Find out what your allies are at the table to combat inflammation.
“Why do we get sick?”
This is the question of questions especially for those who, like me, find themselves in their profession trying to prevent disease every day.
Today we know that some of the most common diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and some forms of cancer share at least one common factor: inflammation .
While the mechanism of inflammation is functional to the body to defend itself against infections, when it becomes chronic it becomes a threat to your health. Chronic inflammation, for example, wears down the tissues and fuels the overproduction of free radicals that causes cellular aging.
The lifestyle greatly influences the onset of inflammation. Smoking, alcohol, poor diet, lack of physical exercise, stress are all factors that favor chronic inflammation.
But each of us is master of his own destiny and can, with the correct habits to adopt in his daily life, fight inflammation in the bud .
The 4 foundations of healthy development play a crucial role and, among these, in particular nutrition . Specifically, you can include foods that have special anti-inflammatory properties in your daily diet.
Here are a few:
Curcuma
The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric are conferred by a substance it contains: curcumin. The positive effects of turmeric are increased when combined with black pepper because it contains piperine, a substance that promotes the absorption of curcumin.
Blue fish
Sardines, anchovies, mackerel but also salmon are all fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are among the main allies for the prevention of degenerative diseases.
Green tea
This drink is very rich in antioxidants that counteract inflammation.
Berries
When it comes to antioxidants, we can’t help but mention berries. Blueberries, currants, raspberries are true concentrates of these anti-inflammatory substances.
Tomato
In tomatoes you will find a specific antioxidant, lycopene, which is activated even better if the tomato is cooked. Hence, a fresh tomato sauce (without added fat and salt) is an excellent source of lycopene.
Cruciferous
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts are also rich in substances capable of counteracting inflammation.
Chocolate
Good news for chocolate lovers: it too has good anti-inflammatory properties as long as it is extra-dark, that is, it contains a high percentage of cocoa. Milk chocolate is therefore not included because it is rich in sugar and fat.
Keep in mind that these foods are effective in preventing inflammation when they are included within a specific diet, intended precisely to allow you to live to your full potential.
