Eat Prepared: The Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Yes, I know the Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared,” but I just couldn’t help myself! This is another article in my series, “Prepper, Heal Thyself.” The first was about how I gave up all sugar and refined carbohydrates late last year and have never looked back. In this article, I will share my own experience as a 56-year-old who is generally free of pain, and what happened when I enjoyed some supposedly “innocent” BBQ this past week at my friend’s house. 

In my humble opinion, we get a lot of information about diet-ING and losing weight, but not as much as we need about the importance and potential impacts of diet. If this article can help one person who is sensitive to foods become pain-free, I will consider it a big success. I hope that others may question more seriously what IS food and what IS NOT food in all the stuff we find ourselves surrounded by. No big surprise that many are getting rich off of all the unhealthy and easily available food that surrounds us. 

Because I don’t want this to be dismissed as just more “healthy eating” preaching that will turn folks off, I will share my own story first, and some of my experiences around how food impacts my body and how I eat to stay pain-free. 

What Happened at the BBQ?

I love BBQ, especially when it’s well-grilled and has got some of that charbroiled black stuff on it! It’s summer here, and with the climate I live in here in the north, we have to enjoy our summer as much as we can. So, when I stopped in at my friend’s place and they already had a BBQ well underway, well, OF COURSE, I’d like a grilled hot dog! And the first one was so gooood…….(honey mustard, anyone?) that I had another. Now, on my way home, I did think, “Hmmm, I don’t really eat a lot of processed meat these days, and I don’t eat white buns at all.” But that was as far as it went.

Until I woke up the next morning….with JOINT PAIN.

This is something I never, ever have. And here I was, with a sore hip and no other possible factor, like a long hike up a mountain, or extra strenuous chores as the cause. In fact, I had taken a break from my daily walking schedule for a few days, due to a summer cold. So, from one day, eating healthily, I was pain free, and after eating two hot dogs (Mmmmm, I still say they were good!), I had joint pain. 

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Now, my daily diet is quite clean, so I sure was relieved when my body cleared those chemicals and the NEXT day I woke up…you guessed it! Pain-free again. 

This is my body: I am sensitive to many preservatives and chemicals in food. If I ate junk every day, I’m pretty sure I would have trouble walking, and I know I wouldn’t sleep well. How do I know this? Well, when I used to think that a fat and sugar-laden milkshake (that does not actually contain any milk) from a famous fast food chain was a treat, I would drink one when I went to the city, and wake up in the middle of the night that night, literally SCREAMING in pain. I am not kidding you! All joints in agony, hurting everywhere, I was an inflammatory mess. 

This is where I want folks to be thinking….”Hmmmm, I have pain like that, and I eat that stuff she’s talking about….I wonder if…..”

What Has “Cured” Me

I am going to say that I don’t think that there is anything wrong with me. It’s what wrong with what they call food in this country of ours. What keeps me pain-free is eating like my granddad and grandma ate on the dairy farm my mother grew up on. I eat the basics, without a lot of frills. I cook it myself, even when I don’t want to. Yes, I eat meat, but it’s not processed and preserved with chemicals. The beef I eat is purchased from a local abattoir from a local farmer whose reputation is highly respected. 

Slowly, over time, I have kept a pretty consistent diet. This has allowed me to quickly identify when I get a reaction from an unusual food. Generally, it is processed foods, such as canned soups, stews, etc, and fast food itself that cause these reactions and bring on the pain. Am I bummed about it? Heck no! I think of my body as the ole “canary in the coal mine” warning me to get those unhealthy foods out of my diet for good. 

What Is It?

Over time, my diet has become what is commonly called an “anti-inflammatory” diet. There are certain foods that you want to avoid in this diet. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the foods that increase inflammation in the body include 

• “Sweets, like commercial baked goods, pre-packaged desserts, ice cream, and candy.
• Snack foods, like potato chips and microwave popcorn.
• Processed meats, including bacon, sausage, hot dogs, bologna, pepperoni, and salami.
• Processed cheeses, like nacho cheese dip and American cheese slices.
• Sugary beverages, including soda and sports drinks.
• Fried foods, like fried chicken and French fries.” 

Ouch! That list is sort of like the American fast food diet, ain’t it?

Now, here’s a list of the foods that you want to increase in your diet, because they are known to reduce inflammation. According to Harvard Health, here they are:

• Tomatoes
• Olive oil
• Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards
• Nuts like almonds and walnuts
• Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines
• Fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges

Why Bother?

Yeah, you might look at these lists and think, “No way! I’m not giving up the foods I love, and I won’t survive on the “can eat” foods.” I understand. The gap between these two is pretty large and not likely to be spanned in a week’s time. However, I can’t overemphasize the importance to me of living pain-free. Add to that, that I’m in perfect health. Now, I’m not saying that to brag. 

I’m going to tell you that there are some issues with the O’Malley genes and my female cousins. Out of my six female cousins, one has already passed away from cancer before the age of sixty, one has had two cancers before the age of sixty, and another just had two cancers before the age of 55. My sister has serious inflammatory chronic health issues. Only one elder cousin and I, of the six, are the only healthy ones. So, one of the best reasons to bother is to take a look at your own family tree and decide if you like your odds on an inflammatory diet. Quite frankly, I didn’t.

Why is it a Prep?

Remember how I love my freedom? Well, if you eat a basic diet made of whole foods, I consider you well prepared. In SHTF, no matter what basic ingredients you get, you can make something to eat that you will appreciate. While others are trading their valuables for Pepsi, you can be getting kale for a decent trade and stay healthy on less food. You can make choices to fuel your body that will keep you in tip-top condition right when you need to be. To me, that is the ultimate in preparation: knowing what fuel your body needs for top performance. 

Feeling inspired? Check out this amazing 30-day Anti-Inflammatory Diet Plan, created by a dietitian. Even small changes can have an impact. I wish you the best!

Eat Well, Prep Well

I consider my diet and care of my body to be one of my most important preps.

What do you think about the anti-inflammatory diet? Do you have any experiences with making a similar dietary change that you can share with us? Please tell us in the comments below.

About Rowan

Rowan O’Malley is a fourth-generation Irish American who loves all things green: plants (especially shamrocks), trees, herbs, and weeds! She challenges herself daily to live her best life and to be as fit, healthy, and prepared as possible.