7 Foods That Reduce Inflammation Naturally

Do you or someone you love suffer from inflammation and the pain that comes with it? If so, I'm happy to share with you a little of what I have learned through my journey to heal my inflammation. I will share with you 7 foods that reduce inflammation naturally.

In my early 20's, I dealt with daily pain from inflammation in several areas of my body. So I know how painful and debilitating inflammation can be. When I could take the pain any longer, I decided to take matters into my own hands, and find out how to get rid of my inflammation for good and in a natural way. Before I share some of the secrets I have found, it is important to know what inflammation is. So, what is inflammation?

Inflammation is part of the biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli. These stimuli could be damaged cells, pathogens, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by your body to remove the detrimental stimuli and to start the healing process. Infections and wounds would never heal without inflammation. Symptoms of inflammation can include swelling, pain, redness, and restriction in movement.

Inflammation can be acute or chronic. Chronic inflammation is prolonged inflammation. It leads to a progressive shift in the type of cells existing at the site of inflammation and is characterized by concurring destruction and healing of the tissue from the inflammatory process. It can cause a load of diseases, such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontitis, hay fever, cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, hypersensitivities, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, acne, celiac disease, autoimmune diseases, asthma, etc. So for that reason, the body closely regulates inflammation.

It is important to reduce inflammation not just because of the pain that it causes you, but also because chronic inflammation is very detrimental to the body. Unlike acute inflammation, where the immune system responds to injury or infection by activating inflammatory chemicals that fight abnormal substances, chronic inflammation isn't beneficial for the body.

The foods you choose to eat can help reduce and prevent inflammation. Foods reduce inflammation naturally, so if you want to get rid of your inflammation naturally, then read on! Below I will share with you 7 foods that reduce inflammation naturally. These foods are called anti-inflammatory foods.

Berries
Goji berries are one of the first foods I choose to eat to rid myself of my horrible inflammation pain, and I noticed a difference within weeks. Goji berries are very high in antioxidants, so they are a great anti-inflammatory along with other wonderful qualities. Blueberries are full of antioxidants and high in phytonutrients. Phytonutrients give anti-inflammatory protection against many diseases. Other types of berries such as raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and cranberries are also high in antioxidants.

Papaya
Papain is a protein-digesting enzyme found in papaya. Papain, along with other nutrients such as vitamin E and C, helps to reduce inflammation and improves digestion. If you are interested in foods that reduce inflammation, and you are a tropical fruit fan, then this is a perfect food for you to eat.

Pineapple
Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that aids in the healing of indigestion, sports injury, trauma and other kinds of swelling and inflammation. Extracts of bromelain are used in various natural anti-inflammatory supplements for arthritis.

Spices
Turmeric is a spice with high anti-inflammatory qualities. Add a teaspoon to your diet each day. Some ways to include turmeric into your diet would be to add it to soups, sprinkling it on scrambled eggs, mixing it into sauces, or salad dressings. Ginger is a relative of turmeric that is also revered internationally for its anti-inflammatory qualities. If you want to reduce inflammation naturally, then try incorporating these spices in your next meals.

Kelp
Kelp contains fucoidan, a kind of carbohydrate that is anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative. Kombu, arame, and wakame are a few types of kelp that can be bought at the grocery store. Kelp has a high fiber content so it also helps to make your feel full and promotes weight loss. Get organic kelp from unpolluted waters.

Spinach
Spinach is a dark green leafy vegetable that is a high source of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative flavonoids and carotenoids. It contains vitamin A, B, B, C, E, K, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and folate. Make sure to buy organic spinach. Non-organic spinach is sprayed with pesticides and you don't want to be putting more toxins into your body, because that will increase your inflammation. Vegetables, especially dark leafy vegetables are great for decreases inflammation. Choose dark green or brightly colored vegetables.

Broccoli
Broccoli contains anti-inflammatory phytonutrients that help the body to get rid of carcinogenic compounds. It is also a highly nutritious vegetable. Cauliflower is a relative of broccoli, which contains similar components that aid the body's detoxification.

I hope you have found this list of foods that reduce inflammation helpful. Start eating some of these foods, and see what happens. If you already eat some of them, try eating more. The more you eat of these foods, the more you should see a reduction in your inflammation and the pain that goes with it. Here's to a new you... inflammation and pain-free!By Carolyn K. Collins 

Avoid Foods That Create Inflammation and End Joint Pain

If you have swollen, inflamed joints you may have realized certain foods create inflammation. If you avoid them, you may be able to reduce your pain without harsh medications.

Now, there can be a lot of reasons for aching joints.

In the case of osteoarthritis, the degeneration of cartilage at the joints is the main culprit. Bursitis is another condition that causes joint pain, in which the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion the bones at the joints become inflamed. There are also autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, that can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joint areas.

In autoimmune disorders, the body's immune system fails to tell the difference between healthy tissues and harmful substances in the body. This results to a hypersensitivity reaction that destroys even healthy body tissues.

One of the body's first responses to irritations of this sort is inflammation. This accounts for the swelling, redness, and pain in the joints felt by persons who suffer from autoimmune diseases. However, research has recently shown that swelling can be aggravated by foods that create inflammation.

Foods high in linoleic acid, a kind of omega-6 essential fatty acid, are known to increase have inflammatory effects. Examples of these are corn, peanut, and soy.

On the other hand, foods that are rich in omega-3 such as tuna and other coldwater fish, have a soothing effect on joint pains. Roughly 100 years ago, most Westerners had a well-balanced diet rich in both omega-6 and omega-3 food sources. However, now nutritionists agree that omega-6-rich foods that cause inflammation far outweigh omega-3 foods in the high-carbohydrates and low-protein diet that most Americans eat today.

Here is a list of some of the foods that can create inflammation and joint pains:

• Dairy products such as cow's milk and cheese contain lactose, a substance that can cause allergic reactions, which may trigger swelling of the bone junctions in the body.

• Refined sugars like white sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, and confectioner's sugar are also best avoided if you suffer from joint pains. Opt for natural sweeteners like honey instead.

• Grains with gluten like wheat, oats and rye can quickly trigger an inflammatory reaction.

• Polyunsaturated oils like sunflower, corn, soy, safflower and peanut oils are high in linoleic acid, which can have an inflammatory effect on the body.

• Caffeine, which is present in coffee, soda, or tea, is known to increase inflammation in cases of people who suffer from joint pains.

• Red meat such as beef, lamb and pork too can increase aches and pains in your joints. If you eat more chicken and fish you may notice less pain.

There are surely many foods that can create inflammation and result to joint pains. However, this doesn't mean that you have to eliminate these foods entirely from your diet.

You can experiment by avoiding them all at once, then slowly reintroducing each one back into your diet, just to see which foods would really trigger the inflammation and joint pain reactions in your body. Or, you can cut back gradually. Doctors say adding omega-3 fish oil supplements to your diet can help balance your fatty acids and relieve inflammation too.-By Jennifer P. April

How to Completely Get Rid of a Sore Throat in an Hour

Sore throats are a real pain in many a way. Mainly because it happens at the worst times when you really need your voice. The more you try to speak the more pain you feel. Then there's the issue of your voice sounding hoarse as well.
Sore throat remedies can be used to help you overcome the pain and annoyance of a sore throat. In an hour, you could be feeling a lot better with some of the natural remedies listed.
The first remedy is to use steam therapy
Steam therapy is a natural remedy that helps with decongestion. Often when your throat is sore, it's a result of some type of infection. Any infection can affect your sinuses and leave you with a blocked or runny nose. It causes your breathing to be affected and eventually leads to a sore throat.
To use steam therapy, just pour some boiling water into a bowl, lower your head over the bowl and place a towel over your head. This will direct the steam towards your nose and mouth, so you can inhale it.
The moisture from the steam will help reduce any inflammation around your Larynx and help to soothe a sore throat.
Tip: For improved results add a couple of drops of lavender oil to the water. This essential oil has anti-inflammatory agents as well as bactericides to help kill off any bacterial infections that cause your throat to be sore.
NOTE: Steam therapy is not suitable for people with asthma or other conditions that affect your breathing.
#2 Natural Sore Throat Remedy: Green Tea
Green tea is a natural drink and due to it being warm, it's also great for soothing your throat. It's handy to pour yourself a cup of green tea before or to drink with your dinner. When your throat's sore, the thought of eating can be a nightmare as you know it's going to be painful swallowing foods. The warm liquid with natural anti-bacterial properties help to fight infection.
Tip: Pour some luke warm water into a glass and add some salt. Use that for gargling to help clear your throat. Then drink green tea afterwards to get rid of the salty taste. This will give you double the benefits of anti-bacterial agents working together to fight the infection that is causing your sore throat.
The third remedy for a sore throat is to suck on a lemon or lime.
This one is pretty disgusting if you don't like the sour taste of lemons or lime. It's the citrus in the lemon that goes to work straight away to soothe your throat. Well not straight away as in within seconds. It hurts your throat more at first and that's how you know the citrus is working. After doing that for as long as you can, the pain will start to subside. When the pain does ease off, use an antiseptic mothwash like Listerine and gargle that around your throat about 3 times a day and that will keep your throat from becoming as sore as it is or was.

As sore throats are the result of swelling around the pharynx and/or larynx, you should use anti-inflammatory foods to help reduce inflammation.

Robert B Bowman