What we call inflammation is the body’s first reflex when it feels that something’s wrong. It’s at the root of every disease. Every illness you develop, infection you catch or symptom you feel starts with inflammation on the cellular level, caused by what we call “free radicals”.
These free radicals are molecules that contain unpaired electrons, leaving them unstable. Free radicals will, in turn, start to attack and damage your cells, letting them enter a state called “oxidative stress”. To understand the impact of oxidative stress, just think of what oxidation causes to iron: rust, weakness and corrosion.
Free radicals get produced by the body under multiple circumstances. Physical exercise, environmental factors like pollution and chemicals, or even exposure to sunlight can cause their formation. So that soreness you feel the day after an intense workout? That’s inflammation. Sunburned after a day out? That’s also inflammation!
So how to deal with this?
It’s impossible to stop the formation of free radicals and oxidative stress, so the key is in managing them and the damage they cause. You can bring back balance into your body and reduce the oxidation by increasing your intake of substances called (you guessed it?) antioxidants.
Consuming antioxidants will help counter oxidation and will flush the free radicals out of your body. So many antioxidants are hidden in natural foods, and the more you eat of them, the higher the quantity of antioxidants you’ll get in. Here’s our top 6 foods to eat for a happier, less inflamed body!
- Spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, oregano.
- Berries like goji, acai, blueberry, raspberry.
- Ginger and garlic
- Nuts (pecans, walnuts, pistachio, almonds).
- Veggies (especially kale, artichoke, red cabbage, beets, spinach).
- Dark Chocolate (YUM!)
Just as some foods can ease your pain, others can worsen your chronic condition. Processed foods, refined carbs (what we call bad carbs), red meat, or alcohol in high quantities can increase your inflammation. Try to keep your consumption to a minimum and see if you notice any improvement.
You may also get supplements if your chronic inflammation is on the more severe side. These supplements can include good omega fats (like fish oil), alpha lipoic acid, resveratrol, spirulina, or curcumin. But always discuss the issue with your doctor first before getting any type of medicine or supplement! They can perform a blood test on you to determine the severity of your inflammation, thanks to inflammatory markers in your bloodstream.
Don’t ignore your inflammation as it is a natural response from your body and a sign that something is causing you harm. Listen to the signal, it only takes some small and simple changes to bring back balance to your system!