5 Anti-Inflammatory Foods I Eat Every Day

You don’t have to follow a strict anti-inflammatory diet to eat anti-inflammatory foods every day. Everyone can benefit from incorporating foods that fight inflammation as much as possible.

After writing two anti-inflammatory diet cookbooks (I Love My Instant Pot Anti-Inflammatory Diet Recipe Book and Anti-Inflammatory Drinks for Health), you’d think that I follow the anti-inflammatory diet very strictly.

If you search around my site, however, you’d know I take a balanced approach to eating and while my recipes almost all have a healthy focus in some way, they aren’t all made with anti-inflammatory foods.

Even so, I do eat anti-inflammatory foods on a daily basis. There are five in particular, that are a regular part of my diet and I eat most days. Whether you are following a strict anti-inflammatory diet, or just trying to add more anti-inflammatory foods into your diet, I recommend trying to eat some foods on the anti-inflammatory diet food list every day.

5 Anti-Inflammatory Foods I Eat Every Day

1. Leafy Greens

Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, chard, arugula, and beet greens all contain significant amounts of vitamins and other nutrients that have been shown to fight inflammation.

Rotating your greens helps ensure you’re getting the spectrum of nutrients these leafy greens provide.

I eat some form of leafy greens every day. Sometimes it’s in the form of a salad (like the Autumn Kale Salad pictured above), sometimes a green smoothie, and sometimes green juice. It’s different every day and that keeps life interesting!

2. Ginger

Fresh ginger has strong anti-inflammatory properties and has been used medicinally for centuries. I also happen to LOVE the taste.

I include ginger in my smoothies often, as I did in this Pear Ginger Smoothie recipe and this Pineapple Smoothie recipe. I also love making the Ginger Tea recipe in my cookbook Anti-Inflammatory Drinks for Health.

It’s easy to use fresh ginger in cooking also. I love it in this Sesame Ginger Spaghetti Squash Bowl recipe, this recipe for Ginger Jasmine Rice and this Roasted Butternut Soup with Ginger and Lime.

If I can’t fit some fresh ginger into my day, I will add a drop of ginger essential oil to my water. (Note: It’s important to make sure the essential oils you purchase are safe to ingest. Not all brands are.)

3. Turmeric

Curcumin is the main active compound in turmeric that give it its strong anti-inflammatory properties and is also a powerful antioxidant.

There are so many ways to get turmeric into your diet everyday. I love sipping on Golden Milk Turmeric Tea. Another turmeric recipe I love is this Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Smoothie.

You don’t just have to drink your turmeric, though! It’s delicious in so many recipes, like this Cauliflower Soup with Coconut, Turmeric, and Lime and this  Curried Tomato and Tuna Salad. I like to sprinkle it, along with some black pepper, in my eggs and vegetable sautés.

I also take a turmeric supplement to get larger amounts of this powerful anti-inflammatory food.

4. Berries

Berries contain antioxidants called anthocyanins. These compounds have been shown to reduce inflammation. I eat berries all year round. In the winter months when they aren’t in season where I live, I rely on frozen berries. 

I love berries for breakfast. Some of my favorite ways to eat berries for breakfast is in my overnight oats, Triple Berry Baked Oatmeal, Hidden Greens Smoothie, and Blueberry Chia Seed Jam on a piece of Ezekiel toast.

I also incorporate berries into my snacks! This Skinny Blueberry Lemon Smoothie is so refreshing when I need a small snack. These Blueberry Banana Oat Bars and these Vegan Blueberry Oat Bars are both healthy, comforting snacks.

Oh, berries can be for dinner, too! I put them in my salads all the time. This Spinach Strawberry Salad is a perfect example. This Blueberry Vinaigrette is vibrantly beautiful.

We have fruit at every lunch and dinner, so it’s not uncommon for me to have a small bowl of berries on the side of any meal.

Elderberry Syrup is also something we take daily during the fall and winter.

5. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also been shown to reduce insulin resistance and lower blood sugar levels.

I love cinnamon so much it’s easy for me to eat it every day and I absolutely do. The Low Carb Cinnamon Flaxseed Breakfast cookies in this picture are a favorite. I make Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal and Simple Baked Apples often and the whole family loves them.

I also sprinkle cinnamon in my coffee. (See: How to Sweeten Your Coffee Without Sugar) YUM!

I would love to hear how YOU incorporate anti-inflammatory foods into your daily life. Leave your ideas in the comments. Links welcome!

 

Please note that links to products are affiliate links.