Inflammation is responsible for many of the symptoms of MS, and there are many ways to fight inflammation in the body. One of the best ways to fight inflammation and reduce MS symptoms is to follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Getting started with a new diet can be overwhelming, but the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet are worth the hassle.
Read on to learn how to start an anti-inflammatory diet. You will need a plan, support, and plenty of good recipes.
Map Out Your Anti-Inflammatory Diet Plan
When it comes to any lifestyle change, you need to have a plan. Changing your diet impacts numerous parts of your life. You will need to consider your grocery budget, time for food preparation, your own tastes, and the preferences and dietary needs of those in your family. You will also need to find out what foods to include in your anti-inflammatory diet (and which foods to avoid). By combining all of this information, you can develop a plan that maps out your path to decreased inflammation.
Gather Your Support Network
Diet changes are hard, especially if you live and eat with other people. Try to get your family on board with your new diet. Even if they don’t have MS, they will still benefit from an anti-inflammatory diet. If your family doesn’t want to participate, help them understand how important this change is to you and what type of support you will need from them.
It is crucial that the people in your life understand the changes you are making. If you go out to lunch or dinner with friends or co-workers, let them know that you are making this change. Ask for their support to help you stay on track. You are bound to have moments where the cake or french fries are calling your name; having someone you care about to remind you what you are fighting for will help keep you on track when temptation strikes.
Anti-Inflammatory Recipes (that actually sound good)
If you feel like you are giving up delicious food by switching to an anti-inflammatory diet, you won’t enjoy it - and probably won’t last long on it. Get excited by researching anti-inflammatory recipes that actually sound good to you.
Start by checking out my round-up of 5 Pineapple and Turmeric Recipes to Relieve MS Symptoms. You can also create or adapt your own recipes to be anti-inflammatory. Having a list of recipes in your repertoire before you begin will help you make the shift in your diet without feeling like you are missing out on foods you love.
Starting an anti-inflammatory diet may be the most important thing you can do to manage your MS symptoms, and it doesn’t have to be hard. With proper preparation, you can get started today. You’ll be amazed at the benefits of decreased inflammation.
I’d love it if you would share your favorite anti-inflammatory diet tips and recipes in the comments. Let’s help each other stay on track!