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Fighting Inflammation with 7 Foods and IV Therapy in Toronto

POSTED BY TORONTO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CENTRE

Inflammation can take a toll on mood, pain levels, and more. But did you know that your dietary intake of some foods can cause chronic inflammation? Luckily, there are strategies to help fight this bodily response, and our functional medicine/IV therapy Toronto clinic can help. 

Inflammation is the human body’s defense tool in which your immune function works towards removing ‘invaders’, such as toxins. But when this defense mechanism prolongs, it can cause cellular damage and oxidative stress, with the potential to instigate autoimmune conditions. Chronic inflammation may last for years, and it’s connected various health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer’s and arthritis. 

Scientists have been scrutinizing inflammation for years, and they’ve noticed a glaring link between what we eat and our inflammatory reactions. The Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC) highlights the types of foods that contain anti-inflammatory components and how to reach us for functional medicine programs, which can be combined with intravenous therapy. 

7 Anti-inflammatory Foods to Note

If you’re on a health journey towards optimal function, diet can play an immense role in energy levels, detoxification processes, appearance of skin, and more. Consuming foods with anti-inflammatory components may promote positive effects, such as helping to prevent chronic diseases and a reduction in swelling. Check out the foods below and try adding them to your meals!

    1. Bok choy: This Chinese cabbage contains hydroxycinnamic acids, which are major antioxidants that can protect the body from free radicals. Free radicals are known to contribute to inflammatory responses.
    2. Green tea: Plant-based molecules called polyphenols are in this tea. “The ability of polyphenols to reduce the release of arachidonic acid, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes is considered one of their most important anti-inflammatory mechanisms,” an article from Molecules confirms. 
    3. Coconut oil: One study postulated that topical coconut oil may potentially protect the skin barrier from UVB-related inflammation. “The promising effect…may be attributed to its high levels of polyphenols and fatty acid components,” confirms a Food and Chemical Toxicology article.
Foods That Causes Inflammation
 
Try reducing these foods in your diet:
    • Fried foods 
    • Refined cabohydrates (i.e. white breadf)
    • Shortening, margarine
    • Sugary drinks (i.e. pop)
    • Processed protein (i.e. sausages)
    • Read meat
Interested in getting tested for food sensitivities or allergies? Contact us to learn more.

4. Broccoli: Did you know that this veggie contains sulforaphane? These are antioxidants that can help protect cellular functioning. One of its key beneficial effects includes diminishing inflammatory markers. 

5. Pineapple: This fruit contains bromelain, which is a digestive enzyme with anti-inflammatory components. Research has confirmed that it has beneficial effects on various inflammatory disorders, including heart disease and osteoarthritis. 

6. Cold water fish : These popular fish contain the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Both of these fatty acids have been shown to help reduce inflammatory markers. 

7. Ginger: This spice is home to 400+ compounds, and some are anti-inflammatory. According to an International Journal of Preventive Medicine report, “As a result of anti-inflammatory effect of ginger, it can reduce muscle pain after intense physical activity.”

If you were to visit the TFMC for related health concerns, we may recommend consuming anti-inflammatory foods, making lifestyle modifications and getting functional tests conducted. Guidance may be provided on how to take oral supplementation or we may prescribe intravenous therapy drips. In a previous blog post, we discussed how IV therapy in Toronto may help address the signs of nutrient deficiency. IV nutrient therapy can help sustain your current levels of vitamins and minerals, and these are administered in our IV Lounge. Anti-inflammatory nutrients can be blended into your custom-made IV drip, such as the potent antioxidant glutathione, as well as vitamin C or alpha lipoic acid. Additionally, intravenous drips can help with lowering oxidative stress, which can assist managing whole-body inflammation. 

Making healthy improvements may require customization. After all, we have different genetics and health goals! The TFMC is currently accepting new patients who are seeking a personalized approach to wellness. Let us tailor your treatment plan with functional medicine programs, IV therapy drips, and more – read about our private downtown clinic below.

About Our Functional Medicine and IV Vitamin Therapy

At the TFMC, we are known for our personalized service of health care, which inspires patients to adhere to their treatment plan and make dietary decisions. Tailored treatments can directly target biological health concerns – which is why we take ample time to address your questions and concerns with education and health advice!

We use the functional medicine model to adapt treatments for various health issues, including poor mental clarity, side effects from cancer treatments, tissue repair for physical performances, nutrient deficiency, lack of energy, recovery from injuries, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune diseases, hormonal imbalances, rehydration of fluids, and more. A tailored TFMC treatment plan is like a wardrobe boasting with health strategies for your needs! We integrate treatment modalities using Western medicine, Chinese medicine, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, holistic nutrition, hormone optimization programs, psychotherapy, and more. 

Our therapeutic doses of nutrients are also adapted with functional medicine principles. In fact, when combined with a healthy quality of life and additional treatment interventions, vitamin IV therapy can help sustain optimal hydration and wellness. As we cater to various health needs, our IV Lounge menu boasts a variety of essential nutrients. For instance, ascorbic acid, trace minerals, a medley of amino acids, glutamic acid, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin E, and other key nutrients can be compounded into a personalized IV drip. We value safety in our clinic, so rest assured, your IV drip session is always monitored by our wellness team of naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners and registered nurses. Glutathione, B12, and vitamin D injections can also be prescribed by our practitioners.

If you’re struggling with chronic inflammation, why not explore the root cause? Our functional medicine team can help get you started – just click here to request your initial visit for IV therapy at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

DU, Y., TAN, W. K., ZOU, L., LEI, J., & ONG, C. N. (2022). New insights into the phenolic constituents and their relationships with antioxidant capacity during the growth of a commonly consumed Asian vegetable, Brassica rapa var. Parachinensis (choy sum). Food Chemistry Advances, 1, 100038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2022.100038

Foods that fight inflammation” from Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, published March 26, 2024, viewed on April 15, 2024. 

Intahphuak S, Khonsung P, Panthong A. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities of virgin coconut oil. Pharm Biol. 2010 Feb;48(2):151-7. doi: 10.3109/13880200903062614. PMID: 20645831.

Kavyani Z, Musazadeh V, Fathi S, Hossein Faghfouri A, Dehghan P, Sarmadi B. Efficacy of the omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers: An umbrella meta-analysis. Int Immunopharmacol. 2022 Oct;111:109104. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109104. Epub 2022 Jul 30. PMID: 35914448.

Kim S, Jang JE, Kim J, Lee YI, Lee DW, Song SY, Lee JH. Enhanced barrier functions and anti-inflammatory effect of cultured coconut extract on human skin. Food Chem Toxicol. 2017 Aug;106(Pt A):367-375. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.05.060. Epub 2017 May 28. PMID: 28564614.

Kwon Y. Immuno-Resolving Ability of Resolvins, Protectins, and Maresins Derived from Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Metabolic Syndrome. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2020 Feb;64(4):e1900824. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201900824. Epub 2019 Dec 15. PMID: 31797565.

Mashhadi, N. S., Ghiasvand, R., Askari, G., Hariri, M., Darvishi, L., & Mofid, M. R. (2013). Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 4(Suppl 1), S36. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/

Nandini, D. B., Rao, R. S., Deepak, B. S., & Reddy, P. B. (2020). Sulforaphane in broccoli: The green chemoprevention!! Role in cancer prevention and therapy. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology : JOMFP, 24(2), 405. https://doi.org/10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_126_19

Pahwa R, Goyal A, Jialal I. Chronic Inflammation. [Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/

Pavan, R., Jain, S., & Kumar, A. (2012). Properties and Therapeutic Application of Bromelain: A Review. Biotechnology Research International, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/976203

Syed, R. U., Moni, S. S., Bin Break, M. K., A. Khojali, W. M., Jafar, M., Alshammari, M. D., Abdelsalam, K., Taymour, S., Mutni Alreshidi, K. S., Elhassan Taha, M. M., & Mohan, S. (2023). Broccoli: A Multi-Faceted Vegetable for Health: An In-Depth Review of Its Nutritional Attributes, Antimicrobial Abilities, and Anti-inflammatory Properties. Antibiotics, 12(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12071157

Wang, S., Li, Z., Ma, Y., Liu, Y., Lin, C., Li, S., Zhan, J., & Ho, T. (2021). Immunomodulatory Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols. Molecules, 26(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26123755

Wang S, Zhang C, Yang G, Yang Y. Biological properties of 6-gingerol: a brief review. Nat Prod Commun. 2014 Jul;9(7):1027-30. PMID: 25230520.

Xianli Wu and Alexander G. Schauss, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2012 60 (27), 6703-6717. DOI: 10.1021/jf3007008.

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