Skip to main content
Healthy aging and longevity

Fight inflammation with food

Print This Page

To help lower inflammation in the body, dietitians recommend increasing dietary fiber, good fats, whole grains, and omega-3s. Fiber helps keep blood sugar stable, lowers cholesterol, and helps prevent the formation of small blood clots. Unsaturated fats help lower inflammation and cholesterol and stabilize the heartbeat. Whole grains are good at reducing inflammation because they also contain other inflammation-fighting substances—vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for many aspects of health, including reducing inflammation throughout the body.

To continue reading this article, you must log in.

Source matters. Subscribe to HarvardHealthOnline+ FREE for 30 days for unlimited access to the site – where all content is reviewed by an HMS physician or faculty expert.

With HHO+ you get these exclusive benefits:

  • Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
  • 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
  • Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
  • In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
  • Interactive features like videos and quizzes
  • Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources

SPECIAL OFFER! UNLOCK EXPERT ACCESS for 30 days FREE!

Already a member? Login ».

Print This Page

Disclaimer:

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

You might also be interested in…

Foods that Fight Inflammation: Designing your diet to lower disease risk

In this Harvard Medical School Guide you’ll be introduced to foods — more than 120 in all — that will help you turn out meals that fight inflammation and disease. You’ll learn how plant-based chemicals called phytochemicals act as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, helping to bring down levels of inflammation and to counteract inflammation’s harmful effects. And you’ll find dozens of anti-inflammatory foods with added health benefits that include lowering cholesterol, reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke, improving blood pressure, adding protection against heart disease, and even reducing pain and soreness after exercise.

Read More

Free Healthbeat Signup

Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!

Sign Up