11 Best Anti-Inflammatory Foods You Can Add to Your Diet

Rich in vitamin K and offering powerful anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects, greens such as kale, collards, bok choy, and broccoli should be mainstays of your diet, according to Andrew Weil, M.D., founder and director of the Andrew Weil Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona.

Fight inflammation: If you’re not already a big spinach eater, buy one bag from the grocery store with the goal to add it into all of your meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner, says Leah Groppo, M.S., R.D., a clinical dietitian at Stanford Health Care.

If you’re already spreading avocado on your toast every morning, you’re doing your body a favor. “Avocado is a good source of monounsaturated fats,” says Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., a New York-based nutrition consultant and author of The Small Change Diet. Avocados also contain anti-inflammatory antioxidants, says Gans. This includes vitamins C, A, and E, all of which have been associated with a strengthened immune system, as well as a decreased risk for certain cancers and heart disease.

Plus, says Li, who has done a study on how avocados affect inflammation, they can actually balance out some of the more inflammatory foods you might eat, like hot wings or hamburgers.

Fight inflammation: “Avocado is delicious served on 100 percent whole-grain bread with poached eggs and red pepper flakes,” says Gans. Into guac? Try this smoky guacamole recipe.

All varieties are healthful, but one study found that black raspberries reduced the incidence of certain cancers in animals by 50 percent, according to Weil.

“Berries have antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols, which help neutralize your body’s inflammatory response, adds Gerard Mullin, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Polyphenols are the body’s natural antioxidants,” he says.

Fight inflammation: “Blueberries can be enjoyed as a stand-alone fruit or mixed with yogurt or cottage or in a smoothie,” says Gans. “They also add the perfect amount of sweetness to a bowl of oatmeal with a drizzle of honey.”

When it comes to fatty fish and their anti-inflammatory response properties, it all comes down to omega-3 fatty acids. “Omega-3s are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties that may help to decrease risk for heart disease, joint pain, and depression,” says Gans.

Fight inflammation: “Salmon can easily be enjoyed for lunch or dinner simply rubbed in olive oil, salt and pepper, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and then grilled or broiled,” says Gans. Try this honey-spiced salmon with quinoa if you’re in need of a super simple recipe. If you can't find salmon, black cod has even more inflammation-taming omega-3 fatty acids, says Weil.

Along with having potent anti-inflammatory action, ginger helps reduce intestinal gas and nausea, says Weil.

Fight inflammation: “Make a fresh ginger tea by cutting up ginger root and letting it soak in a cup of hot water,” says Keri Glassman M.S., R.D.N. and founder of Nutritious Life. Add lemon and honey if you’d like to enhance the flavor.

One of the keys to avoiding inflammation is avoiding foods that contain saturated fats. Instead, look for foods that are composed of monounsaturated fats, like almonds, which are also a good source of vitamin E and manganese.

“Monounsaturated fats specifically have been associated with a decrease in inflammation in the body,” says Gans. But another important thing to remember here is that the calories in nuts can add up more quickly than you might realize, so try to stick to a 1-oz. serving when you’re eating them, says Gans.

Fight inflammation: “Almonds make the perfect on-the-go snack or crunchy topping for a salad instead of croutons,” says Gans.

Like berries, black beans also contain anti-inflammatory polyphenols, says Gans, but they even take it one step further by packing 8 grams of gut-filling fiber per 1/2 cup serving. “Fiber may help lower cholesterol levels, stabilize blood sugars, and aid in digestion,” says Gans.

Fight inflammation: “Black beans can easily be tossed in salads, pasta sauces, or soups to increase their nutritional benefit,” says Gans. This spicy black bean soup is perfect for a cozy night in.

One major marker of chronic inflammation is high blood sugar levels, says Li, but research shows that pistachios can actually help keep that in check. One 2015 study in particular observed the inflammatory effects of eating white bread alone versus eating white bread with pistachios. In spite of the actual calories, adding pistachio to the bread prevented glucose levels from spiking as much as they normally would, says Li.

Fight inflammation: Eat natural, raw, shelled pistachios as opposed to roasted, salted ones. One recent study found natural pistachios have double the concentration of antioxidants compared to roasted ones.

If you want to get creative, sprinkle 1 cup of watermelon with crushed pistachios and top with torn basil, suggests Lorraine Kearney, C.D.N., N.D.T.R., adjunct professor at the City University of New York.

In a study that Li and her team are currently working on, they’ve found that natural pomegranate juice—as opposed to water with the same amount of sugar in it—has much less of an impact on your blood glucose. “Even though there’s the same amount of sugar, your body responds differently,” say Li.But this doesn’t mean you should glug all the fruity drinks in sight. In fact, sugar—next to saturated fats—is one of the primary causes of chronic inflammation. “Particularly those two in combination, we’re more likely to have a higher degree of inflammation,” says Li. The key is to have anything naturally sugary in moderation, including pomegranate juice.

Fight inflammation: Pomegranate seeds are actually more nutritious and have a higher bioavailability of antioxidants, meaning your body will have an easier time absorbing them, explains Kearney. Simply add the seeds to a Greek yogurt or toss them onto your salad, she says.

Just like your gut health influences most everything else in your body, it can also impact inflammation and your body’s response to it.

Prebiotics (a fermentable fiber that we can’t digest in our stomach) are ultimately what feed the good bacteria in our bodies, says Li. They come in lots of different forms, but anti-inflammatory vegetables like asparagus or leeks are your best bet. Challenge yourself to get as much color on your plate as possible when it comes to vegetables, since those are ultimately what keep your inflammatory response and your gut microbiomes healthy, says Li.

Fight inflammation: Eat a combination of cooked and raw prebiotic vegetables. “Because a lot of nutrients are not available to humans if you just eat it raw,” says Li. “But meanwhile, as we cook, we miss some vitamins. So the best is combination.”

If you’re looking for an anti-inflammatory food that’s more animal-based, try incorporating egg whites into your diet, which have plenty of immunity-protecting properties to aid in anti-inflammation, according to a review of research published in Nutrients. Plus, they don’t cause much damage during digestion themselves. “Egg whites, in particular, are pretty neutral, so they will not cause a huge inflammation,” says Li.

Fight inflammation: “Scramble egg whites with spinach and tomatoes and serve with 1 slice of wheat bread buttered with 1/4 avocado,” suggests Kearney.