Eating certain foods can help improve mental health and reduce the risk of serious diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Professor Howard E. LeWine from Harvard University, an expert in nutrition and epidemiology, explains that chronic inflammation is linked to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s. Therefore, selecting anti-inflammatory foods not only boosts mood but also enhances quality of life while reducing the risk of disease.
Some recommended anti-inflammatory foods include tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, nuts such as almonds and walnuts, fatty fish like salmon and sardines, as well as fruits like strawberries and oranges. Tomatoes are particularly rich in the antioxidant lycopene which has been found to fight prostate cancer. Processed tomato products may even be more potent in this aspect. Blueberries are another powerful source of antioxidants that contain cancer-fighting anthocyanosides which scavenge free radicals and reduce cell growth and inflammation according to the UK National Cancer Research Foundation.
On the other hand, consuming inflammatory foods can accelerate the disease process and should be limited or avoided. Experts advise against consuming anti-inflammatory foods like white bread, cakes, French fries