Eat These 10 Things to Fight Inflammation

Experiencing inflammation in your body? It could be due to a number of reasons. And while some inflammation is actually good for you, other types aren’t, and can cause weight gain, disease and more. Luckily, there’s an easy way to combat inflammation without visiting your medicine cabinet. Just step into your kitchen and search for these 10 items.

1. Raw oats

Raw oats are known as a resistant starch. They create a healthy kind of bacteria in your gut, which can reduce inflammation and insulin, leading to less bloating in your body. Having trouble incorporating raw oats into your diet? Try whipping up a batch of homemade granola bars and snacking on them throughout the week.

2. Ginger

Full of the gingerol compound, ginger contains so many natural antioxidants. It’s been proven to block inflammation in many forms, and it’s just plain old good for you. However, eating it can be a bit of a challenge. If you don’t want to nosh on a piece of raw ginger, try putting it into your tea! (As a bonus: It can also help with nausea.)

3. Dark chocolate

Dessert lovers, rejoice! Because dark chocolate ferments in your stomach and creates anti-inflammatory compounds, the antioxidants can lower your blood sugar levels. But don’t look in the candy aisle for this dark chocolate. Instead, try a health food store and search for dark chocolate with cacao over 70 percent.

4. Salmon

Salmon (in particular, wild caught salmon) is proven to reduce inflammation in the body. It’s good for your hair, your skin, your teeth and, you guessed it, your gut. Is there anything salmon can’t do for your health? Salmon is also full of healthy fats and good omega-3s, which can keep your heart healthy.

5. Green tea

Green tea can cure a multitude of evils—inflammation included. This trusty old favorite can heal everything from a bad day and a sore throat to inflammation in your body. Thanks to high levels of EGCG and polyphenol (read: antioxidants), green tea is great at fighting inflammation.

6. Broccoli

This one is a no-brainer. Most green, leafy vegetables are good contenders for an anti-inflammatory diet. Broccoli in particular is full of compounds that decrease genetic inflammation. It’s also super high in Vitamin K, which promotes overall health and well being.

7. Berries

The antioxidants in berries are called anthocyanins, which can reduce inflammation and disease, including heart disease! Take your pick—most berries contain some sort of inflammatory-fighting antioxidant.

8. Mushrooms

Keeping the inflammation in your body under control is always something you can feel good about, but you can feel especially good about mushrooms—not only are they low in calories, but they’re also chock-full of vitamins! Eat them raw or lightly cooked to get the most nutrients (when you cook mushrooms for too long, it can reduce some of their anti-inflammatory compounds).

9. Extra virgin olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil is really rich in the right kind of fats—and very good for fighting inflammation in your body. And best of all, it’s easy to incorporate into your everyday diet. Try cooking with it instead of traditional cooking spray!

10. Tomatoes

Last but not least, tomatoes can help reduce inflammation in your body. They’re rich in vitamins—notably, lycopene, which is full of antioxidants. They can even help reduce cancer. To release all the antioxidants, try cooking the tomatoes in olive oil.