So, you will eat a lot of sweet cookies and rich meals this holiday season? Well, it’s a good idea to give your digestive system the best chance to fight off inflammation during winter.
Many holiday meals are full of rich and heavy foods that can cause inflammation in the gut and the body. It is important to include foods with anti-inflammatory properties and avoid those that are pro-inflammatory.
Why include anti-inflammatory food in your holiday meals?
Making sure you minimize inflammation will help you enjoy your holiday season.
Pro-inflammatory foods may increase inflammation in your gut, leading to bloating, acid reflux, pain, and other digestive issues.
Inflammation can further lead to weight gain and chronic disease.
What is inflammation?
It is your body’s way of protecting you from harmful stimuli or potential injury.
Symptoms may include pain, heat, swelling, redness, fat gain, weight loss plateau, and a halt in the function of an organ.
Inflammation may be either acute or chronic.
- Acute inflammation is the immediate temporary response of your body tissues.
- Chronic inflammation sticks around longer and can become severe.
The imbalance between your body’s healthy bacteria and fungi in your gut may lead to inflammation.
Stress, food allergies, toxic environments, and a poor diet can also cause or worsen it.
How to prevent inflammation this holiday season?
A person’s diet can both decrease or increase inflammation in the body.
Sugary foods, processed foods, or dehydration may contribute to inflammation in the body.
Also, remember the food you may be intolerant to, if eaten, may increase inflammation in your body.
The foods listed below will help you get through the winter and enjoy the holidays.
Oats:
Make oatmeal or overnight oats and top them with apples or cranberries for the holidays.
Oats are an excellent source of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. They are also full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.
Natural anti-inflammatory properties found in oats can help reduce inflammation in the body.
Blueberries:
Blueberries can significantly reduce inflammation if consumed daily.
Flavonoids, polyphenol, resveratrol, and vitamin C, are all well-known for reducing inflammation.
Antioxidants in blueberries can easily block inflammation of different parts of the body.
A great way to add blueberries to your holiday morning is with my Ultimate Smoothie Builder.
Ginger:
Ginger is used in various organic medicines because of its anti-disease, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
The spice can be added to your food as a spice, you can drink ginger juice or blend it with honey for a healthy shot.
However, the most pleasant way to consume ginger is a daily cup of hot ginger tea.
Dark Chocolate:
Dark chocolate is loaded with B vitamins required for making serotonin, affecting mood and well-being.
The high concentration of flavonoids in dark chocolate works as antioxidants to neutralize free radicals that cause cell damage – an important factor in aging.
One of the healthiest types of chocolate is dark chocolate. Mix it with oats or fresh fruit during the holiday season for a powerful anti-inflammatory effect.
Turmeric:
Turmeric is also widely used in organic and all-natural medicines.
You can add it to your food as a spice or stir it in a pinch to your almond milk or smoothie.
Turmeric helps slow the production of the two most inflammatory enzymes, 5-LOX and COX-2.
In conclusion…
There are a variety of foods you can add to your diet to help reduce or avoid inflammation.
These are some of the easiest and most accessible. However, suppose you have a severe case of chronic inflammation. In that case, it is best to consult your physician or contact a nutrition professional before making any severe dietary changes if you want to learn how to follow an anti-inflammatory way of eating.
It’s exciting to spend time with family and friends during the holidays but also associated with many health problems.
We have found a lot of tasty recipes that will keep you feeling healthy over the holiday season.
Get easy and healthy holiday recipes with Wellness Methods Holiday Freebies!
