Foods that combat inflammation

Sometimes I feel like I will turn into a salad.  I’ve lost 30 pounds since Christmas—more fruits and vegetables, more exercise, and none of my favorites.  No potato chips, no Fritos, no peanut butter on crackers, no Cheddar cheese, no cookies. Last night we ate at the Rusty Bucket and I get their “3 side orders”—steamed broccoli, salad of tomatoes and cucumbers with mozzarella cheese in olive oil, and then a little cheat, onion rings. I just don’t think the carrots would have made me feel like I’d had date night.

Include plenty of these anti-inflammatory foods in your diet:

• tomatoes

• olive oil

• green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards

• nuts like almonds and walnuts

• fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines

• fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges

Harvard Health Newsletter: “One of the most powerful tools to combat inflammation comes not from the pharmacy, but from the grocery store. “Many experimental studies have shown that components of foods or beverages may have anti-inflammatory effects,” says Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Choose the right foods, and you may be able to reduce your risk of illness.