Gert Coetzee, Pharmacist and Founder of one of South Africa’s most successful and long running lifestyle programmes – The Diet Everyone Talks About – advises on some top foods we should all be adding to our daily diet.

“Another great reason to avoid eating foods that contribute to weight gain - such as sugar, refined carbohydrates, saturated and trans fats and alcohol is that these foods also negatively contribute to inflammatory diseases such as heart disease arthritis and asthma.  In addition, many believe inflammation to be the culprit behind the visible signs of ageing!

Diet and lifestyle play an important role in pushing our bodies into an inflammatory state.   So, while addressing issues such as lack of sleep and your stress levels will assist in helping to reduce inflammation, your diet will also make a big difference in reducing symptoms. 

The good news is that even when following a low carbohydrate diet, there a number of super foods that are not only recommended for weight loss but are also highly anti-inflammatory!

Our top recommended foods are:

Celery – Potassium helps flush toxins from the body and Celery is a superb source of Potassium.  In addition, Celery has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities that assist in improving high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Beetroot – This super veg also contains high levels of Potassium as well as Magnesium and low levels of Magnesium are believed to contribute to inflammatory conditions in the body.

Broccoli – This tasty and versatile veg is key in improving our chances at weight loss and inflammation. One cup of the simple green has a wide range of nutrients thought to assist in inflammation – such as Vitamins A, B6, C, E and K as well as Manganese, Chromium and Folate. 

Omega 3 – an excellent source of Omega 3 is from fish.  * A study of 727 postmenopausal women, published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2004, found those who had the highest consumption of omega-3s had lower levels of two inflammatory proteins: C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6. The best sources of Omega 3 fish are salmon, tuna, sardines, herring and anchovies.

Pistachios and Almonds - on a low carb diet, eat these in moderation and as a satisfying snack. Your snack will do the following for you and your fight against inflammation: nuts contain substantial amounts of fibre and fibre - unlike sugar and starch – doesn’t raise your blood sugar levels,  so are great when you are watching your weight. In addition, nuts are jam-packed with inflammation-fighting monounsaturated fat.

Not only does a low carbohydrate lifestyle lead to weight loss, eating recommended foods such as these will significantly contribute to improving inflammation in your body.”

For more information you can contact The Diet Everyone Talks About on 016 362 4890 or e-mail.

Issued by Kerry Olivier / The Lime Envelope
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