anti-inflammatory simplicity
Have you ever suffered from joint pain, noticed a random rash, felt like your digestion was off, or, maybe even been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition or a chronic disease? If you answered yes to any of these, then an anti-inflammatory way of eating may be perfect for you.
We (now) know that inflammation is at the root of most diseases and illnesses - autoimmune disease, heart disease, hormonal issues, gut issues, skin rashes like eczema or rosacea… you name it, it likely started with some sort of inflammation.
Importantly, when we learn to really listen to our body and pay attention to what it is telling us, we can make enormous progress in our health journey. What does that mean? Well, our body actually “speaks” to us in a myriad of ways, and inflammation is one of the most important.
So, when you notice joint pain or body aches, rashes, digestive issues like gas, bloating, it is time to pay attention.
One of the best ways to calm inflammation in the body is to follow an anti-inflammatory way of eating. Anti-inflammatory eating is, generally, a diet rich in whole foods and low in processed foods. It also leans into fermented foods that are high in beneficial probiotics and support optimal gut health (these are foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, Greek yogurt, kefir, etc.)
This approach focuses on healthy proteins from fish and seafood or beans and legumes, the good fats like omega-3 fats from olive oil, nuts, seeds, and lots of fiber from whole grains, and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. What is NOT a part of anti-inflammatory diet is ultra-processed foods or foods with added sugars.
So, as you add in the anti-inflammatory foods, just try to crowd out the other foods. Remember that you don’t have to perfect (and definitely not restrictive) - even just a few changes can help.