A Guide to an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
There isn’t a formal diet plan that outlines exactly what to eat, how much of it, and when. Rather, the anti-inflammatory diet is about filling your meals with foods that fight inflammation and cutting out foods that contribute to it.
Brittany Scanniello, RD, a nutritionist based in Boulder, Colorado, says to think of the anti-inflammatory diet as a lifestyle rather than a diet. “An anti-inflammatory diet is an eating plan that works to reduce or minimize low-grade inflammation,” she says.
Ideally, you would eat seven to nine servings of fruits and veggies per day, limit intake of red meat and dairy, eat complex carbohydrates, and swear off processed foods. You’ll want to choose foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids — including anchovies, salmon, halibut, and mussels — rather than omega-6 fatty acids, which are found in corn oil, vegetable oil, mayonnaise, salad dressings, and many processed foods.
Scanniello says eating this way is a good idea for everyone because many of the foods with the potential to lead to inflammation aren’t healthy anyway. “I believe everyone can benefit from limiting or eliminating sugar and highly processed foods and choosing unsaturated fats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins,” Scanniello says.
She says the anti-inflammatory diet could be especially helpful for someone who’s dealing with chronic inflammation as a result of a health condition.
The anti-inflammatory diet is a healthy approach to eating, whether you suffer from chronic inflammation or not. “An anti-inflammatory diet is a way of life and will in the end better your health, well-being, and overall quality of life,” Scanniello says. “I believe everyone can benefit from a diet plan such as this, and I especially have found it helpful in populations with chronic inflammation and health conditions.”
Source – Everyday Health
