What is strongest anti inflammatory?

Are you tired of dealing with inflammation? It can be a real pain in the butt, literally. But fear not (1), there are solutions out there! You may be wondering what the strongest option is for reducing inflammation. Well my friend, look no further (2) because I am here to provide you with some answers.

Firstly, let’s define inflammation. Inflammation occurs when your immune system responds to an injury or infection by sending white blood cells and other immune cells to the affected area (3). This can lead to redness, swelling, heat and sometimes even pain.

So without further ado, let’s dive into what options are available for battling inflammation!

Diet

Note: It all starts with what we put in our bodies.

Believe it or not but a proper diet is crucial when it comes to reducing inflammation (4). Here are some anti-inflammatory foods that should definitely make their way onto your plate:

  • Fatty fish (salmon recommended)
  • Berries
  • Broccoli
  • Avocado
  • Green tea

If you want a more extensive list than have no fear and check out our “Anti-Inflammatory Food Bible”!

But if food alone isn’t cutting it then don’t lose hope yet! Let us introduce nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

NSAIDs

Note: My pronounceable abbreviations game is on point today

NSAIDs work by blocking certain inflammatory enzymes called cyclooxygenase (COX) which ultimately reduces inflammation throughout your body (5).

Here’s a table showing common types of over-the-counter NSAIDs so next time you’re in need of one; refer back to this table like your life depends on it:

Type Examples
Aspirin Bayer®, Ecotrin®
Ibuprofen Advil®, Motrin IB®, Aleve® (different from naproxen)
Naproxen Sodium Aleve® (different from ibuprofen), Anaprox DS®, Naprosyn®, EC-Naprosyn, and more

Disclaimer: Your life probably doesn’t depend on this table but you get the point.

But what if NSAIDs aren’t doing the trick either? Unfortunately not everyone tolerates NSAIDs well nor does it solve inflammation for some people. In that case, let me introduce streroids.

Steroids

Note: No, I am not talking about baseball players cheating….

Steroid medications are synthetic versions of natural hormones produced by your adrenal glands. These steroids reduce inflammation and suppress immune system activity which ultimately leads to a decrease in inflammatory disorders like arthritis (6).

Here is a table showing common steroid types:

Type Example
Oral Prednisone
Nasal inhaler Fluticasone
Topical Creams Hydrocortisone

It’s important to note the side effects associated with using these types of medication long-term as they can include high blood sugar levels, weight gain and osteoporosis just to name a few (7)!

So there we have it folks; reducing inflammation starts with diet but if all else fails then move onto medications such as NSAIDS or steroids. However, each option has its own set of pros and cons so be sure to speak with your physician before starting any form of treatment.

Remember – don’t ignore inflammation! If you’re experiencing abnormal amounts of pain or swelling than reach out for professional help right away.

Footnotes

  1. I’m basically your genie here, minus the whole granting wishes thing.
  2. Did you expect any other line from me?
  3. Whitem cellsssss…they sound so smart and sci-fi movie like.
  4. If it were up to me then bacon would also be on this list….(sigh)
  5. Probably just as important to know off by heart as one’s social security number…
  6. And we’re not talking about cheating here either (I promise, no more baseball jokes!).
  7. Side effects may include a couple of extra chins but hey, at least they are anti-inflammatory?

Boom – all wrapped up in under 2000 words!

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