10 Foods That Reduce Inflammation and Pain Naturally

Far too many people live with chronic pain. Whether western medicine has let them down or they’re just tired of having to take over the counter pain medication, a lasting and natural solution may be sitting on the dinner table right now.

Let’s take a look inside Mother Nature’s medicine cabinet…

1. Alfalfa. The leaves of the alfalfa plant are rich in vitamins, protein and minerals however beyond the high levels of basic nutrients it is also a natural anti-arthritic due to its high Chlorophyll content.

Alfalfa can be found at your local market or in your health food store. It is most often found in the form of sprouts, however juice and supplement capsules are also beneficial.

2. Chamomile. Chamomile is widely known as a natural relaxant and is most commonly found in tea however it is also an anti spasmodic and an anti inflammatory. The easiest and tastiest way to consume this flower is with a regular cup of tea.

3. Fenugreek. Fenugreek is an herb most commonly used to season curry. You can eat the plant’s leaves, seeds, and sprouts. Look for it in your local ethnic or Indian market. The greens and sprouts are a tasty addition to a salad and the seeds provide excellent seasoning to a variety of meats, stews, and sauces.

Fenugreek is an anti-inflammatory and has phyto steroid properties to help rebuild tissues. Recently it has been tested for it’s affects on cancer.

4. Flax. Omega 3 fatty acids have been studied in depth for their anti inflammatory properties as well as their ability to help the body heal and regenerate. It has also been linked to fighting cancer and reversing diabetes.

Flax seed can be added to just about any meal and flax seed oil can be used to cook with or make dressings and sauces. It can also be consumed as a tea.

5. Ginger is a delicious seasoning for a variety of foods. From tea to ice cream Ginger is easy to consume and provided tremendous health benefits. It helps to stimulate blood flow for improved circulation and it is an anti inflammatory. Less inflammation means less pain.

Ginger is just one of the 11 powerful pain fighting ingredients in “Heal-n-Soothe”.

Thousands of people are reporting great results - many have even been able to dump their existing medications for this all-natural alternative.

Click here to learn more about this powerful formula

6. Licorice. No, not those black candy whips you find at the grocery! Licorice is a root. In Italy it isn’t uncommon to see people chewing on the root as a snack or breath freshener.

Take care though, too much pure licorice can be dangerous. It is an anti-inflammatory and is rich in phytosteroids.

7. Salmon. Salmon is a food source rich in omega three fatty acids which have been proven to provide a variety of health benefits the least of which is as an anti-inflammatory to treat arthritis.

8. Rosemary. Rosemary is an excellent food to treat pain because it naturally eases nerve and muscle tension and pain. It’s even good for chronic headaches. It contains salicin which is a natural form glycoside - which aspirin is made from.

Rosemary can be found anywhere and is an excellent herb for flavoring meats, salad dressings, stews, soups, sauces and even tea.

9. Sage. Sage isn’t just for Thanksgiving Day dressing. Sage helps improve achy muscles and inflammation and is great to keep your mind clear. Sage is actually in the mint family and is exceptional for flavoring food.

White sage is a strong anti inflammatory and is most often consumed as tea while common sage can be consumed as tea or used to season food.

10. Shitake mushroom. Shitake has most recently been used to treat immune deficiency resulting from chemotherapy, hepatitis, aids and other chronic infections. It is a strong cancer fighter and anti viral. It is an excellent treatment to arthritis and chronic joint pain.

Shitake mushrooms can be enjoyed raw, saut?ed, baked, added to just about any meal and they’re easy to find in your local supermarket.

This is by no means an exhaustive list… there are tons of other “super foods” and the more whole foods you can eat the better.

Chronic pain doesn’t have to rule your life. Nature has provided us with a wealth of healthy solutions and treatments for what ails us. Take a look in your refrigerator and see what remedies are right in front of you.

We received so much feedback in response to the email I sent recently about the passing of Tim Russert and heart disease that I thought you might find this article about asprin very informative.

I hope you enjoy the article…

An Aspirin a Day Keeps the… Doctor Here to Stay

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Each year, one million people suffer from a heart attack; and half of them die.

At least 600,000 Americans have a stroke, which is the third leading cause of death.

Aggressive attempts have been made throughout the years to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, including the daily use of aspirin.

Aspirin therapy helps prevent blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots.

This, in turn, keeps blood thin and flowing more smoothly, thus lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes. (Both are usually the result of a clot lodging in a narrowed artery and choking off the tissue’s blood supply.)

But there is a gray cloud inside this silver lining. Although aspirin appears as a simple over-the-counter treatment, it is in fact a drug that produces side effects-many of which can be severe.

Long-term aspirin use has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration, kidney damage and peptic ulcers. Aspirin irritates and erodes the stomach lining and often leads to gastrointestinal bleeding. The chance of bleeding is even higher when aspirin is used in combination with other anti-inflammatory drugs.

In addition, aspirin therapy can cause bleeding in the brain, especially in elderly folks. Healthy people taking aspirin as a preventative measure to ward off stokes can also develop bleeding. Supposedly the occurrence is rare; nonetheless, the risk is still there.

As if that isn’t bad enough, research is now showing that many people are resistant to aspirin. That is, aspirin does nothing to protect them from heart attacks and strokes.

In fact, taking aspirin makes them more susceptible to both conditions. Apparently, the clotting ability of their blood is strong enough to prevent aspirin from doing its job. This action makes their situation worse and increases the likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke.

Some researchers suggest that any where from 20 to 49 percent of the population is aspirin-resistant. A recent analysis of 2,367 people found that 26 percent were resistant to the effects of aspirin.

Of these individuals, 33 percent suffered a heart attack, stroke or other health problem. Although it is not completely understood, resistance may be higher in men, diabetics, smokers, and those who have high blood pressure.

Unfortunately, many doctors continue to prescribe aspirin on a routine basis to their patients. As is often the case in our society, medication is thought to be the solution for all of our ills. Because every drug has side effects, they should be used very cautiously.

Also, one of the most effective blood thinners are proteolytic enzymes. Not only do they thin the blood naturally, but they also cleanse the blood of toxins, kill viruses and bacteria, eat away at excess fibrin (scar tissue) and reduce inflammation and pain.

You can learn more about proteolytic enzymes here.

Often times, there are other, safer ways of preventing disease or getting one’s health back. For example, exercising, eating right, and controlling stress greatly reduce the risk of heart disease.

Several studies have found that garlic as well as fish oil lowers cholesterol and thins the blood, protecting against clots. Antioxidants found naturally in fruits and vegetables help prevent everything from cancer to heart attacks.

Bromelain, a natural enzyme in pineapple, acts as an anti-inflammatory and also keeps plaques from developing in artery walls. Bromelain is just one of the 11 proven pain relievers that are found in “Heal-n-Soothe”. You can learn more about this all-natural anti-inflammatory here.

Eating small amounts of chocolate has even been associated with reducing heart disease risk. Research shows that cocoa beans contain natural plant chemicals that are good for blood flow.

However, milk chocolate contains considerably fewer of these chemicals, compared to dark chocolate. It contains a lot of added sugar as well. So look for bars with a minimum of 60 percent cocoa and not too much added sugar. Chocolate, of course, is high in calories, so go easy on your consumption.

While taking aspirin regularly may be beneficial for some people, it is not without risk. And in many cases, aspirin may do more harm than good.

All drugs have side effects, including over-the-counter medications, so their use should be carefully considered.

Healthy lifestyle habits and other natural remedies need be taken into account as alternatives to drugs whenever possible.

So, dump the aspirin and use the safer and proven alternatives.

Talk to you again soon…

Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS, MFT

P.S. Have you watched the videos we recently added to the website? Right now there are 3… one on back pain at work, one about sciatica and one about inversion therapy. Watch the videos now here