Neuroscientists explain that pain signals in the nervous system generate from inflammatory chemicals in the body. Chronic inflammation is the culprit behind most pains and diseases. There is a certain level of inflammation that's always present in the body. Also, not all inflammation is necessarily a bad thing (I put those micro tears in my muscle fibers on purpose when I lift weights...technically, that's inflammation.) But when our inflamed state swells to unhealthy levels and becomes chronic, so does pain, symptoms, fatigue and body fat. It creates a general state of unease, not only in our bodies but in our minds as well.
It is well documented that one of the primary ways we can change our inflammatory states is through nutrition. As someone who has experimented with most food trends, I say from experience that focusing on the inflammatory status of foods is far more helpful than jumping on a trending diet train because of someone else's claims and results. The basic goal for health is to move our bodies towards healing states; creating anti- inflammatory metabolic conditions.
There are so many buzz words in the health world these days. Keto, paleo, macro counting, gluten free, whole 30... and those are just a few of the food styles that grab our attention. Here's why some of those have been wonderful and really work for various individuals: they guide people towards less inflammatory foods than what the person is currently consuming. (And that's a really good idea!) It doesn't make one of those food styles the perfect answer for the whole world, it just shows us this one principle: keep inflammatory foods at a minimum.
Here are a few questions I use to help guide my own family's nutrition:
1) Will this move me closer to or farther away from an inflammatory state?
2) Is this food pro- inflammatory to my own personal body, and if so, how much of it am I going to eat?
3)Am I eating for nourishment, health and strength, or for just merely pleasure or a quick fix- to satisfy my taste buds for a short moment?
One of my favorite anti- inflammatory things to consume is this Ginger Root Tea similar to what my mom always has on hand. One of the reasons I love it is because it can be made in concentrated from and kept in the refrigerator for a week. You can take out little bits at a time and add water to it before you warm it up. Or you can enjoy it cold too! When I feel achy and inflamed, it's my go-to tonic! It's a good idea to consume things like this at least 3 days a week to help with inflammatory conditions.
GINGER ROOT TEA (concentrate- cold or hot)
-Peel 3" of fresh ginger root
-Slice in thin shavings or chunks
-Add ginger to about a quart of water
-Boil on stovetop for about 5 minutes, let simmer for 5
-Enjoy immediately as a tea: It will be spicy, so dilute with water if needed
-Transfer remaining to mason jar and keep in refrigerator
My favorite additions to a cup of warm Ginger Tea:
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Turmeric
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp almond milk
Stevia
Honey
Ginger benefits:
-Belly Soother
-Digestive aid
-Reduces inflammatory conditions like arthritis
-Immune boosting abilities
-Alleviates cold and flu symptoms