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Fighting Inflammation: Include These Foods!

A few weeks ago, Prevention Magazine posted an article about anti-inflammatory foods. While they can be easily included in the diet as smoothie ingredients,  I am taking the liberty to tell you that you don't have to be a smoothie lover to take advantage of their healthful properties.  You can read the article in entirety here. For those who want a quick synopsis, I will share some ideas in the following paragraphs...




1) Matcha powder is a powdered form of green tea.  It pairs well with peaches, mint, cocoa, coconut and vanilla.  It is said to be a powerful cancer fighting anti-oxidant and has an anti-inflammatory effect on immune cells (associated with inflammation).

2) Ginger has been used to quell stomach upset for years and years.  But it also has anti-inflammatory properties that can work as a natural ibuprofen!  This spicy root is a good additions to dishes with leafy greens, coconut, lemon, apple, pineapple, or chocolate.

3) Baby Kale is rich in vitamin K and magnesium, two nutrients that fight against inflammation processes.  Baby kale has a milder flavor than mature kale. Complementary foods include kiwi, lemon, pineapple, mango, and orange.

4) Cocoa powder.  Attention chocoholics!  Regular raw cocoa powder is recommended to help reduce gut inflammation and reduce production of pro-inflammatory molecules that contribute to risk of heart disease and stroke.  Cocoa powder is a good match for nut butters, banana, blueberries, cherries, matcha, and coconut.

5) Flaxseed oil is very rich in omega-3s--essential fatty acids that are helpful in curbing inflammation.  Try adding some to smoothies with bananas, cinnamon, oats, nut butters, or pumpkin.

6) Tart Cherry Juice has the highest anti-inflammatory content of any food.  There are quite a few compounds in this bitter beverage that help contribute to this effect.  Tart cherry juice works well with almond milk, oranges, mangoes, and lime.

7) Berries are rich in anti-oxidants that stop the formation of free radicals that contribute to inflammation.  Try blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or cranberries with Greek yogurt, banana, or avocado.

8) Turmeric is one of the most popular anti-inflammatory foods in recent days.  Try this traditional Indian spice with almond milk, banana, mango, carrots orange or pineapple.

Sources: Prevention Magazine; Publicdomainpictures.net

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