Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22) (2024)

Weekly Dinner Plan

ByStephanie Wilson

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A week of anti-inflammatory dinners is perfect for the last full week of August. Much like the Mediterranean diet, anti-inflammatory foods are simple, delicious, and super healthy.

Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22) (1)

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Healthy anti-inflammatory foods can help fight chronic inflammation. And these foods just happen to be utterly delicious too. Not only do they help alleviate inflammation, they are satisfying and rather perfect for this last full week of August.

Why is it important to manage inflammation?

Inflammation is a natural response your body takes when injured. It sends blood to the site of the injury, creates swelling to protect it. As the body heals, the swelling subsides and the body begins to function normally.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, has a much different effect. “With chronic inflammation, the body continues to react as if there is an injury present.”

In such cases, “your body never gets a chance to rest and re-set. The immune system is constantly on guard, and fighting.”

Studies show that inflammation and its damage can be reversed with simple changes. An anti-inflammatory diet is one of them.

Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to eat?

An anti-inflammatory diet is similar to a Mediterranean diet, which I love, and follows many of the same principles:

  • Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables
  • Choose whole, unprocessed foods
  • Focus on fish, legumes, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats (like olive oil)
  • Sharply decrease refined flours and sugars
  • Add spices to combat inflammation like turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, cayenne and cloves.

“The anti-inflammatory diet more specifically includesfoods that play a role in reducing chronic inflammation, like antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables such as cherries, berries and dark leafy greens, and also has increased emphasis on healthy fats from avocado, fish and nuts.”

A handy resource is Dr. Andrew Weil’s book Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Beginners.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Avoid

Here is a quick list of foods to avoid when eating an anti-inflammatory diet.

  • Fried foods
  • Refined carbohydrates
  • Refined sugar
  • Processed meats
  • Red meat (beef, steak, hamburger)
  • Unhealthy oils (most vegetable oils)
  • Added fats

Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: Foods to Focus On

Instead, try incorporating these anti-inflammatory foods into your daily diet.

  • Fish
  • Nuts, including natural nut butters without any added sugars
  • Seeds
  • Legumes
  • Whole grains (quinoa, bulgur, oats, brown rice, whole wheat and more)
  • Fruits, especially cherries, berries, pomegranate
  • Vegetables, especially dark leafy greens, cruciferous veggies and beets
  • Avocado
  • Olives and olive oil
  • Unsweetened fermented dairy products, like yogurt and kefir

Have a wonderful week!

RELATED: More 31Daily Dinner Ideas >>

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Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22)

Healthy Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22)

This week we're focusing on a week of anti-inflammatory dinners, perfect for the last full week of August. Much like the Mediterranean diet, anti-inflammatory foods are simple, delicious, and super healthy.

1

Monday: Tofu Salad

Photo Credit:www.allrecipes.com

"The crunchy vegetables are the perfect partner for the soft tofu. Studies show thateating soy-based foods such as tofu has beneficial health effects, including reduced risk of inflammation-related diseases."

2

Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22) (3)

Tuesday: Vegetarian Instant Pot Chickpea Curry

Instant Pot Chickpea Curry recipe is an easy favorite. A simple pressure cooker curry recipe ready in 20 minutes, packed with chickpeas, tomato, and kale. Serve with Jasmine rice, brown rice, or your favorite grain.

3

Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22) (4)

Wednesday: White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi

Photo Credit:www.eatingwell.com

"Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe— providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K."

4

Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22) (5)

Thursday: Roasted Salmon & Tomatoes with Garlic & Olives

Photo Credit:www.eatingwell.com

"Keep the mess to minimum with this easy sheet-pan dinner. Cherry tomato halves roast alongside salmon fillets and make a delicious topping combined with olives, garlic and thyme in this easy fuss-free dinner."

Serve with 3/4 cup cooked quinoa to round out the meal.

5

Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22) (6)

Friday: Greek Turkey Burgers

Photo Credit:www.foodiecrush.com

"These light and juicy turkey burgers are going Greek, with the addition of sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and feta cheese." Look for a whole grain, sourdough or rye buns for serving for their anti-inflammatory properties.

6

Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22) (7)

Gluten Free Date Bars (No Added Sugar)

Photo Credit:sunkissedkitchen.com

These Oatmeal Walnut Gluten Free Date Bars are seriously dreamy! They make the perfect energizing on-the-go snack, and are a healthy option because they are free of added sugars.

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Anti-Inflammatory Dinners: What to Cook (Aug 22) (2024)

FAQs

What is the number 1 inflammatory food? ›

In particular, experts recommend avoiding these inflammatory foods: Red meat, such as steak and hamburgers. Processed meat, such as bologna, bacon, sausage and lunchmeat. Commercial baked goods such as snack cakes, pies, cookies and brownies.

What kind of pasta is anti-inflammatory? ›

Wholegrain Pasta: A Healthier Alternative

Numerous studies confirm that these nutritional attributes make wholegrain pasta a healthier alternative to traditional refined pasta and contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties.

What meat is anti-inflammatory? ›

In fact, pasture-raised chickens, pigs, lambs, and cows have higher levels of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids and lower levels of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids than corn-fed animals. Research even shows less disease among people who opt for meat from grass-fed animals over conventional.

What kind of cheese can you eat on an anti-inflammatory diet? ›

Swiss, provolone, Cheddar and Gouda are some examples. According to 2019 research in the Journal of Dairy Science, cheese may offer a stable environment for probiotics to live in, thanks to its high fat content, pH and high water activity.

What is the best anti-inflammatory bread? ›

The best bread to reduce gut inflammation is bread made from whole grains. Refined grains, such as the grains found in white bread and white pasta, are known to increase inflammation across the whole body. Sourdough bread and rye bread are both good options for an anti-inflammatory diet.

Are eggs anti-inflammatory? ›

The vitamin D present in the eggs modulates the inflammatory response in rheumatoid arthritis. As a result, eggs are one of the best anti-inflammatory foods.

Are eggs inflammatory? ›

According to a 2020 review, eggs contain substances such as trimethylamine-N-oxide, omega-6 fatty acids, and arachidonic acid, which can promote inflammation. However, a 2019 study on adults found no connection between egg consumption and inflammatory biomarkers in the blood.

Is Chicken an anti-inflammatory? ›

Based on the current research, chicken itself does not have inherent anti-inflammatory properties. It is not inflammatory but also not anti inflammatory.

Is peanut butter inflammatory or anti-inflammatory? ›

Are peanuts inflammatory? The short answer is no, and in fact, peanuts and some peanut products like peanut butter have been shown to be anti-inflammatory. Inflammation in the body is a mechanism thought to be at the center of the majority of chronic diseases.

References

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