You can hardly turn on the TV or radio, read a magazine, or surf the Internet these days without coming across at least one story or another touting the benefits of following the latest fad diet. These stories often feature a celebrity attributing this diet to his or her ability to lose excess weight, tone flabby muscles, and have increased energy. Of course, they are able to do all this in a matter of weeks, while also being able to maintain a busy schedule of work, social interactions, and childcare.

If you think these fad diet trends are short-term solutions, you may be right. Odds are good that the only thing you will end up losing is the money you paid for the pills, capsules, drink powder, or other products that the celebrity claimed was the secret to his or her success.

However, there is a diet, known as an anti-inflammatory diet, that you should be following to provide proven health benefits. Even better, it relies simply on basic food staples available in your local market, rather than expensive supplements only available through special suppliers. In fact, if you are committed to a wellness lifestyle, you are probably already following this diet. How do you follow an anti-inflammatory diet, and what are its benefits? Below, Dr. Nathen Horst answers your questions about this simple diet that is far more beneficial than any fad diet with a celebrity endorsement.

How Do I Follow an Anti-inflammatory Diet

An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on eliminating foods that cause chronic inflammation, or irritation, within various organs and systems within the body. If this inflammation continues, it can lead to certain chronic conditions such as arthritis, bronchitis, fibromyalgia, and cancer. Foods that are known to cause chronic inflammation fall into several categories, including:

• Dairy
• Sugar
• Refined grains (such as pasta or white bread)
• Grain-fed meats
• Tropical fruits
• Vegetable oils

However, if you are currently following any of the low-carb diets, such as Paleo or Mediterranean diets, you are already pretty much following an anti-inflammatory diet. This includes:

• Fresh non-tropical fruits, particularly raspberries and blueberries
• Fresh vegetables, particularly kale and broccoli
• Whole grains
• Beans and nuts
• Fatty fish, particularly salmon and tuna
• Turmeric and garlic to spice up your food

What Are the Benefits of an Anti-inflammatory Diet?

If you have a chronic inflammatory condition, such as arthritis, the most obvious benefit of switching to an anti-inflammatory diet is that it will help alleviate many of your symptoms, including chronic pain, fatigue, and weight gain. In the case of arthritis in particular, losing weight has been proven to improve other symptoms such as joint soreness and stiffness.

On the other hand, if you don’t currently suffer from any chronic inflammatory conditions, you may find that starting an anti-inflammatory diet now could help protect you against developing such a condition, particularly if there is a predisposition for it within your family. Even if there isn’t any family history, it is still a sensible, balanced diet to follow.