Nutrition plays a very important role in the treatment and management of chronic inflammation. For this reason, in addition to what you put on your plate, it is good to pay attention to what you drink every day.
So here are some quick and easy drinks with anti-inflammatory properties that can be prepared at home in just a few steps.
Homemade anti-inflammatory drinks
- Cherry juice and chia seeds
- Pomegranate ice tea _
- Iced dark chocolate milkshake
- Ginger and berry smoothie
- Turmeric vegetable milk
Cherry juice and chia seeds
- 3/4 cup 100% cherry juice
- A cup of water
- 3 tablespoons of white chia seeds
- 2 spoons of honey
- 3 tablespoons of lime juice
Combine the cherry juice, water, chia seeds, honey and lime juice in a mason jar, cover and shake well.
Refrigerate for a few hours before consuming it.
This refreshing drink offers anti-inflammatory benefits thanks to chia seeds and cherry juice. In fact, chia seeds contain omega-3 fats , known anti-inflammatories; while cherry juice is packed with powerful antioxidants that help relieve pain associated with arthritic conditions like gout , according to a 2017 study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine .
Pomegranate ice tea
- A cup of pure green tea
- 1/4 cup pomegranate juice
- A fresh mint leaf or a lemon wedge
- In a cup, mix the green tea and pomegranate juice.
Garnish with a fresh mint leaf or lemon wedge. If preferred, black tea can be used instead of green tea .
Thanks to its ingredients, this refreshing iced tea has twice the anti-inflammatory power of classic tea. Pomegranates are rich in polyphenols , organic compounds found in plants that are known to improve heart health and other inflammatory conditions.
Green tea , on the other hand, is teeming with flavonoids , a type of polyphenol that can prevent oxidative stress , relieve inflammation , and as a result, help reduce plaque buildup in your arteries .
Iced dark chocolate milkshake
- 100 grams of cold coffee
- 100ml unsweetened coconut milk
- 30 grams of extra dark chocolate (at least 85%)
- A teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
- A cup of ice
Coconut flakes
Combine the coffee, unsweetened coconut milk , dark chocolate and pure vanilla extract in a blender.
Blend until the mixture is homogeneous and without lumps.
Pour the drink into a tall glass and add the coconut flakes as a garnish.
Coffee and dark chocolate are known for their anti-inflammatory powers. Specifically, a November 2015 study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition observed that people who drank at least 1.5 cups of coffee a day were 54% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who he didn’t. According to the researchers, the reason may be precisely the anti-inflammatory effect of coffee.
Plus, this smoothie with just 6 grams of sugar per serving isn’t likely to spike your blood sugar levels too much .
Ginger and berry smoothie
- ½ cup of frozen mixed berries
- A cup of water
- A spoonful of chia seeds
- Two teaspoons of fresh ginger root
- A cup of spinach (optional)
In a blender, combine the mixed berries, water, chia seeds, fresh ginger root, and baby spinach until smooth.
Add more water until you reach the desired consistency.
Every ingredient in this smoothie helps fight inflammation. In particular, berries , rich in antioxidants , are very powerful when it comes to counteracting cellular damage, so in addition to ingesting them through this smoothie, it is recommended to eat them regularly throughout the day.
Turmeric vegetable milk
- Half cup of almond milk and half cup of coconut milk
- A teaspoon of cardamom
- A teaspoon of turmeric
- A teaspoon of rose water
- 3 to 5 grams of ground black pepper
- A teaspoon of honey
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and gradually bring to a boil.
Stir occasionally.
Once cooked, pour the milk into two cups and garnish as desired with cocoa beans , sesame seeds , ground almonds , cardamom or turmeric.
Golden milk, as this spiced milk is commonly called, in addition to having a very pleasant taste , is excellent for fighting infections, especially thanks to the presence of turmeric. Curcumin , the chemical compound at the base of turmeric, is in fact recognized as being able to improve chronic pain and the health of the brain and of the cardio vascular and circulatory systems .
