| Not all anti-inflammatory agents are in your medicine | | | | inflammation fighting chemical called |
| cabinet. Foods that contain anti-inflammatory | | | | ergothioneine.Wheat germ and chicken liver are also |
| substances can be worked into everyday eating. | | | | good sources. Fortunately, cooking doesn't affect the |
| Special diets for arthritis have been around for years. | | | | protective activity of ergothioneine. |
| When subjected to scientific scrutiny however, most | | | | Turmeric, from an aromatic plant of the ginger family, |
| turn out to promise far more than they can deliver. | | | | is an ingredient in curry powder. Its active ingredient |
| Nonetheless, certain everyday foods are proving to | | | | is curcumin, a substance that fights inflammation. |
| have anti-inflammatory effects that make them | | | | Curcumin inhibits some of the same enzymes that |
| worth including in your diet. | | | | are blocked by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs |
| These benefits are due to plant based chemicals that | | | | and sets. But don't overdo the curry powder |
| have disease modifying powers. Many are | | | | curcumin also has blood thinning properties, which |
| polyphenols. The polyphenol group includes flavonoids, | | | | could intensify the effects of prescription drugs |
| substances that inhibit the body's production of | | | | taken to thin blood. |
| prostaglandins. Prostaglandins have a wide range of | | | | Ginger also combats arthritis pain and inflammation. |
| positive body functions. But they also promote | | | | One study of people with knee osteoarthritis found |
| inflammation, and are the target of many | | | | that those who took the ginger extract twice a day |
| anti-inflammatory medications. | | | | experienced significantly less pain on standing in the |
| Tea is rich in the type of flavonoid called catechins. | | | | group who took placebos. Like turmeric, ginger should |
| Black and green teas are both excellent sources of | | | | be used only in small amounts. It can magnify the |
| catechins. Green tea, however, has a slight edge | | | | effects of blood thinners and interfere with |
| because it's leaves are less processed and therefore | | | | medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, and |
| retain more of the anti-inflammatory substances. | | | | heart problems. |
| Also, it's better to drink fresh brewed tea because | | | | Pomegranates are a fleshy red fruit rich in chemicals |
| catechinsare relatively unstable and break down | | | | that have anti-inflammatory effects. In studies, a |
| quickly. As a result, instead, decaffeinated, and | | | | pomegranate extract was found to block |
| bottled teas contain fewer of these chemicals. | | | | interleukin-1b, a protein that promotes inflammation |
| Not a tea drinker? Surprisingly, your morning coffee is | | | | and is involved in the breakdown of cartilage. |
| a top source of antioxidants, which have | | | | Research into pomegranates and arthritis |
| anti-inflammatory properties. In one study, coffee | | | | is.preliminary, but adding these healthful fruits or their |
| drinking was found lower levels of C-reactive protein. | | | | juice to your diet may help your joints. |
| A high blood level of this protein is a marker of | | | | Omega-3 fatty acids are potent anti-inflammatory |
| inflammation in the body. | | | | substances abundant in deepwater fish and fish oil. In |
| Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are packed with | | | | one study, people who ate at least 10 ounces of fish |
| disease fighting chemicals. One study found that | | | | a week reduced by a third their blood levels of |
| eating plenty of young yellow and orange fruits and | | | | inflammatory markers. These anti-inflammatory |
| vegetables reduced the risk of developing | | | | effects may be at least partially due to resolvins, a |
| inflammatory polyarthritis. Yellow and orange plant | | | | newly identified fat derived from omega-3's. Resolvins |
| foods are a major source of an antioxidant called | | | | are believed to flight fight inflammation in part by |
| beta-crypto-xanthin, believed to be responsible for | | | | keeping certain immune cells from traveling to sites |
| their anti-inflammatory effects. Fruits and vegetables | | | | of inflammation, where they enhance the |
| high and beta-crypto-xanthin include. Grapefruit, | | | | inflammatory reaction. |
| mangoes, cantaloupe, oranges, peaches, squash, | | | | Check with your doctor before taking fish oil capsules |
| carrots, corn, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. | | | | because they have blood thinning effects. |
| Plain white mushrooms are especially rich in an | | | | |