Five Tips to Reduce Inflammation

For those of us living with ankylosing spondylitis, inflammation can be an ever-present challenge. In this blog post, we’ll explore five tips you can use to reduce inflammation associated with the condition.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet – Eating an anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce your symptoms significantly. This diet should include plenty of green vegetables, fruits and nuts, healthy fats such as olive or coconut oil, and lean proteins like salmon. Exclude processed foods and refined sugars from your diet as much as possible – they are known to increase inflammation levels in the body.

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet is one of the best things you can do for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Turmeric Tea – Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. It can help to reduce swelling and pain associated with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions like ankylosing spondylitis. Try drinking turmeric tea regularly to reap its benefits. My favorite is the Turmeric line from VAHDAM India but you can also boil some turmeric & ginger root, add some milk and honey and you have yourself a cup of anti-inflammatory goodness!

Reducing Stress – Stress is believed to be one of the leading causes of inflammation so it’s important to take measures to reduce stress levels where possible. Can you set different boundaries at work? Can the kids help with some of the chores? Can you hire someone to help clean the house? Whatever you can do to minimize stress is great! And of course, try meditation and yoga! They'll both help you relax and clear your mind which can help reduce inflammation in the body.

Exercise – Exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce inflammation associated with ankylosing spondylitis; however, it’s important not overdo it! Try low impact exercises such as walking, yoga, or swimming which will get the blood flowing without putting too much strain on your joints or muscles which could make symptoms worse rather than better! But the key is to listen to YOUR body! I know some fellow AS patients that swear by running, so do what works for you.

My doctors always tell me "whatever you do, never stop moving!"

Getting Enough Sleep - Making sure you get enough sleep each night is essential for reducing inflammation levels in the body; however, it can also be difficult when dealing with chronic pain associated with ankylosing spondylitis or other inflammatory conditions! Consider using a pillow designed specifically for relieving pressure off painful areas while sleeping or try taking an Epsom salt bath or using a hot water bottle on particularly sore spots before bedtime!

There are many things you can do to minimize inflammation caused by ankylosing spondylitis—from eating an anti-inflammatory diet, drinking turmeric tea, reducing stress, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep every night! By utilizing these tips you can hopefully reduce your discomfort due to condition and improve your overall quality of life! If you find these tips helpful please share them with others who might benefit from them too!

xx

Elina