Food Fight - 7 Anti inflammatory foods to eat

I like hearing about ways that we can assist in our own health and well being!

It's because we know our body's better than anyone else and medical people are always 'practicing' medicine and methods. Nothing is concrete or a sure thing in medicine because we are all different and react differently.

I respect doctors for all they do and try to do. Yet they are limited and everyday we are discovering that the medical field and science flip flops back and forth to help us with chronic disease.

Many of us know and are learning daily that what we eat is making us susceptible to chronic disease.

What we eat makes all the difference in the world when it comes to our health and physical condition.

Alternatives

I lean towards alternative medicine methods - the preventative ideal because they tend not to want to remove something and strive to find ways to assist the body in repairing what has been damaged through foods and environment.

• nutrition
• exercise
• massage

New dietary chart

The dietary chart has been re done by the US government because we have discovered that it is making us and our children obese and leading to chronic health issues in the elderly weighing heavily on our economy.

It is also leading to more and more people dying earlier than necessary because for some reason they began taking prescription drugs to combat medical issues only to have to take other meds to combat side effects from those drugs.

It is being proven daily that what we eat does lead to health issues, therefore it should also lead to the body's recovery.

Nutrition is key!

Nutrition has taken a great rap on the knuckles for being incapable of supporting our health especially after those industrialist started catering to the vast demand of the human palate.

Man made foods flooded the stores and we thinking they were good for us because of the advancement of science pursued them. Cravings became something we began to battle as well as obesity.

Obesity doesn't just come about suddenly. It slowly creeps up on us over a period of time and it is aided by multiple factors that the industrial age has contributed to in humanity.

• We became sedentary, which means we stopped moving, hunting and gathering for our foods.
• We started buying more, eating more than was necessary for our bodies to function.
• We became involved in the race that brought about more stress, which in turn triggered cravings for foods that were full of chemicals like processed white sugar and refined foods.

Keys to what to eat:

God foods, as close to it's natural state as possible

• vegetables
• fruits
• herbs
• spices
• seafood
• 'clean' meats

That doesn't mean you can't enjoy sugar and refined foods. It should be treated as a 'special or celebratory', item.

Problems arise because sugar does and can trigger cravings that send the body seeking items that are not good for you.

So moderation and knowing your limitations is vitally important!

As an explanation for inflammation, Donna Arnett, PHD says, "Think about a splinter in your finger or an abscess in your tooth, our body launches an attack of white blood cells and chemicals that results in redness and swelling to kill the bacteria or rid the body of the intruder."

Inflammation is a part of the body's defense system.

Inflammation is a necessary component for our immune system to work in our bodies leading to repairing damage.

Yet we are facing a generation or several generations where inflammation has been linked to chronic diseases.

Chronic diseases are an indication of the over activity of the immune system. The scientific data speaks about how inflammation is the body's own defense system working over time, which leads to the fact that it is over stressed.

Dr Scott Zashia a clinical professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, 'the immune response that leads to healing is the over activity of the immune system'.

What do you reach for when you are feeling stressed, unhappy and dissatisfied with life, your relationships and work? That comfort food. The chocolate, that ice cream, the cake, cookies, that doughnut or those soda pops?

Stress is known to trigger inflammation in the body, because the body releases hormones and chemicals to combat issues. Sugar and refined foods makes it worse.

When this is ongoing damage is done.

Correcting your stress levels are vital to your health.

Turning to foods that are anti inflammatory and naturally sweet help to curb cravings and addictions that flare up and contribute to ill health.

Combating cravings and addictions with natural good foods puts you on the road to great health.

Get through the first two weeks!

Food can be poison or it can be medicine. In as short as two weeks people can feel better when they are consuming the right foods for their bodies.

• natural earth / organic foods
• foods that fight inflammation
• cutting out sugar
• cutting out refined foods
• cutting out man manipulated foods
• eating the right combination of foods

Things to remember when getting well. Your body may have some ill reactions because of subtle addictions to sugar, caffeine and other foods that are actually causing damage.

Foods that are good for you can be enjoyed continually! They support life and health!

There's a good rule of thumb though when consuming these foods and others. The 70 - 30 rule has taken off as a method of aiding in health and good nutrition.

Seventy percent of your plate should be loaded with plant based foods - veggies and whole grains, the thirty percent is then balanced with lean meats, or seafood and fruit.

Another version is that you can actually add foods that are not considered 'good' carbs, actually refined foods to each meal.

Carbohydrate consumption

Tip about eating carbs, good or bad, Never eat them alone.

There are studies about how refined carbs spike the blood because of how the body reads it, sugar - glucose, so it ends up being stored in the body as fat.

Factors

• Portion size
• Plate dissection
• Meal times

It's alright to eat!!! It is alright to enjoy what you eat!!!

Eat Anti inflammatory foods daily. It them as close to there natural state as possible! Eat across the 'rainbow' of colors and varieties.

• Fatty fish, like wild sockeye salmon, sardines
• Whole grains, like brown rice, & quinoa
• Dark leafy greens, like spinach, kale and collards
• Soy, like soybeans - edame and tofu
• Nuts, like almonds, walnuts & pistachios
• Low fat Dairy, if lactose intolerant drink other milks, like almond
• Berries / fruit, like blueberries and avocado

Other great resources

• Spices, like cinnamon, ginger, & tumeric
• Herbs, like peppers, hot peppers-chili & cayenne, garlic & onion
• Healthy oils, like extra virgin olive oil & coconut oil

Substitutes can be made!

Raw is better but using heat is fine. Yet the least amount of cooking is best, leaving some crisp or bite in your veggies, even your pasta is healthier.

Acceptable methods.

• baking,
• grilling,
• broiling,
• sauteing
• steaming
• stir fry

A good way to add flavor is by using the 'trinity', combination in meals. Chopped onions, green peppers and celery. From this base you can add spices and other herbs to change the flavor of a meal.