Ever wake up and feel stiff, tired, sluggish only to stand up and feel pain? Well that’s probably inflammation. That can mean a variety of things and we’re no doctors but what we can tell you is how nutrition and an active lifestyle can help you reduce these issues!
In honor of our, “Understanding Macros” F.Y.F.I Series this Saturday 4/8 at 11:45 a.m. we are giving you a quick lesson in foods that can help you reduce inflammation and get moving! Inflammation can mean different issues some of the most common being Arthritis, Gout, Asthma and Chronic sinusitis.
Good ole WebMd tells us the most common symptoms include:
- Redness
- Swollen joint that’s sometimes warm to the touch
- Joint pain
- Joint stiffness
- Loss of joint function
Often, only a few of these symptoms are present. Inflammation may also be associated with general flu-like symptoms including:
Now that we’ve established exactly how inflammation presents itself here are 4 foods you can add to your diet to reduce and maybe totally eliminate inflammation.
- Whole Grains– Skip the refined grains like pasta, rice, cereal and white bread. Opt for Whole Grains which have more fiber. Try whole oats, brown rice or Quinoa. Look for foods with a whole grain as the first ingredient, and no added sugars.
- Dark Leafy Greens– Dark greens like Spinach, Kale and Broccoli tend to have higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals—like calcium, iron, and disease-fighting phytochemical.
- Fatty Fish– Oily fish, like salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines, are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation.
- Tomatoes– According to Health.com Juicy red tomatoes, specifically, are rich in lycopene, which has been shown to reduce inflammation in the lungs and throughout the body. Cooked tomatoes contain even more lycopene than raw ones, so tomato sauce works, too.
We hope you’ll join us for our “Understanding Macros” class this Saturday but in the meantime, combined the foods we just reviewed with these fitness tips and tackle inflammation!
Foam Rolling – Increases blood flow to your muscles and creates better mobility.
Stretching– Can improve flexibility and range of motion.
Now that you’re armed with knowledge lets put it into action! Any questions? Email jfitt@sweatshopdallas.com