Inflammation can cause pain and fatigue that can hold you back. Lots of things can cause inflammation, but a contributing factor is the typical American diet of high-fat, high-salt foods. Berries, especially blueberries, are full of vitamins and antioxidants called flavonoids that fight inflammation.

They also have chemicals that regulate your immune system, which can reduce chronic inflammation. Tea has antioxidants called catechins, which reduce inflammation. Green tea contains EGCG, the most powerful type of catechin.

Other types of tea have this effect too, but green tea has the most benefits. Studies show that beets can decrease inflammation and other risk factors for chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Broccoli and its other cruciferous relatives are all high in vitamin K. Cocoa contains antioxidants that reduce inflammation and lower blood sugar levels.

Fish, especially salmon, is a great source of omega-3s — it contains two different types, DHA and EPA. Omega-3s are nutrients that reduce inflammation and ease joint pain.

With antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, ginger can even help ease severe inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

This yellow spice boasts a chemical that inhibits chronic inflammatory signals in the body. It eases inflammation, which can prevent joint damage, arthritis, heart disease and liver damage.

Just like certain foods can lower inflammation, other foods can increase it. If you want to manage your symptoms, avoid these foods:. Carbohydrates have a place in our diets, but refined carbs and certain forms of gluten can increase inflammation.

When you eat carbs, stick with higher-fiber options. Refined carbs have a lot of their fiber removed, which increases inflammatory gut bacteria and leads to imbalanced blood sugar levels. The first thing to remember?

Everything in moderation. Alcohol may not bother you much, but excessive drinking can lead to inflammation, among other health risks. These sweeteners might taste great , but they increase inflammation which can lead to chronic diseases and even certain cancers.

Another ingredient that tastes great, these are some of the unhealthiest fats you can eat. While not all veggie oils are bad for you, you should avoid the ones high in omega Paying attention to the foods you eat can have a huge impact on your health. Whether you have arthritis or a bad knee, following an anti-inflammatory diet can reduce your overall pain.

Always listen to your body and stop eating foods that bother you. They can help you get to the cause of your inflammation. A study on antioxidants in tea found that loose-leaf teas tend to contain more anti-inflammatory antioxidants than tea bags Be creative and combine different teas and other anti-inflammatory herbs, spices like cinnamon and cardamom , or even fruits like lemon or orange slices.

Many of these ingredients work together to provide even more health benefits Always use fresh ingredients when brewing your tea. While teas can help fight inflammation and provide various other health benefits, there are some concerns to consider.

Some tea plants are treated with pesticides and herbicides, so try to choose high-quality, organic or pesticide-free varieties.

A study on pesticides in tea imported from China found residues in of samples. In addition, teas should be stored in an airtight container in a dark, dry place. If not stored properly, they can harbor mycotoxins , a harmful byproduct from a fungus that can grow on some foods and has been found in tea Finally, some teas may interact with medications, supplements, or herbs if you drink a lot of it.

Consult your healthcare practitioner if you have concerns about possible interactions 4. Drinking tea is an easy and delicious way to enjoy the anti-inflammatory and other health benefits of plants, herbs, and spices. Try sipping on some of the teas listed above, including green, rosehip, ginger, and turmeric tea, to reap their inflammation-fighting and health-promoting benefits.

Holy basil has been shown to reduce stress, treat ulcers, relieve joint pain, and more. Find out why it's called the Queen of Herbs. Herbal teas have a wide variety of tastes, flavors and even health benefits.

Here are 10 healthy herbal teas you'll want to try today. Fennel tea tastes a little like licorice, with a relaxing scent and slightly bitter aftertaste. Learn about its benefits for your health. Turmeric is a traditional Indian spice with a powerful compound called curcumin. Here are the top 10 health benefits of turmeric and curcumin.

Chamomile is an herb that has long been consumed as a natural health remedy. This article reviews the top 5 benefits of chamomile tea. While peppermint tea is often enjoyed for its flavor, it may also have several positive effects on health. Here are 12 science-backed benefits of….

Black tea offers a variety of health benefits, including improved cholesterol, better gut health and decreased blood pressure. Here are 10 health…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Nutrition Evidence Based 6 Powerful Teas That Fight Inflammation. By Anne Danahy, MS, RDN — Updated on July 17, Plants, herbs, and spices have been used medicinally for centuries.

Drinking tea made from these plants, herbs, and spices is an easy way to enjoy their benefits. Here are 6 powerful teas that may fight inflammation. Share on Pinterest. How we vet brands and products Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?

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Was this helpful? Green tea Camellia sinensis L. Summary Green and matcha teas are sources of the anti-inflammatory polyphenol EGCG, which may reduce inflammation and symptoms associated with IBDs and other inflammation-driven chronic conditions. Holy basil Ocimum sanctum.

Tulsi tea should be safe for most people to drink every day. Summary Holy basil, or tulsi, tea may fight inflammation and reduce pain from gout, arthritis, or other inflammatory conditions.

It may also lower your cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels. Turmeric Curcuma longa. Summary Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, may relieve inflammation and pain when taken in large doses. Ginger Zingiber officinale.

Summary Ginger contains compounds that limit the production of pro-inflammatory substances in your body. It has benefits for blood sugar and cholesterol levels and can reduce arthritis-related pain and inflammation.

Rose hip Rosa canina. Rosehip tea has a deep red-coral color and floral notes. Summary Studies show that rose hips reduce pro-inflammatory chemicals and inhibit cox-1 and 2 enzymes, which trigger inflammation and pain. Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Summary Fennel tea, made from the licorice-flavored spice, may relieve pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Tips and precautions for tea drinkers. Here are a few tips to keep in mind. Brew a better cup When brewing a fresh cup of tea, use loose leaves with a tea infuser rather than a tea bag if possible. Summary To brew the best cup of tea, use fresh ingredients and be careful about the quality to avoid pesticides, herbicides, or mold.

Also, be aware that compounds in some teas may interact with your medications.

VIEW ALL HISTORY. However, some information may support the idea that green tea makes you…. Green tea extract is a concentrated supplemental form of green tea. Here are 10 science-based benefits of green tea extract.

Green tea is packed with health-promoting compounds, but many wonder how many cups you have to drink to reap their benefits. This article determines….

Assam tea is a type of black tea known for its rich, malty flavor and potential health benefits. This article tells you everything you need to know….

Antibiotics are lifesaving medications, but they may also pose problems with autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Infrared saunas may help people with rheumatoid arthritis heal tissue, improve mobility, and reduce pain. There's limited evidence for cryotherapy's effectiveness for RA.

However, some people report temporary pain relief and reduced joint swelling. Joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis may feel tender, painful, and stiff. This can make it challenging to fall and stay asleep. E-stim is often used to target pain and promote muscle recovery, but its benefit to people with RA has not been proven.

Learn more. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Rheumatoid Arthritis. Basics Pain Management Living with RA Mental Health Community Newsletter. Going Green: Green Tea for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Medically reviewed by Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN, CDCES — By Ann Pietrangelo — Updated on August 2, Green tea Research Other health benefits Preparation Supplements Interactions FAQs Bottom line Green tea contains powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties.

About green tea. What does the research say? Other health benefits of green tea. How do you take your tea? Green tea supplements. Possible interactions. Frequently asked questions. The bottom line. Evidence-Based Benefits of Green Tea.

How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Aug 2, Written By Ann Pietrangelo. Medically Reviewed By Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN, CDCES. Dec 6, Written By Ann Pietrangelo.

Share this article. related stories Does Green Tea Make You Poop? How Much Green Tea Should You Drink Per Day? What Is Assam Tea, and Does It Have Benefits?

Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Cause Elevated Liver Enzymes? Read this next. Does Green Tea Make You Poop? Medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, R. By Arlene Semeco, MS, RD and Alyssa Northrop, MPH, RD, LMT.

This article determines… READ MORE. By Ansley Hill, RD, LD. Medically reviewed by Nancy Carteron, M. com, TheHealthy. com, Prevention. com, WomensHealthMag. com and more. Beyond being tasty to drink and cozy to hold well, when we're not in the middle of a heat wave , a mug of tea delivers a great dose of health benefits.

From reducing the risk for cancer and helping manage diabetes to improving sleep and boosting creativity, there are several proven reasons to brew a big batch each morning.

We love this habit as a little 5-minute self-care ritual to kick off the day in Zen style. Pictured Recipe : Soothing Ginger-Lemon Tea. As of June , when study results were published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition , we have another reason to keep calm and sip on.

Thanks to green tea's anti-inflammatory properties, consuming green tea was shown to reduce blood sugar levels and decrease gut inflammation and permeability. The latter is one factor involved in "leaky gut syndrome ," which is based on the concept that a hyperpermeable gut can allow toxins or unwanted substances into the bloodstream.

Researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Ohio State University were curious if green tea extract might help lower the risk for the health factors related to metabolic syndrome —a group of conditions that often occur together and increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and more.

The more "boxes" of metabolic syndrome risk factors you can check, the greater the chances are that you'll develop serious health problems later in life, the Mayo Clinic explains. Here are four of the main conditions associated with metabolic syndrome:.

So for this study, Richard Bruno, Ph. Bruno and his team tapped 40 participants; 21 fit the criteria for metabolic syndrome and 19 didn't.

Each was given gummies that contained catechins natural polyphenolic phytochemicals found in tea, beans, red wine, strawberries and select other plants. The amount of catechins in each gummy was equal to what's found in five cups of green tea. The individuals were instructed to consume one gummy per day for 28 days.

They took a month's break, and each person popped a placebo for the following 28 days. Throughout the course of the research, the individuals were coached to eat a diet low in polyphenols since green tea is rich in it, and they didn't want to skew the study results if, say, one person ate an impressive amount of berries, apples and grapes.

Before the study began as well as on day 14 and 28 of both the gummy intervention phase and the placebo phase, scientists measured fasting blood glucose, insulin, lipids cholesterol and dietary polyphenol levels of each participant.

They also asked for stool samples to study intestinal inflammation. The result: Green tea extract was shown to lower blood sugar while reducing gut inflammation and permeability among people with metabolic syndrome and those without.

Next, Bruno and other researchers are hoping to dive more into how green tea affects the microorganisms in the gut to hopefully discover if green tea can boost good bacteria while helping to decrease the amount of not-so-beneficial bugs in the gut. This new green tea study found that consuming catechins from green tea extract—to the tune of what you'd sip in about five cups of green tea—can decrease blood sugar and increase gut health.

It's worth noting, however, that this finding was from using an extract, not green tea itself. More research is needed to determine if we could steer clear of the supplement aisle and still score the gut health , chronic inflammation and blood sugar benefits by drinking five cups of tea.

Oh yes, and five cups of tea admittedly is a lot. Drinking too much caffeinated tea might lead to nausea, heartburn, jittery feelings or difficulty sleeping, so it's best to stick with decaf and work your way up.

Even one glass per day, in tandem with a well-balanced whole foods-rich diet, will be a boon to your good gut bacteria, blood sugar and body as a whole.

If you'd like to make it easier to ease up from zero cups to a few more, try:. Beyond what you drink, what you eat matters a lot, too. In conjunction with your green tea-sipping, fill your cart with these best foods to fight inflammation and the best foods for gut health.

If you'd like some more coaching, our 7-day whole food meal plan is a great start—as is individualized guidance from your primary care doctor and a registered dietitian.