What Is The Anti-Inflammatory Diet?

Inflammation is a protective process of the immune system. Unnatural foods and substances in the body can cause it to react as if an infection is present, resulting in unwanted inflammation. Making a few dietary changes can avert this process.

Whether acute or chronic, inflammation can be a pain, literally (via WebMD). When the body senses compromise or infection, its natural response is to release chemicals from white blood cells (the warriors) into the blood stream. White cells rush the area in question and can cause swelling, redness, and pain while they fight off the culprits. Over time, this usually regulates the body or serves as an external warning of a deeper issue.

Inflammation can happen because of infections from the outside or due to bodily disorders, like arthritis, Hashimoto's, or lupus (via Medical News Today). Because some conditions have no medicinal cure, a change in diet can often rebalance the body internally, and reverse disease.

The anti-inflammation diet reduces constant discomfort, by adding whole foods and cutting out most processed foods. According to Harvard Health Publishing, to properly treat inflammation, you may consider replacing the following foods: red meats, fast food, artificially sweetened drinks, refined carbs, and fatty substances like lard.

In fact, you can swap them out for whole grains and fresh veggies, experts at WebMD say. Opening the fridge to see a rainbow of fruits is also a great start. Diversify! Also among the list of items to add to your grocery haul are things like spinach, broccoli, beans, salmon, tuna, healthy nuts, strawberries, and cherries.

There is hope for those battling arthritis and autoimmune disorders. Incorporating whole foods in your diet will help abundantly. Healthline provides a full list of foods to revamp your meals, and a plethora of cookbooks are available to support your lifestyle changes. As always, if you're taking any medications for inflammation or are having troubles with pain and swelling, please seek advice first from a medical professional.