When it comes to aches and pains, a stocked medicine cabinet and freezer full of frozen peas will only get you so far. See, most discomfort comes from chronic, rather than acute, inflammation. And chronic inflammation — which is basically your immune system running amok and attacking things it shouldn’t — can cause more than a case of the ouchies. It can also speed up ageing and spur weight gain, heart disease, and even cancer. Here are easy ways to help kick chronic inflammation to the curb.

Eat protein at every meal: Eating protein throughout the day — for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks — helps your liver detoxify bad-for-you chemicals that might be wading through your blood stream. Focus on lean protein sources like chicken, fish, eggs, low-fat dairy, and legumes, and if you’re a red-meat lover, opt for grass-fed varieties.

Drink green tea: Green tea has natural substances called catechins that fight free radicals and help the body detoxify itself. While downing three cups a day is ideal, sipping even one is great. However, the antioxidant content of different green teas varies widely, so for the most catechins per cup, go with organic varieties.

Turn down the heat: When you cook meat — be it beef, pork, fish, or poultry — at super-hot temperatures, it forms heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, inflammatory chemicals that some experts think may increase your odds of getting cancer. When cooking meat on direct-heat sources (think: the grill or stove), keep the temperature under 300° F to minimise the formation of these chemicals.

Schedule “me” time

A stressed out mind comes with a stressed-out body. Making self-care a priority can go a long way toward easing stress and, in turn, inflammation.

Source: womenshealthmag.com