digestion and combat low-grade inflammation in their gut!
Turmeric’s curcumin can reduce the body’s inflammatory response by lowering inflammatory cytokines. Not only that, but curcumin may be useful in reducing joint pain caused by inflammation (the result of MS and rheumatoid arthritis).
Plus, with lemon as the base, you know you’re getting plenty of Vitamin C—another anti-inflammatory antioxidant!
How to prepare it:
Squeeze four lemons into a liter of water and add two tablespoons turmeric, one tablespoon honey or maple syrup, and half a teaspoon cayenne pepper. This tonic will significantly reduce inflammation and improve digestion!
3- Smoothie with Fresh Berries:
Berries, according to Harvard Medical School are among the best foods for fighting inflammation in the body. All thanks to the powerful antioxidants and toxin-fighting compounds found in high concentrations in berries such as blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. With a base of Vitamin C-rich freshly squeezed orange juice, you’ll find you have everything you need to get rid of inflammation and get your body back on track.
How to prepare it:
In a blender, combine the juice of 1 fresh-squeezed orange and 2 cups frozen berries (of your choice). Use as many blueberries, Acai berries, Goji berries, and blackberries as you can, but raspberries and strawberries are also delicious.
4- Lemonade with cherries and pineapples:
Did you know that cherries are high in anti-inflammatory compounds? They’re high in anthocyanins, which are antioxidants that fight your body’s natural inflammatory response. Tart cherry juice will also help you recover faster after a workout and prevent muscle soreness by reducing inflammation caused by low-grade damage from your workout.
Adding pineapple to the mix just makes this drink even better! Pineapple is high in bromelain, which can help to reduce swelling, pain, and bruising after surgeries or injuries. This lemonade is guaranteed to benefit your health!
How to prepare it:
In a blender, combine a cup of cherries and half a cup of cubed pineapple (frozen or fresh). Blend until smooth, then drizzle with sparkling water and serve.
5- Iced Green Tea with Rosehips and Cucumbers:
Green tea is without a doubt one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. It’s not a joke!
Science has demonstrated that it can aid in the prevention and treatment of a wide range of diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, obesity, and even cancer. It’s also a potent anti-inflammatory agent that is known to provide a wide range of “beneficial health outcomes” with “no severe adverse effects”. The majority of the benefits are derived from EGCG, a potent catechin (antioxidant) found only in the Camellia Sinensis plant, which is used to make tea.
However, you can take it a step further by including rosehips, which contain potent anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory compounds. One nutrient in particular, known as galactolipid, encourages your body to retain more phytochemicals while also combating widespread inflammation. It can help to improve conditions such as IBD, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.
How to prepare it:
Bring a pot of water (500 mL) to a boil, then add 1-2 tablespoons dried rosehips. Turn off the heat after allowing the rosehips to steep for 10-15 minutes. Place the rosehip tea in a pitcher, along with three green tea bags, and refrigerate. After it has cooled, stir in the cucumber slices, mint leaves, and your favorite healthy sweetener (I prefer stevia). Allow it to sit in the fridge overnight to make your new favorite iced tea!
References:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3070765/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535097/
