Quell the Swell: 5 Foods That Fight Inflammation

Do you feel like you’ve tried everything but still experience back pain? If so, maybe it’s time to look more closely at the food you’re eating. A lot of people don’t realize that a majority of their diet contains inflammatory foods such as sodium, gluten, trans fats and aspartame. To help reduce arthritis, joint and back pain, it is recommended you eat an anti-inflammatory diet containing nuts, veggies, meats, and healthy fats (similar to the Paleo diet). Here are five other foods to help decrease inflammation.

Oranges

Oranges are filled with Vitamin C, which not only kicks a head cold to the curb, but helps fight arthritis pain. It prevents cells from experiencing a surplus of inflammation and oxidative stress, which aids in reducing joint pain. You don’t just have to stick to oranges though. Other fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, grapefruits, raspberries, strawberries, cabbage, and sweet potatoes also contain loads of Vitamin C.

Green Tea

Green tea has been used in medicine for centuries, but a recent study shows that it could be beneficial for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea helps absorb antioxidants and fights compounds that harm healthy cells. Like Vitamin C, green tea contains anti-inflammatory properties, which reduces joint pain and irritation.

Fish

Most fish, including salmon, contain a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are known to reduce inflammation. You can also get omega-3s through walnuts or flaxseeds, but your body only absorbs a small percentage of it. It’s better to get your intake from fish than from fish oil supplements.

Purple Grapes

Purple grapes (that’s right—red wine), and purple and red food in general, contain an antioxidant called proanthocyanidins. This antioxidant helps decrease inflammation by restricting enzymes and unstable molecules that damage cells. You can also find it in blackberries, cranberries, cherries, cinnamon, and even nuts like hazelnuts, pecans and almonds.

Ginger

Ginger contains gingerols, which is an anti-inflammatory compound. It has been shown to reduce inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. The best part about ginger is that it is easy to implement into your diet. You can use a juicer to add ginger to any drink (add it to orange juice for extra anti-inflammatory power). You can also make your own ginger tea, or add it to your salad dressing.
Although making your diet anti-inflammatory is beneficial, there are other ways you can try to relieve joint and back pain. Going to a chiropractor can be a convenient and easy way to reduce pain and improve joint mobility along the way.