Easy Ways to Help Reduce Inflammation

Whether going through breast cancer treatment or trying to boost your daily health regimen, reducing inflammation can provide wonderful relief to aches and pains that many people don’t even realize.  Aching joints, swelling hands/feet, headaches —so many of these common aches and pains can be directly tied to inflammation.  Good news is, reducing inflammation can be easy and today we’re sharing some of our top ways at The Breast Cancer Charities of America we like to reduce inflammation.

Hydration is Key

DRINK MORE WATER. Period. Hydration (with water) is one of the easiest ways to reduce inflammation within literally hours.  Not coffee, definitely not soda (or even sparkling water) just straight up flat water.  It is recommended that you drink at least eight 8-oz glasses a day…and quite frankly, if you divvy that up over the average 16 hours that you’re awake each day, that’s only half a cup an hour (that’s hardly anything!)

Tip: get some fun cups, mugs, or water glasses (glass is preferable over plastic) that you can refill throughout the day to keep track of your water consumption.  Also, there are so many free apps that help you track and document how much water you’ve consumed for the day to keep you on track too!

Modify Your Diet

Another very easy fix, watch what is on your plate!  Did you know that there are foods, like tomatoes, berries, almonds/walnuts, olive oil, spinach/kale and fish like salmon & tuna that help to REDUCE inflammation just by eating them?  How easy is that?

Key foods to AVOID (aka. they cause inflammation) include fried food, processed meats, butter, sodas and refined carbs (think chips, white breads, certain cereals, cookies, etc).

Exercise

I feel like we preach this at BCCA all the time, but move your body.  It helps with SO many health elements, but one of which is inflammation.  This can be as simple as a walk through your neighborhood, resistance training at home, water aerobics/swimming or finding a free yoga class on YouTube to try.  Move your body!  It makes all the difference in the world.

Try Soaking

This is a personal favorite of mine.  You’d think that salt would increase inflammation, but in actuality, Epsom salt baths (or foot soaks) help to decrease inflammation and allows your body to get rid of the toxins that link to inflammation.  Light some candles, find your favorite book and pour a big glass of water and soak in the tub…you’ll be amazed after a couple treatments how much better you feel (and Epsom salts can be found at any grocery store, so they’re an inexpensive and easy find!)

Get Your Beauty Sleep

May sound odd, but sleep and rest is a time where your body heals itself.  Inflammation included.  Getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night can truly help your body to get rid of and reduce inflammation.  So take that Epsom salt bath and crawl into bed a bit early right after!