Top 4 ingredients to treat inflammation

Top 4 Ingredients to treat Inflammation Nutrition

by Dr. Vidhi Pandya Patel | R&D Consultant and Nutritionist | @smilingvidhi

Did you know that inflammation is the cause of most diseases today?

The body can be affected by so many factors but when there is the presence of an illness, it almost always starts with inflammation. In my clinical practice, I try to control or combat this condition in order to cure or prevent further illnesses. I am going to share with you my top 4 ingredients that have been the best at preventing and treating most medical conditions that have started from inflammation.

Frankincense (Boswellia Serrata):

Not many people have heard about this wonder herb and if they have it is usually because they remember the story of the 3 wise men gifting Frankincense, Myrrh and Gold. Frankincense is a tree variety native to hot countries like India, Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula and its active ingredient, resin, is extracted from the tree. It has one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory properties in the world of herbs. The resin is successfully being used to treat age related degenerative and inflammatory joint/musculoskeletal disorders. One study in the US showed that combining Frankincense and Curcumin was more effective for treating osteoarthritis than a commonly used synthetic medical grade drug! This herb is also available in essential oil form.

Resveratrol:

It sounds like a spell you would hear in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series, but this super powerful ingredient is found in most plants and is the reason plants survive. When a plant gets diseased, Resveratrol comes to their rescue. Resveratrol is a type of natural phenol and a phytoalexin produced by plants in response to when they are under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi, to combat the attack or help heal them.

Great sources of Resveratrol include the skin of grapes (especially red grapes), cranberries, blueberries, raspberries and cherries. Now you know the importance of eating red fruits! Resveratrol can fight any type of inflammation, fungal and bacterial infections in human bodies and act as a potent antioxidant to fight the process of ageing and degeneration.

Cinnamon:

This little brown spice is in most kitchens, but it is still not used as often as it should be. This popular spice is made from the bark of the huge cinnamon trees found in dense forests of China, India and parts of Southeast Asia. In addition to being a strong anti-inflammatory, Cinnamon has effective properties such as anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-cancer as well as helping to lower bad cholesterol – isn’t that a good mouthful? So why not use it more often? It goes great in anything from breakfast yoghurts, porridge, omelettes, soups, stews, desserts and you can even make a basic cinnamon green tea too.

Turmeric (Curcumin):

Have you ever wondered why or what makes Turmeric so bright yellow and difficult to wash off as a stain? What makes it so strong? It is the yellow pigment called Curcumin. This wonderful active ingredient is a highly anti-inflammatory agent. In the world of Ayurveda and Chinese medicines, Curcumin has always been used to reduce inflammation as well as treat surgical wounds and infections. Various studies have proved Curcumin acts as an antioxidant in the process of fighting inflammations and I am sure the future will reveal other health issues it can combat too. So how do you get all of Turmeric’s benefits? It can be taken orally, on its own, in the form of a supplement (powder, liquid or fresh root) and is used in cooking. I would advise to use it directly on the skin, acne, scars and wounds for it has miraculous results. I have been using Turmeric in my homemade face mask/ cleanser for years and it gives such a wonderful glow to the skin.