Beat inflammation to feel better, stay healthier!

Feel

as if you’ve got more aches and pains than you used to? Blame chronic inflammation, a problem that increases over time and that, in addition to causing aches, can contribute to a host of health problems. How can you reduce inflammation? Easily!

Renew cells with berries!

Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries are rich in antioxidants, making them inflammation-zapping wonders. “As we age, our bodies no longer regenerate new cells as quickly, and that plays into the buildup of chronic inflammation,” says Rebecca Scritchfi eld, R.D.N., author of Body Kindness. “Berries are powerful at quenching that cellular inflammation.”

Heal with ginger tea!

“Simply adding ginger to your diet can dramatically help fight inflammation,” says naturopath Michelle Schoffro Cook, PH.D., D.N.M., author of The Cultured Cook. In fact, multiple studies reveal that gingerol, the root’s active compound, reduces inflammation throughout the body. Simply sip a cup or two of this delicious immunity-boosting tea: Thinly slice a 2" piece of raw ginger. Place in a mug with 2 lemon wedges and 1 tsp. honey. Fill with justboiled water. Steep 5 minutes and enjoy hot or cold.

Soothe your gums with coconut oil! If your gums tend to bleed whenever you floss, it could signal that you have periodontal disease, which can trigger inflammation elsewhere. “Harmful microbes in the mouth can gain access to your bloodstream and cause inflammation anywhere in your body,” explains Schoffro Cook. The good news is there’s an easy solution: Swish your mouth with 1 tsp. of sweet-tasting, unrefined coconut oil for five minutes after brushing and flossing in the morning and again at night, she advises. “Its natural antibacterial compounds help kill harmful bacteria in the mouth, fighting inflammation in the body, as well.” Coconut oil’s germzapping powers can KO inflammation within four weeks!

Activate enzymes with raw veggies! “As we get up in years, we have fewer of the enzymes needed to quell inflammation,” says Schoffro Cook. To the rescue: “Snacking on raw vegetables like carrots, radishes and cucumbers, which contain enzymes called protease that gobble up the by-products of inflammation like Pac-man!” Prefer a quicker fix? A glass of carrot juice does the trick, too!

A daily 400-mg. dose of magnesium will help your muscle and liver cells use blood sugar for fuel, in turn, heightening your blood-sugar control as much as 48%, according to recent Italian research. ■ Important: Always talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement.