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Healthy Living

Monday, November 30, 2009

Anti-inflammatory Diet. Antihistamine Diet.

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by maskinner, on Sun Oct 4, 2009 7:47pm PDT

In the old, old, old days before they put much stock in science, people used to be believe that spirits and “humors” affected life and health. Sometimes they would do things like bleed people to let the bad influences out. Or they would have you go to a smoke house or be bathed in sage smoke to try to purify you or cleanse you. A lot of the shamanism was based on either keeping bad stuff out or letting bad stuff out.

A more modern approach to health and well being requires that you watch what you put into your body. It astonishes me to walk through a grocery store and watch mothers stuffing sugar or potato chips into the mouths of their children to quiet them. I believe that many of our illnesses and obesity start there.

I ate at least ten times as much sugar are I might have “needed” when I was a child. Though there is no minimum daily requirement for refined sugar, it was an a socially acceptable addiction.

Nowadays people want natural ways to reduce the effects of seasonal allergies, provide for a greater sense of well being and even–if possible–to lessen the chances for cancer.

And so enters the notion of the anti-inflammatory diet. If you’ve ever had redness,swelling, or bumps, from bruising, insect bites or burns, you know what inflammation is. Some researchers say there are substances that can reduce harmful inflammation and anti-oxidants that can tamp down the precursors of cancer.

Fish oil is almost universally recommended. Any cold water fish that is high in omega three fatty acids such as salmon should be good.

Nuts are recommended. Such as almonds and walnuts.

Dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach is recommended.

Spices such as those in curry powders are recommended.

A full list of what you should eat is long indeed. But a partial list appears below. You should almost always eat lots more veggies. Drink a little more water and eat a little more fruit.

walnuts, turmeric,ginger, cinnamon, kelp,papaya,blueberries,sweet potato, red grapes, almonds, dark greens, green tea, honey comb,black beans,pumpkin seeds,spinach,pearled barley,buckwheat flour,oat bran,whole wheat flour,brazil nuts, cashews,white beans,navy beans,cornmeal,fish,tomato paste,
Bell Peppers
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Broccoli Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chard
Collards
Fennel Bulb
Garlic
Green Beans
Green Onions/Spring Onions
Kale
Leeks
Olives
Spinach
Sweet potatoes
Turnip Greens