Alexis Unlimited

Hello world! Do you ever deal with depression or inflammation due to arthritis? I do so this info is good for me to know. I don’t believe in prescription drugs as I don’t want to become a regular client of big pharma; and I won’t get started on that as the topic could be another post. Here, I just want to share some useful info with you that may help you with depression and/or inflammation…

Power Foods to Beat Depression + Bust Inflammation

Food is medicine. So whether you’re feeling a little blue, struggling with depression or if you’re feeling the pain of excess inflammation, taking a mindful peek at your diet is a good idea.

While cutting out excess sugars and your processed foods is crucial for improving your mood and busting your inflammation build-up, some foods go the extra mile to ensure you feel happy, light, and super balanced. Here are some powerful inflammation- and bad mood-busting foods for you to try.

1. TART CHERRY JUICE

Many athletes consume tart cherry juice to fight their muscle inflammation

and improve their post-workout recovery, but you don’t have to be an athlete to reap this juice’s benefits. Tart cherry juice is notoriously high in antioxidants, which means it is a natural fighter of your oxidative damage, stress, and inflammation.

Some studies have shown that the antioxidant-rich juice may reduce your symptoms and inflammation markers in arthritis, particularly gout.  But those antioxidants also can support more balanced moods. Some believe that depression is an inflammatory disorder, making a juice packed with antioxidants exactly what your naturopath ordered.

2. FERMENTED FOODS

The secret to your balanced mood lies in your gut. Yep, we’re talking about

the brain-gut connection again. There is a powerful link between your bodily inflammation, your moods, and the health of your gut. When your gut is functioning well intestinal inflammation is low, your moods are more likely to be balanced.

Suffice to say, we all need more good bacteria in our lives to keep inflammation down and our moods up. fermented foods like kraut and kimchi make great condiments that you can use practically on anything, but yogurt and tempeh are good options, too.

3. TURMERIC

Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory powers are already pretty well known. It’s

actually been shown to be effective at reducing inflammation in your body in those with arthritis, for goodness sakes! But what about its antidepressant effects?

In a meta-analysis of six clinical trials, turmeric was shown to have powerful antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties when compared to a placebo—without adverse side effects! As if you needed yet another reason to make a curry tonight. Just remember to add black pepper, as a compound in the pepper increases the bio-availability of curcumin (turmeric’s active compound).

4. OMEGA-3 CONTAINING FOODS

Having the proper balance of omega fatty acids in your body is important

for keeping your inflammation at bay, and it has some pretty stellar results. The anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3’s may be able to help your blood vessels better resist damage in heart disease and actually supports your endocannabinoid system in producing its own cannabinoids, which has an inflammation-thwarting effect on your body.

As for your mood, omega-3 fatty acid are essential in your production of serotonin, the happy hormone, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that people with major depression tend to be deficient in omega-3’s. Vegan sources of omega 3’s include chia seeds, hemp seeds, algal oil, walnuts, and flaxseeds.

This is good information if you suffer from either inflammation or depression; and the two are related. Share your thoughts with me by leaving a message below. I’d love to hear from you…

Have a great healthy day!