If you are battling inflammation, supplements can help. You won’t see changes overnight, but when used with nutrition and physical activity, supplements can help to get to the root of the problem rather than just masking the symptoms. The problem with medications is that they may relieve your symptoms, but the main problem is still there. The problem won’t go away until you make lifestyle changes.
If you suffer from pain, then omega-3 fatty acids could help. Omega-3 supplements can help to fight arthritis pain, but can also help to fight serious medical conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids can also be useful for treating or reducing symptoms of diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline.
If you choose to take omega-3 supplements, do not take more than 3 grams per day. You can also get omega-3 fatty acids from flax oils, krill oils, flax seeds and fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon.
Ginger is another supplement that is helpful for treating inflammation. Ginger can help to reduce arthritis pain and can also ease post-workout pain when consumed daily. Ginger is proven to share pharmacological properties with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but without the side effects.
Try sprinkling ginger on as many of your meals as possible, and try it in your daily smoothie or juice. A ginger supplement may also be helpful if you’re not sure that you will eat enough ginger on a daily basis.
Curcumin is a component of turmeric, which is also a member of the ginger family. Curcumin is another safe and effective anti-inflammatory that can be just as effective as anti-inflammatory drugs, especially for treating arthritis pain. Curcurmin can also reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
To make sure you are getting enough curcumin to notice its health benefits, its best to take curcumin in its full form rather than relying on turmeric. It is recommended that curcumin supplements should be taken with a little bit of pepper or a fatty (but healthy) meal to help increase absorption. You should also find a supplement that contains bioperine, which also helps to increase absorption.
Boswellia, black willow and licorice are other great supplements to use as anti-inflammatories. Boswellia can help to treat osteoarthritic joint and muscle pain, and even fibromyalgia. Black willow is the bark from which aspirin is derived, but without the side effects. Licorice root is a powerful anti-inflammatory and can help to treat ulcers, canker sores, acid reflux and even skin conditions such as eczema.
For more information about reducing inflammation in a natural and non-invasive way, please contact Premier Health Chiropractors. Our experienced and licensed chiropractors can assist you with finding supplements and other natural remedies that may help to reduce inflammation.