The Inflammation Food Pyramid

How do the pieces of an anti-inflammatory diet fit together? This pyramid shows the general guidelines. The base is the foods you should eat the most of; moving up, you see the foods and nutrients you should eat in smaller quantities, or less often.

Nutritional supplements

A good quality multi-vitamin will help fill in nutritional gaps; a multi-strain probiotic taken before bed will ensure good digestive and immune health; and fish oil helps make certain we get enough omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Hydration

Drinking enough water is the single best way to improve the way we feel and look. Try for about 34 ounces daily for every 50 pounds of body weight.

Herbs & spices

Want to speed up metabolism, reduce inflammation and reap even more benefits? Keep your home stocked with ginger, garlic, parsley, oregano, cilantro, basil, turmeric, nutmeg, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.

Fruit

Two servings per day maximum for an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, because many fruits are high in sugar. Green apples and berries are the lowest-sugar fruits.

Complex carbohydrates

These have enough fiber to slow the release of glucose (sugar) into the system, helping to stabilize blood glucose levels. Stable blood sugar levels are the ONE thing that people who live to be 100 or over have in common.

• Grains: Choose gluten-free grains whenever possible, like brown and wild rice and quinoa.
• Root veggies: Sweet potatoes, yams, butternut and acorn squash and parsnips.
• Beans & legumes: Chickpeas, black beans, pinto and adzuki beans, lentils.

Healthy fats & oils

Good-quality fat makes us feel full, so we won’t overeat sugar or carbohydrates, and are a fast way to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation.

Protein

Consuming high-quality meats (free-range and organic lean meats and wild fish) provides the body with sources of complete protein and all the essential amino acids necessary to repair tissue and maintain a healthy metabolism.

Vegetables

It’s simple—the more fresh vegetables we eat, the better our health will be. A rainbow of color and five servings per day keep antioxidant levels high and inflammation at bay. You can download a PDF version of this article here.