An RD shares secrets for fighting inflammation & soothing injuries, like runner’s knee. The 10 BEST anti-inflammatory foods to eat today.
Inflammation. It’s a nutrition buzzword that gets a bad reputation, but it isn’t always completely understood. Almost everyone deals with some sort of inflammation at some point in their life, but there are different types of inflammation.
Some inflammation is temporary and part of the body’s natural healing process, while long-term inflammation can have serious health consequences. Understanding inflammation is the first step in learning how to prevent and treat it and keep yourself healthy for years to come.
Learn more about inflammation and an anti-inflammatory diet in this video!
What is inflammation?
Although inflammation has a negative connotation, it’s part of the body’s natural healing process. If you workout for a long period of time and your joints and muscles become sore, that’s inflammation. The same thing happens if you cut your hand and experience redness and pain.
During an injury, the body sends white blood cells to the injured location to try and protect against infection and harmful organisms or assist in the healing process. This type of inflammation is known as short-term or acute inflammation.
Acute inflammation is perfectly natural for athletes, but it’s not exactly pleasant. Inflammation is accompanied by pain, so many people try to curb it as much as possible.
On the other hand, chronic inflammation is long-term inflammation that can be caused by a prolonged injury that doesn’t heal, an autoimmune disease that attacks that body’s healthy tissues or unhealthy lifestyle factors, like a poor diet, lack of sleep or too much stress.
Chronic inflammation is associated with a higher risk of developing serious diseases, like heart disease, cancer and Diabetes.
Eating certain foods, like an abundance of sugar, saturated fat or refined carbohydrates, triggers the release of cells that cause inflammation. That’s why eating a poor diet, as well as being overweight or obese are linked with chronic inflammation. In addition, chronic inflammation is associated with the development of serious diseases, like heart disease, cancer and Diabetes.
What causes inflammation in athletes?
After a long run or a strenuous workout, you may notice some pain or stiffness in certain areas around your body. Training can cause small tears in your muscles which triggers the release of hormones and chemicals to repair the tissue, resulting in inflammation.
This type of acute inflammation is necessary for your muscles to adapt to the stress and become stronger than before! In other words, short term acute inflammation can actually be beneficial for your training.
The key to preventing injuries is to give acute inflammation time to heal before putting stress on that muscle again. But say you miss a rest day or do a strenuous workout two days in a row, this could lead to chronic inflammation. Unlike acute inflammation, chronic inflammation can destroy tissue (instead of repairing it) and cause cells to malfunction, putting you at greater risk of injuries.
Does inflammation worsen recovery?
While you may not be a fan of the aches and pain, inflammation plays a vital role in muscle repair and regeneration and can actually hasten the recovery process. So while it may seem counteractive to rest in between training days, it is important to do so to allow the healing process to occur to prevent injury.
How does food affect inflammation?
Food is a double edged sword. It can either help prevent inflammation or cause inflammation. Foods that contain antioxidants are one of the best ways to protect the body from inflammation.
Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods are basically the same thing. Certain molecules in the body undergo a process called oxidation, which can cause harm and damage. Antioxidants fight against this oxidation, therefore preventing inflammation.
Luckily, antioxidants are easy to come by in foods. They are abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, healthy fats, and other yummy foods, like dark chocolate, red wine, tea and coffee.
What foods cause inflammation?
Unfortunately, eating an abundance of foods that are not so great for you can cause inflammation. There is research linking soda consumption to in increase in inflammatory markers. Similar studies exist for alcohol and red meat consumption.
That said, eating these foods in moderation will not cause chronic inflammation. The trouble really comes from making these unhealthy foods a part of your everyday diet.
What foods help fight inflammation?
If you’re looking for anti-inflammatory recipes, check out this book by a fellow Registered Dietitian (affiliate link):
The Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep Cookbook
Are you searching for an effective anti inflammatory diet for athletes? You’ve found it! Simply start by incorporating these 10 best anti inflammatory foods into your daily diet.
1. Turmeric
The active component in turmeric, known as curcumin, has anti-inflammatory properties. There is new and emerging research about the role of supplemental curcumin in treating arthritis, and the results look promising.
For now, I recommend sticking to turmeric in your food. There are many yummy ways to include this spice in your diet, such as in my Turmeric Egg Sandwich, Turmeric Hummus, curries, soups, sprinkled on roasted vegetable or in tea.
2. Avocado
Everyone loves avocados, right? This plant-based healthy fat is full of antioxidants and carotenoids, which help to reduce inflammation. As an added bonus, the high calorie and fat content will keep you full after a workout.
I often start my day off with some smashed avocado on whole grain toast with a sprinkling of seeds. Grab the recipe for my Avocado Toast here.
3. Chia Seeds
Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like chia seeds, is associated with having lower levels of inflammatory markers.
Chia seeds are particularly great because they can be thrown into many recipes, from smoothies to oatmeal. Or try your hand at making chia seed pudding.
4. Broccoli
Apart from many healthful vitamins and minerals, broccoli contains the compound sulforaphane, which may help to reduce inflammation. Not to mention that it’s loaded with heart-healthy fiber and immune boosting Vitamin C.
I often include broccoli in stir-fries and homemade pasta sauces or throw it in a rice bowl.
5. Cherries
In addition to being just downright delicious, cherries also contain anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients.
It’s not always easy to find fresh cherries, so look for the frozen variety. They are picked when ripe and frozen at the peak of freshness. Use them to whip up these delicious Frozen Yogurt & Cherry Bites. Or if you have fresh cherries on hand, try these Cherry Cacao Energy Balls.
6. Blueberries
The darker the color, the better it is for you. I love all fruits and vegetables, but the ones that pack in the most nutrients in every bite are usually dark in color. Blueberries are no exception. These tiny berries are full of antioxidants, like polyphenols (plant compounds) and Vitamin C.
You can tell how much I love blueberries by all the recipes I have with them. Here are some of my favorites:
- No-Bake Blueberry Granola Bars
- 3-Ingredient Blueberry Chia Jam
- No Added Sugar Blueberry Pancakes
- Blueberry Maple Trail Mix
7. Olive oil
Often referred to as the healthiest cooking oil, olive oil is rich in good unsaturated fat. Those types of fat protect from inflammation, especially when they replace unhealthy cooking fats, like butter.
Olive oil is perfect as a finishing oil on top of dips or toasts, and it makes a great addition to dressings and marinades.
8. Walnuts
All nuts are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, but walnuts are one of the best sources of this good fat. As you know by now, healthy fats fight against harmful inflammation.
Incorporate walnuts into your breakfast by adding them to your oatmeal or cereal. Or make these Banana Chia Walnut Oat Cups ahead of time to get your dose of inflammation-fighting food.
9. Kale
Dark colors equals antioxidants and kale is the darkest leaf out there. There’s a reason kale is considered a superfood, and it’s because it’s packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. All of that in one inexpensive leaf– sign me up!
Eating raw kale can be a bit tough, so try cooking it and adding it to dishes. But if you’re a kale lover, a big old salad full of this leafy green is a great place to start. Here are some of my favorite kale options:
10. Mushrooms
Mushrooms have high amounts of two antioxidant compounds known as ergothioneine and glutathione. And they have a savory (or umami taste) that isn’t common in many plant foods.
Added mushrooms to your recovery meal with this Freezer Mushroom Breakfast Burrito.
Are you searching for an effective anti inflammatory diet for athletes? You’ve found it! Simply start by adding any of the above recipes into your weekly routine and you will reap all the anti inflammatory benefits.
Don’t forget tomatoes, too! Especially cooked tomatoes with 2-3x the amount of lycopene!
Absolutely. How could we forget tomatoes?