And Why You Should Have Gone Shopping Yesterday

Inflammation isn’t cool– in most scenarios. It’s a common thing that we’re all too familiar with. Any daily WOD or endurance race is bound to leave us feeling a little sore. Our muscles and bones are always at a constant war with gravity and friction. Earth is a rough place. And, since we can’t partake in Zero-G CrossFit just yet, we’ve still got to fight the furious flames inside of our bodies.

Pain, heat, redness, swelling, loss of function, and general soreness are all common types of inflammation.1 Ever wonder how pro athletes train, compete, and repeat for a living? They’re experts at controlling the inflammation in their bodies that would otherwise hinder their ability to trounce their competition. They eat right and in turn, their bodies allow them to train 6-7 days a week as hyper-successful athletes.

Inflammation is your body’s attempt to protect itself from harmful stimuli. Not only does it affect your body, but it impairs your cognitive abilities and can lead the declination of your overall mood. It’s also linked to Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Alzheimer’s. If you don’t play it safe and fight inflammation with the right food, you might as well quit playing. “You don’t get another chance, life is no Nintendo game.”2

But, you’ve got me, so lucky you. When you stuff the right stuff into your stomach, inflammation becomes both preventable and treatable, and Autoimmune diseases may, in fact, become self-treatable. (A close friend of mine, was diagnosed with arthritis, after a paleo-nutrition makeover, she’s now 100% arthritis-free. True story.) So listen up, this may just save you from the fire inside you.

Foods that cause inflammation:

White Sugar, Sweets
Alcohol
Iodized Salt
Fried Foods
Dairy
Wheats, Grains
Processed, Packaged, and Not Paleo!
Foods that fight inflammation:

Veggies: asparagus, beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, kale, mushrooms, onions, parsley, radish, spinach
Fruits: apples, apricots, avocados, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemon, lime, papaya
Protein: chicken, eggs, turkey, trout, salmon, halibut,
Beverages: herbal tea, green tea, purified water, coconut water
Oils: coconut, grape seed, flax seed, avocado, & walnut oil
Nuts/Seeds: almonds, walnuts, cashews, macadamia nuts, and sesame, hemp, sunflower, & ground flax seeds
Condiments: fresh herbs, spices, sea salt, peppercorns.3

Eating healthy is important; follow an anti-inflammatory diet and give your body an opportunity to repair and rebuild inflamed areas. Many autoimmune diseases are completely preventable through proper diet; don’t kid yourself into thinking this is another fad or the flavor of the week. Fast, fried, packaged, and processed food–you might as well just go to the doctor and ask for influenza. Remember, “if you don’t recognize an ingredient, your body won’t either.”4 Instead of getting old and flamey, let’s get wise and strong. Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around.5