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Anti-Inflammation Diets

Anti-inflammation diets are not truly diets, rather a way of life. You won't lose 50 pounds on these diets, but wieght loss is often a natural byproduct of eating healthier meals. The goal of these eating plans is to find yourself experiencing fewer flare-ups of arthritic pain and joint inflammation. These diets will help you spot foods that can actually trigger stiffness and pain as well as those known to ease them.

  1. What to Drink

    • A common thread in anti-inflammatory diets is what to drink. Four ounces of black cherry juice mixed with four ounces of water, twice a day should garner some relief from arthritic flare ups. Pineapple juice also reduce pain since it contains bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein and plaque that clogs arteries, a common condition caused by arthritis. Beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, found in orange juice, can actually help keep inflammation at bay. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (August 2005), drinking just one glass per day can ward off inflammatory arthritis.

    What to Eat

    • Oranges and berries cut your risks of developing painful inflammation. Eating an orange a day can replace your need to drink a glass of orange juice. It is important, however, that you get your daily orange as a regular part of your diet. Kiwi is another miracle fruit since it contains twice the amount of vitamin C as oranges. Vitamin C is one of the key factors in oranges that reduce the risk for inflammatory diseases.

      Foods once associated with digestive health are also seen as defenders of the joints because these foods contain properties that fight flare-ups. Prunes, for instance, contain a plethora of antioxidants, which reduce pain and swelling associated with inflammation. Beans replace proteins that have been broken down by painful inflammation. Broccoli, chock full of beta carotene, a substance lacking in up to 29 percent of sufferers before diagnosis, can aid in easing pain.

    What to Avoid

    • Toss those sugary snacks and replace them with nuts and fresh fruits and vegetables. Sugar causes the pancreas to produce more insulin, which has been related to increased inflammation. Avoid the polyunsaturated fats and trans-fats found in processed foods and margarine; these fats are a key contributor in inflammation. Olive oil, on the other hand, works in conjunction with omega-3s to help your body fight pain.

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