Cold weather and joint pain have been linked for centuries. This seasonal battle against flare-ups of pain highlights the importance of the anti-inflammatory diet. You need every advantage that you can get when cold, dreary days worsen your osteoarthritis, soft-tissue injuries, fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis.
Fortunately, Mother Nature provides many winter season foods packed with antioxidants and nutrients that reduce inflammation. In-season foods often present a good bargain at the store too.
Let’s take a look at the tastiest winter season anti-inflammatory foods.
1. Citrus
Oranges, grapefruits, tangerines and all citrus fruits ripen in winter. These fruits enjoy a strong reputation for high vitamin C levels. Eating each juicy section also gives you lycopene, which is believed to lessen oxidative cell damage.
2. Green Leafy Vegetables
Kale is the king of healthy leafy greens, but spinach, cabbage and collards deliver great anti-inflammatory benefits too. Each leaf contains an abundance of magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, antioxidants and vitamins A and C.
3. Winter Squash
These tough and colourful fruits ripen in fall and keep for months through the winter. Common varieties at the market include butternut and acorn. Their flavourful flesh roasts into soft and satisfying perfection.
Turn to winter squash for magnesium, vitamins C and B6, and beta carotene. In addition to fighting inflammation, these nutrients aid in the struggle against high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Squash side dishes could help you resist the temptation of high-carbohydrate foods. Refined carbohydrates and sugar encourage inflammation. A winter squash provides a pleasant and filling alternative to less healthy comfort foods.
4. Fish
Happily, anti-inflammatory foods aren’t just fruits and vegetables. Fish main dishes help you avoid red meat that could aggravate your chronic inflammation. The high omega-3 fatty acid content in salmon, tuna and other fish has anti-inflammatory qualities. Plus, fish is a great source of vitamin D, which many of us lack in winter.
5. Avocados
This darling fruit of the 21st century not only scores points for taste, but it’s anti-inflammatory too. Credit their inflammation-fighting powers to multiple B vitamins, vitamins C, E and K, potassium, magnesium and omega-3 fats
