Functional Medicine & Anti-Inflammatory Spring Produce
The Empowered Health Team

What is Functional Medicine?

 

Functional medicine seeks to find the root cause of a person’s illness. When a person is unwell, rather than treating only the symptoms, this approach looks to uncover what is actually causing those symptoms and address the underlying condition(s). 

 

Evidence-based and deeply rooted in science, functional medicine recognizes that all the systems in our body work together, each influencing the others. This interconnectivity means that one condition can have multiple causes, and one cause may trigger many conditions.

 

Here’s an example:

 

Condition: 

• Depression 

Root Cause: 

• Inflammation

Conditions Triggered: 

• Inflammation can also cause arthritis, heart disease and diabetes

Functional Medicine Treatment Approach:

• Identify and correct the root cause (inflammation) of the depression through changes in diet and lifestyle

Results:

• Relief of inflammation mitigates the depression
• Potential detrimental effects on other systems are avoided 

 

When assessing the root cause of illness, functional medicine looks at multiple factors which are different for each person because everyone is genetically and biochemically unique. Our individual health conditions are greatly influenced by our diet and nutrition, as well as general lifestyle (activity level, work habits, stress, toxins), genetics and environmental factors. 

 

What is Inflammation?

 

Inflammation (from the Latin “inflammo”) is our immune system’s response to stimulus; it is our body attempting to fight off foreign invaders. Inflammation can be acute (short-term and protective) or it can become chronic (ongoing and destructive). 

Examples of acute inflammation include sudden injury or illness. Once your immune system has done it’s work to heal you, the inflammation goes away. Chronic inflammation occurs when your immune system becomes overstimulated with a continued onslaught of factors. This ongoing inflammation can eventually cause additional health concerns like arthritis, diabetes or heart disease. 

 

Anti-Inflammatory Spring Produce

 

Good nutrition and healthy eating habits are a fundamental tenet of the functional medicine approach. What we put into our bodies has a direct impact on how our physical bodies function, how our systems interact with one another and how we feel on a daily basis. A diet heavy in processed foods, added sugars and unhealthy fats can cause inflammation in our gut, while minimally processed and whole foods can reverse inflammation and provide additional health benefits.

 

With the spring season underway, a new crop of vibrant fruits and vegetables is starting to pop up in grocery stores and farmers markets. The benefits of consuming these fresh (and local!) foods are endless: fruits and veggies contain a plethora of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, flavonoids and antioxidants. Even better, many also boast heavy anti-inflammatory properties.

 

Here are a few underused (and dare we say underappreciated) anti-inflammatory, health boosting spring produce items to try this year: 

 

LEEKS: 

Leeks contain quercetin, an anti-inflammatory antioxidant that limits the effect of inflammatory chemicals in the body. The flavonoids in leeks may have anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties.

This vegetable, which looks like an oversized green onion, is high in iron, fiber and manganese as well as vitamins A, C and K. These nutrients promote strong bones, healthy eyes and are high in fiber and water which aids digestion.

 

ARTICHOKES:

Artichokes are ranked number one for antioxidants; they help fight oxidative stress related to chronic disease and aging. The anti-inflammatory properties can be used as a digestive aid to reduce bloating.

 

Low in fat but high in fiber, artichokes are chock full of vitamins C and K, plus magnesium and phosphorus. They can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase the HDL (good) cholesterol, as well as regulate blood pressure, improve digestion and liver health.

 

Fun fact: did you know artichokes are not a vegetable or a fruit, but a cultivated variety of the cardoon, which is a member of the thistle family.

 

KOHLRABI:

Kohlrabi is both anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic; it can help reduce the risk of developing insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.

 

Similar to cabbage, kohlrabi aids in wound healing and collagen synthesis. It is high in fiber so it helps with digestion and can also lower the risk of heart disease. It is also very high in Vitamin C, B6 and potassium.

 

KUMQUATS:

This interesting grape-sized fruit is extraordinarily rich in flavonoids and essential oils which boast anti-inflammatory properties that protect against heart disease and cancer.

Kumquats are nearly 80% water, so they are exceedingly good for hydration. This tiny fruit (the peel is edible, too!) also packs a punch with Vitamin C, E and several B vitamins, plus potassium, magnesium, zinc, omega-3 fats, copper and iron. Kumquats help control blood sugar and boost immune system functions.

 

KIWI:

Kiwi fruit contains enzymes that are absorbed into the blood stream where they break down inflammatory complexes. This fuzzy fruit contains various proteins known for their anti-inflammatory natures that can manage inflammation in the intestines.

 

Kiwi is also high in vitamins C, K and E, potassium, folate, antioxidants and fiber. Studies have shown kiwi can help lung function in children with asthma. Originally grown in China (they landed on New Zealand shores in 1904), the vitamins and minerals in kiwi fruit also help manage blood pressure, promote eye health and help bolster the immune system.

 

APRICOTS:

Apricots are rich in the beta-cryptoxanthin, a plant-based chemical which may help prevent osteoarthritis as well as inflammatory forms of arthritis. 

 

They also contain high levels of flavonoids which help fight oxidative stress, which is linked to many chronic diseases. Apricots contain Vitamins A, C and E and antioxidants (like beta carotene and lutein) which fight free radicals in your body. Even more benefits include eye and skin health, gut health and improved digestion (thank you fiber). The potassium in apricots can help prevent high blood pressure and stroke.

 

RHUBARB:

Rhubarb extract’s anti-inflammatory properties can help improve wound healing. 

 

High in Vitamins K, C and A, rhubarb helps to strengthen bones, lower cholesterol and promote better digestion. This celery-like vegetable can be tart and sour when eaten raw and is most often cooked down to bring out its sweeter flavors. (See our recipe for a Whole30/Keto/Paleo friendly rhubarb recipe!)

 

Food is Medicine!

 

This spring try some different produce items that you normally would pass over for more familiar ingredients. Remember that FOOD IS MEDICINE, and when you consume healthy choices like the ones listed here, you will be treating your body with nature’s best medicine.