FOOD IS MEDICINE SERIES : ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES
we truly believe that food is medicine here at Femme Royale and we wanted to get into the nitty gritty of just how true that can be! we’re working on a mini-series to identify different ways we can utilize foods for medicinal purposes and we’re kicking it off here with anti-inflammatories.
we can start by cutting down on sugar and starch, and then get into more depth of the foods we eat.
there’s a whole world of anti-inflammatory molecules called phytochemicals, which is 25,000 molecules that are found in plant foods and are anti-inflammatory.
for example: when we’re typically experiencing inflammation in our body, we reach for our trusty bottle of ibuprofen. but! did you know that organic, true extra virgin olive oil contains oleocanthal, which activates the same anti-inflammatory receptors as ibuprofen and has zero side effects! “like any drug, if ibuprofen is taken in higher than recommended doses, it can harm your health. overuse of ibuprofen can seriously damage your digestive system, interfere with your hormones, and increase your risk of heart attacks and stroke. In some cases, ibuprofen overdose can be deadly.”(1) whereas your body can handle up to 1L (LITER!!) of EVOO a week. during our research we discovered that researchers say that about 3 1/2 Tbsp of EVOO is equal to a 200-mg tablet of ibuprofen. so next time you’re reaching for that bottle of ibuprofen, try taking a shot of EVOO instead.
other foods that will aid in decreasing inflammation:
turmeric, ginger, rosemary = can be incredible antioxidants and antiinflammatory
omega 3 fats : this includes wild foods such as fish and seafood, nuts + seeds which are also critical in calming down inflammation
mushrooms : shiitake, reishi, chaga, mitake, turkey tail, cordyceps—some you can take as supplements, some you can eat. there’s a lot more availability of mushrooms these days (MUDWTR, fourSigmatic). these are important because they have polysaccharides which are powerful immune regulating compounds.
foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals will help immune function and reduce inflammation:
Vitamin C : citrus + guavas + parsley + bell peppers + tomatoes
Zinc : chickpeas + sesame seeds + lentils + pumpkin seeds + oysters
Selenium : seafoods + brazil nuts + organ meats + broccoli + sardines
Vitamin D : porcini mushrooms + salmon
regulates hundreds of genes that regulate inflammation and immunity
dignityhealth.org