An Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle:
A Primer on the What, Why and How
Does an anti-inflammatory lifestyle sound familiar to you? …
You wake up in the morning, but you don’t feel rested. You push through joint and muscle aches to go to work, but when you get there, you find that you simply can’t concentrate. Maybe you used to have a pretty effective metabolism, but now you can’t stop gaining weight! It’s exhausting and exhausted is how you feel most of the time.
Even if you don’t have an autoimmune disease (and the description above, by the way, may prompt you to think about your health), you’re probably aware that, to feel better, you need to eat better.
What is Inflammation, and Why Does It Matter?
Inflammation, a reaction to injury or infection, is a process by which the body’s white blood cells protect your system from illness or harm. Typically, it’s a natural process, one we couldn’t live without. In some people, though, this natural process goes haywire, triggering an inflammatory response when there’s nothing to fight. For these individuals, the body responds to normal tissues, like the joints or the thyroid gland, as abnormal. As you can imagine, when the body turns on itself, the individual suffers.
The milder symptoms of chronic inflammation can include fatigue, aches and pains, or brain fog. More serious diseases – like arthritis, colitis, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, heart disease, diabetes and more – are associated with chronic inflammation as well. Over 20 million Americans struggle with what are called autoimmune diseases. Many of them come to the conclusion that their diet may be partly to blame and needs to change.
The Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle Addresses Inflammation Issues
Basically, if you continue to eat the way that many of us did as teenagers, filling your body with carbohydrates, sugars and processed junk, your body will eventually fight back. Before that happens – before your immune system becomes overtaxed and autoimmune symptoms rear their ugly heads – it’s a good idea to research healthier food options.
The idea of food-as-medicine is catching on all over the country. Many doctors recommend choosing an anti-inflammatory diet to help support your body naturally. As research on the power of food to treat disease gains traction, more people are choosing to improve their diets now rather than wait for inflammatory illnesses to occur. Many choose an option such as the Paleo diet, which includes lean meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.
Who Can Benefit from an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle?
Whether you suffer from an autoimmune disease already, want to lose weight, or simply want to improve the quality of your life before health problems appear, an Anti-Inflammatory diet may be a significant first step.
We know it’s not easy to begin this Anti-Inflammatory journey. After all, unhealthy choices are all around us, and cravings don’t disappear overnight. But with delicious options that don’t make you feel deprived, it’s easier to give the Anti-Inflammatory lifestyle a try. The best part about it? You can feel confident that you’re fueling up with food that tastes good and is good for your body, too.
Give Anti-Inflammatory a Try
While some of our employees, relatives & friends have hesitated, they’ve taken the Anti-Inflammatory plunge, and so can you! Read Ashley Nanney’s story, and let us know how we can help you take steps toward a healthier life.
Recipe
We will share a recipe from The Official Anti-Inflammatory Diet Masterclass to get you started on a successful journey!
Italian Chicken Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- ½ tsp pepper or to taste
- 2 tsp basil
- 2 tsp marjoram
- 2 tsp rosemary
- 2 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 ½ cups broccoli florets
- 1 medium bell pepper seeded and chopped
- 1 small red onion chopped
- 1 cup plum tomatoes
- 1 medium zucchini chopped
- 2 tsp garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups cooked cauliflower rice optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- In a small bowl mix salt, pepper, basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and paprika.
- Place the chicken and vegetables in the baking dish. Sprinkle all spices and garlic evenly over the chicken and veggies. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until chicken is cooked, and vegetables are slightly charred.
- Broil 1-2 minutes to brown chicken.
- If desired, place ½ cup of cooked cauliflower rice into 4 individual containers or plates.
- Divide chicken and veggies evenly on top of the rice.
- Eat immediately or cover and store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Notes
Want free anti-inflammatory recipes, downloadable resources and efficiency tips and tricks from a professional chef? Of course, you do! Click here for the secret sauce!
