Tasty Foods That Fight Inflammation

Many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer and obesity, have been linked to inflammation, the body’s natural reaction to injury and infection. 

When inflammation gets out of hand, it can damage the brain’s nerve cells and affect memory and thinking skills, according to Caroline Apovian, codirector of Brigham and Women’s Hospital Center for Weight Management and Wellness.

You can try to help quell inflammation by adding tasty foods with beneficial nutritional properties to your diet. Here are several: 

1. Pineapples: This fruit contains the unique enzyme bromelain which keeps blood platelets from sticking together/clotting, and also is rich in folate (aka vitamin B9).
   
2. Purple potatoes: These have more antioxidant power than their white and yellow cousins due to anthocyanins, pigments that give a distinctive hue.  
   
3. Cucumbers: Add some cucumbers to your meal to help provide a substantial amount of potassium, which helps brain cells communicate with each other.
   
4. Raisins: Raisins are a top food source of boron, a brain-boosting mineral.
   
5. Pumpkin seeds: Sometimes referred to as pepitas, these unassuming seeds are packed with magnesium, a mineral that fights inflammation and contributes to the growth of new brain cells.

For a list of more foods that can help fight inflammation, visit this article on Staying Sharp.

_{This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide any expert, professional or specialty advice or recommendations. Readers are urged to consult with their medical providers for all questions.}