Foods as medicine: How you can weaponise your favourite menu items into anti-inflammatory agents

Factors such as stress or eating certain food could cause inflammation. Some food contains antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation.
Berries

Berries such as blueberries, strawberries or blackberries have anthocyanin which acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, thus reducing any sort of inflammation.

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New Delhi: Eating with a purpose is now becoming popular. Instead of always nursing cravings and temptations, now people are more focused on watching what they eat and using food as a healing agent.
Inflammation is the body’s way of combating disease or disorder. While inflammation, per se, maybe just a sign or symptom, you need to look at the triggers of inflammation.
Factors such as stress or eating certain food could cause inflammation. Some food contains antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation. Here’s a list of 5 food items that act as anti-inflammatory agents and reduce the chances of chronic inflammation.
Green Tea: There is still some evidence to be found on whether green tea actually helps to reduce weight but it sure can help to reduce inflammation. Green tea contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate which acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Green tea also reduces the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer's disease among others.
Fatty fish: Fatty fishes contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which helps to reduce inflammation. Our body metabolizes these fatty acids into resolvins and protectins, which then create anti-inflammatory effects on our body.
Berries: Any sort of berries such as blueberries, strawberries or blackberries have anti-inflammatory effects. Anthocyanin is a compound found in these berries which acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, thus reducing any sort of inflammation.
Avocado: Avocados contain carotenoids and tocopherols which are known to reduce the risks of cancer. They also contain potassium, magnesium and monosaturated fats which are known to reduce inflammations.
Turmeric: Turmeric contains curcumin which is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Known as Haldi, this yellow spice is often used in Indian dishes. Turmeric also helps to reduce inflammation caused due to arthritis, diabetes, and other diseases.
Grapes: This fruit contains anthocyanins which help to reduce inflammation. Along with anthocyanins, they also contain resveratrol, another antioxidant compound. In addition, grapes also help to decrease the risk of several other diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and eye disorders.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
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