Anti-inflammatories

 HEALTH AMPLIFIED

Anti-inflammatories

We’ve all had that nasty grass burn or “roastie” in our lives. Our daughter recently slid down a grassy hill on an empty box, and got her first real grass burn! It has been quite a story getting this thing healed. Blood, wound fluid, redness. Not for the faint hearted.

Inflammation is an indication that your body is fighting damaged cells, viruses and bacteria, be it from a cut, burn, or any injury. It is the body’s natural defence against an underlying issue. Inflammation can be treated in many ways, but as I mentioned, it is the body’s natural fighting mechanism, usually showing up as redness and swelling. You can use essential oils, ointments, prescription medication etc. The question is, are you using it for a short period, or has it become part of your lifestyle and become chronic medication?

Chronic anti-inflammatories should not become the norm. You should be looking at natural alternatives and see where you can make lifestyle changes. Chemical anti-inflammatories come with a long list of side effects, where you might end up using more medication to treat those symptoms. Please read your labels!

Chemical anti-inflammatories reduce swelling and pain which affect the central nervous system. What it does is block pain that is signalled to the brain. Long term use can lead to a false sense of well being. Why do you have inflammation in the first place that it needs to be treated with medication? What is causing the inflammation and where can you make changes?

Chronic inflammation symptoms can include:

·       Fatigue

·       Mouth sores

·       Chest pain

·       Abdominal pain

·       Fever

·       Rash

·       Joint pain

Things that can also contribute to inflammation other than injury are; poor diet, stress, food allergies, anxiety and even a sedentary lifestyle. Remember that many food allergies are directly linked to fear, anxiety and stress that are manifesting in this way, causing a histamine reaction in your body.

Were you aware that poor food choices can contribute to inflammation in the body, leaving you with aches, pains and even depression? Please reflect on your food choices and see where you can make changes. With so much health information at your fingertips, there are no excuses to being oblivious  to the truth. It might be the thing that is making you feel like a rusted piece of metal!

With our family eating a predominantly plant based diet, you can feel the aches and pains creeping up on your body the next morning after we have eaten meat. Try a mostly plant based diet for a month, and then have a juicy piece of meat for dinner. Check your body when you get up in the morning, and how you slept. Big difference, even in your breath and sweat!

Foods that can contribute to inflammation:

·       Refined carbohydrates. Just a reminder that white bread, pizza dough, pasta, pastries, white flour, white rice, sweet desserts and many breakfast cereals can all contribute to inflammation.

·       French fries and fried foods. (including heated oils)

·       Carbonated sugar sweetened beverages.

·       Red meat and processed meat.

·       Sugar.

·       Foods containing MSG.

·       Gluten.

·       Alcohol.

Your solution!

Anti-inflammatory foods! Certain foods contain vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. These elements all help speed up the healing process in your body. Anti-oxidants are found in fresh fruit and vegetables and can reduce swelling and pain.

By making lifestyle food choices, you will be feeding your body natural anti-inflammatories, long term. The following foods won’t just lessen aches and pains, but your body will start healing the problem that caused it in the first place. Your immune system will also be getting a boost, and it will be able to fight pathogens in a much stronger way etc.

·       Spinach, broccoli, kale

·       Dark green salad leaves

·       Raw mushrooms and peppers

·       Blueberries, cherries, strawberries

·       Almonds

·       Raw cabbage

·       Pineapple

·       Celery and beetroot

·       Salmon

·       Black pepper

·       Garlic

·       Tumeric, ginger, rosemary

·       Cold pressed, unheated olive oil

·       Apple cider vinegar

Drinking warm water with grated ginger and squeezed lemon juice on a regular basis. This decreases acidity in your body and helps to remove uric acid from joints, which can lead to pain. It also stimulates the liver and activated bile flow. This helps to emulsify and flush out fat soluble toxins.

Omega oils also help to lubricate joints, which reduces swollen and tender joints. Look out for cold pressed Flaxseed oil.

Dealing with stress, anxiety and fear in your life. Maybe it is time to do some introspection. See where you need to forgive and let go. Where can you make changes to a busy lifestyle? Are you really responsible for the well being of all those people in your life, or do you need to bring them before God in prayer and intercede for them? Are you using medication to numb the pain, or is it maybe time to face those fears and make them powerless in your life?( Please refer to my 3 part series on “The link between your emotions and disease.”)

See where you can increase anti-inflammatory foods on a daily basis, and slowly start lowering your chemical medication. Swallowing a pill might be an easy way out right now, but how will your body be responding in the long run? I know that these are some hard questions, but vitality is waiting for you on the other end.

I have written about green powders, barley green powders etc. over and over again. I have to accentuate it, because it is life changing. Have a look at “The Real Thing” Green Powder found online, at Dischem or Mopani pharmacy. Or BarleyLife powder or capsules.

I am a big supporter of Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils and resins and take it on a daily basis. These help to balance your whole body and get everything functioning properly again, detoxing your body in the process. We order ours from “Ancient Biblical Oils”. Not to mention the wide variety of essential oils being available to us in health shops, pharmacies and online.

I don’t think there is anyone that wants to be in pain for longer than they should. Take some time this weekend and see how you can make positive changes long term. Get yourself an “accountability” partner if you have to, it will be worth it in the end!

Lizelle

Recipes:

Blueberry no- bake cheese cake

We don’t usually eat dairy, but this is a creamy, rich, cheese cake without being too sweet! This one needs to be made the day before.

Base:

Half cup rolled oats

Quarter cup ground oats (oat flour)

Half cup ground nuts (I prefer almonds)

1 and half Tbsp melted butter

1 and half Tbsp honey

1 and half Tbsp water

Filling:

2 Cups strained cottage cheese or cream cheese

1 Cup heavy cream (chilled)

1 Tbsp lemon juice

Quarter cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

Topping:

1 Cup blueberries

1 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp chia seeds (or more for thicker consistency)

Touch of lemon juice

Quarter cup water

-Mix the crust ingredients together and press into an 8 inch, greased, spring form tin.

-Place wax wrap over it and press on the crust with the back of a glass to compact the crust.

-Place in the fridge while you make the filling.

-Mix the cheese in a mixing bowl until there are no lumps.

-Add the lemon juice, vanilla and honey, mix well.

-In a separate bowl, beat the cold cream until stiff peaks.

-Fold the cream into the cheese mixture.

-Scoop over the crust and place back into the fridge.

-Simmer blueberries, water, honey and lemon juice together for 5 min. Mash a little with a potato masher.

-Remove from heat and add the chia seeds. Let stand for half an hour. Stir. If the mixture is too runny, add another Tbsp at a time until the mixture is quite thick.

-Spoon the cooled mixture over the cream cheese filling. It has to be cooled down!

-Place back into the fridge, cover with foil.

-When serving the next day, remove from the fridge just before serving. Run a sharp knife along the edge before carefully removing it from the spring form tin.

*You can do the berry step first if you want to safe time so that it can cool down so long.

Enjoy!

Oats and banana flapjacks

These can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or any time in between for that matter! I usually double this recipe.

2 Ripe bananas

2 Eggs or 2 Flax “eggs”

1 Cup ground oats

2 tsp baking powder

Cinnamon and vanilla to taste

Half cup buttermilk (I use a plant  based milk and add a dash of apple cider vinegar to it.)

-Mash the bananas, whisk the eggs and grind your oatmeal.

-Mix well and let stand for 10 min. This allows the oats to absorb the liquid and batter to thicken up.

-Fry in a little coconut oil until bubbles form. Carefully turn them over, cook for a little longer until golden, because it can be quite delicate.

-Serve with honey , peanut butter or butter.

-You won’t be able to bake them fast enough for the kids!

*These 2 recipes were taken from “How to cook smarter.”