I’m a bit obsessed with Masoor Dal right now — it’s a go-to recipe for my husband and I, and we often eat this meal once per week.
Masoor Dal, made here with Split Brown Lentils, is a staple of vegetarian and Indian cuisine. It can be made ahead, and it tastes excellent reheated. I discovered this Indian dish when attempting to pursue an anti-inflammatory diet, and it’s become one of our favorite options. We serve it with warm naan. To make things easy, we buy Stonefire Original Naan from the grocery, then simply pop it in the oven.
Side note: If you’re new to naan, get ready for your obsession to begin. This stuff is the bread of my dreams.
The jury is still out on whether or not dairy products cause inflammation — or help counteract inflammation in the body.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information cites an intensive study concluding that “Dairy products, in particular fermented products, have anti-inflammatory properties in humans not suffering from allergy to milk, in particular in subjects with metabolic disorders.” And the Arthritis Foundation said that, while there are conflicting research findings, “some people with arthritis and related conditions find that avoiding certain foods can reduce flares.”
When I began switching to an anti-inflammatory diet, I didn’t know what to think. I was desperate to stop the consuming nerve pain in my legs, so I thought I’d give a non-dairy diet a try. And it worked. I gave up most dairy products and shortly after began incorporating more whole grains into my diet, while ditching some processed foods. And my nerve pain is down. The diet helps! I can’t pinpoint what exactly is helping reduce inflammation, but it sure is having a positive effect on my body.
I’m not perfect, and I definitely sneak ice cream here and there. But for the most part, giving up dairy was a lot easier than I expected. Here’s how I made the switch:
You know as well as I do that the poor food choices we make aren’t doing us favors in regard to pain!
Those of us with physical or mental pain can crave comforting macaroni and cheese or crunchy nachos topped with ground beef, sour cream and salsa. Personally, I get massive cravings for plain buttered pasta — you know, the kind a kid would eat.
That being said, I’m trying to push past the cravings and take more control of my pain by reducing inflammation in my body. Here’s what I intend to eat to get started.
Foods that fight inflammation
Dark Chocolate
According to Scientific American, “Cocoa is good for your heart because of fermentation by gut bacteria, creating anti-inflammatory compounds that improve blood vessel function.”
Black Beans
Black beans are bursting with antioxidants that fight inflammation and are a rich source of fiber. Here are some healthy recipes containing black beans.
Wild Salmon
Photo by Oscar Mikols
Fatty fish, like wild salmon, have anti-inflammatory properties and are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, an alternative supplement to help treat arthritis.
Pineapple
Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash.
Pineapples contain bromelain, a protein-digesting enzyme and natural anti-inflammatory.
Blueberries
Blueberries are high in carotenoids, an organic pigment found in fruit that reduce inflammation.
Further reading
If you’re interested in learning more about inflammation and how it affects your pain, or learning more about anti-inflammatory diets, I found this Live Science article helpful.
