Contributed by: Healthians Team
Introduction
Inflammation is a part of the process by which the immune system protects the body from seasonal intruders such as foreign objects (thorns, splinters, etc,), an irritant or pathogens. Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic organisms that can give rise to infections in the body.
But in some cases, this process can go too long and instead of helping you, it can become harmful.
Experts believe that if inflammation arises due to an underlying health condition such as chronic stress, obesity, or autoimmune disorder, it can potentially give rise to a variety of ailments that include arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, or cancer.
Some studies also suggest that if the levels of inflammation in the brain rises, it may increase the risk of cognitive decline and impairment.
The seasonal transitions can be a challenge for your health if you are not well prepared. Besides taking a host of precautions, one of the best ways to minimize the risk of inflammation is by adding anti-inflammatory foods to your diet.
In this article, we bring you some of the easily available anti-inflammatory foods that can prevent inflammation during the shift from one season to another.
Anti-inflammatory foods for winter
Anti-inflammatory winter foods play an important role when it comes to managing inflammation during the cold winter months. They protect the body from harmful agents such as bacteria and viruses, that can give rise to several illnesses.
During this season, many specific winter foods outshine other seasonal foods because of the several health benefits they provide. Some of these winter edibles include:
Green leafy vegetables:
- Spinach
- Mustard greens (sarson ka saag)
- Fenugreek (methi)
- Kale,
- Collard greens
- Lambs quarters
- Amaranthus (Chulai)
Root vegetables:
- Radish
- Sweet potato
- Turnip
- Spring onion
- Beetroot
- Carrot
Winter-specific fruits:
- Guavas
- Grapes
- Pomegranate
- Pineapple
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Apples
Anti-inflammatory foods for spring
After being indoors throughout winter, you’d love to step out to enjoy the onset of the spring season. But going outside with the sudden weather change can also become an invitation for harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause infections and give rise to inflammation.
To protect yourself from the onset of illnesses and infections that can arise during the transition from winter to spring, you should aim for adding seasonal foods to your diet. These foods include:
- Pea
- Cucumber
- Potato
- Apricots
- Mushroom
- Mint
- Rosemary (mehndi)
- Coriander,
- Thyme (ajwain ke phool)
- Basil (tulsi)
- Parsley (ajmod)
- Chamomile
Anti-inflammatory foods for summer
Summer brings a lot of food choices that are highly beneficial for your health. These include anti-inflammatory vegetables such as:
- Tomato
- Brinjal
- Green chilli
- Pumpkin,
- Cucumber
- Bottle gourd (ghiya)
- Lady’s finger
There are also plenty of fruit options available for summers that can help reduce inflammation. Some of these include:
- Litchi
- muskmelon (kharbooja)
- Mango
- Peach
- Grapes
- Kiwi
Interesting fact – mango leaves and mango tree bark are known to have anti-diabetic properties
Anti-inflammatory foods for fall (autumn)
As fall knocks on your door, it might be a good idea to keep winter preparations in check. Apart from warm clothes and cosy blankets, you also need to include healthy food options in your checklist that can help boost your immunity, and minimize the chances of infections and ailments.
There are a bunch of anti-inflammatory food options available during autumn that can protect you from getting affected by several illnesses. Some of them include:
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Garlic
- Broccoli
- Carrot
- Tomato
- Beans
- Onion
- Lettuce
- Spinach
Autumn also brings along a host of healthy fruits, which include:
- Figs (Anjeer)
- Plums
- Pomegranates
One of the best ways to stay on top of your health during the fall is by substituting unhealthy meal options with healthy and anti-inflammatory ones.
For example, trade your samosa-chai snack with fresh fruit salad or your cholesterol loaded fried food dinner with healthy green veggies. Implementing these small changes in your diet can have a long-term positive impact on your health.
Final thoughts
Seasonal transitions can give rise to inflammation-related health issues which can be harmful to your overall well-being. These above-mentioned foods, when included in your diet, can help reduce inflammation and help you stay healthy and enjoy every season.
Another measure to keep your health on the right track is by getting regular health checkups. This will help you get a better understanding of your overall health and be better informed about any issues that you might have or signs that can lead to some in the future.
Preventive health checkups also enable you to take preventive measures and keep your health in check.
