3 Powerful Foods That Reduce Inflammation

3 Powerful Foods That Reduce Inflammation

Powerful foods can be extraordinary for your overall health.  Cellular inflammation has been shown to be the underlying marker in nearly every major health problem.  Every single day our body is attacked by free radicals, cells are damaged, and inflammatory mediators are produced and triggered throughout our body.  Fortunately, God gave us an incredible ability to heal and regulate abnormal cell development.

He also provided us with a way of life to reduce and negate the negative effects of lifestyle stress. From a nutritional perspective, one of the simplest things to do is add some of our Creators most nutritious powerful foods into our diet.  Powerful foods that have an incredible array of health benefits that go well beyond just their nutrient value are considered “super-foods.”  Here are some of nature’s most powerful foods that may be the key secrets to health and healing:

Apple Cider Vinegar: 

This super tonic contains acetic acid, which is known to help the body absorb iron more effectively (1).  Iron is primarily used as the mineral backbone within hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying molecule within red blood cells.

Myoglobin, the oxygen extracting molecule within muscle, also consists of an iron backbone. Higher levels of bioavailable iron allow the body to better utilize oxygen.  Boosting oxygen levels increases both energy production and detoxification processes.

The acetic acid and active enzymes within the ACV also help the body metabolize protein and absorb the amino acids more effectively.  This is a critical step for building healthy hormones, and enzymes and repairing tissue.

Through these mechanisms, ACV helps to recover from injury, excessive exercise, and states of chronic pain.  Additionally, better enzymatic function will increase energy and a sense of well-being (2).

ACV is Amazing for the Skin:

ACV is an acid on the outside of our body but has an alkaline ash when it is digested within our body.  This is the best of both worlds.  As an acid, it is a powerful sterilizer that is great for improving the quality of our skin & hair.  Additionally, it is great at removing warts, acting upon acne, and cleansing the body of dead skin cells.

Within the body, ACV balances our overall pH by providing extra alkaline buffering minerals in ionic potassium and magnesium.  This benefit enhances overall energy production and detoxification processes.

ACV also helps to balance and stabilize blood sugar and is great to consume before or with a higher carbohydrate meal to prevent a blood sugar spike (3).  Be sure to purchase your ACV, completely raw and unpasteurized with an intact “mother.”

Turmeric: 

This powerhouse is the 6th highest antioxidant rich herb, containing an incredible ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbancy Capacity) score of 127,068 (4).  The major ingredient curcumin is what gives turmeric its characteristic orange color.

The curcuminoids within turmeric are said to be 5-8 times stronger at scavenging free radicals than vitamin C & E.  The molecules are strong enough to take on the hydroxyl free radical which is considered to be the most reactive of all free radicals (5). These curcuminoids help to cleanse and nourish your skin and balance the skin’s natural microflora that protects you from infections.

Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, acting to down-regulate the inflammatory mediating COX-2 & MMP9 receptors.  Additionally, it reverses many common cancer cell transcription factors such as NF-Kappa Beta.  The curcuminoids have been labeled by many as some of the most powerful cancer fighting substances on the planet (6).

Oregano: 

Oregano is extraordinarily high in antioxidant activity, ranking as the 2nd highest herb with an ORAC score of 175,295 (5).  The primary antioxidant components are phenolic acids and flavonoids.

Oregano oil has incredible anti-bacterial functions due to its high content of thymol, a powerful food phenol.  Additionally, oregano has been found to be the most effective substance against MRSA staph infections, beating out the 18 currently used antibiotics in a recent study (7).

Oregano oil has been classically used as a disinfectant, an aid for ear, nose, and throat/respiratory infections, candida, and any sort of bacterial or viral conditions.  Additionally, it works to suppress inflammatory mediators and cancer cell production.  Oregano oil is more potent than the dried herb, however, the dried version still contains many powerful health benefits.

Dr. Jockers’ Action Steps:

•  Keep a continual supply of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar, turmeric, & oregano.
• Use ACV, turmeric, and oregano on everything from salads, meats, rice/quinoa dishes, diced cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, etc.
• Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 8 oz of water in the morning to enhance your metabolic fire and energy levels.

If you want to work with a functional health coach, I recommend this article with tips on how to find a great coach.  We do offer long-distance functional health coaching programs with our world class team of health coaches. For further support with your health goals, just reach out and our fantastic coaches are here to support your journey.

Sources For This Article Include:

1. Salovaara S, Sandberg AS, Andlid T.Organic acids influence iron uptake in the human epithelial cell line Caco-2. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Oct 9;50(21):6233-8. PMID: 12358508

2. Johnston CS, Gaas CA. Vinegar: medicinal uses and antiglycemic effect. MedGenMed. 2006 May 30;8(2):61. PMID: 16926800

3. White AM, Johnston CS. Vinegar ingestion at bedtime moderates waking glucose concentrations in adults with well-controlled type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2007 Nov;30(11):2814-5. PMID: 17712024

4. Super Foodly ORAC Values: Antioxidant Values of Common Foods Link Here

5. Menon VP, Sudheer AR. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:105-25. PMID: 17569207

6. Ravindran J, Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. Curcumin and cancer cells: how many ways can curry kill tumor cells selectively? AAPS J. 2009 Sep;11(3):495-510. PMID: 19590964

7. Kavanaugh NL, Ribbeck K. Selected antimicrobial essential oils eradicate Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012 Jun;78(11):4057-61. PMID: 22467497