This feature explains how chronic inflammation quietly harms the body and outlines lifestyle shifts to manage it, from better sleep and exercise to cutting alcohol and processed foods. It then highlights practical anti-inflammatory drinks—green tea, turmeric milk, ginger tea, berry smoothies, tomato juice and citrus-infused water—to sip through the day for cooling relief and long-term wellness support.
It’s the season of sipping, so ensure you’re doing the right ones!
Not sure if that came out right but we’re talking about sipping on healthy beverages during the scorching summer heat, of course. And what’s better than anti-inflammatory drinks to not just cool you down but help fight the inflammation inside your body that’s wreaking havoc on your health? No wonder these drinks are usually considered the apex of wellness drinks everywhere. But before you get to those drinks, it’s imperative to understand inflammation and how it affects your body.
Inflammation, essentially, is your body telling you that’s something’s not right. Be it an injury, infections, toxins or any kind of irritation, everything leads to inflammation. It’s part of your immune system trying to protect and/or heal the affected tissue.
There are two kinds of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is short-term and usually, heals (mostly) on its own. For example: a small cut on your finger which leads to inflammation in that area. But chronic inflammation is what you need to address with lifestyle changes.
Chronic inflammation is often called ‘silent’ inflammation – you might not see its signs on the outside, but it’s lingering in your body from within.
These are some symptoms of chronic inflammation in your body:
Fatigue
Joint Pain
Brain Fog
Digestive Issues
Persistent Body Ache
Skin Issues
Frequent Infections
If any of these symptoms have become a chronic issue with your body, you might be suffering from chronic inflammation.
Here’s a list of probable causes:
Smoking
Lack of Sleep
Chronic Stress
Lack of Exercise
Obesity
Alcohol
Processed Foods
Untreated Infections
What you need is a shift in lifestyle, obviously. Here are some things you could do:
Regular exercise
Adequate sleep
Stress management
Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts
Avoiding alcohol & smoking
Weight management
While you’re doing all the things mentioned above, how about having some healthy beverages as well? Yes, wellness drinks you must consume to better manage your chronic inflammation levels. And don’t worry – none of them taste that bad!
It’s got enough & more concentrated antioxidants to help bring down inflammation levels in your body. But have it unsweetened and consume it 2-3 times a day. You could even opt for Matcha, if that’s more your thing.
Turmeric contains curcumin, which is linked to anti-inflammatory properties. And having it with milk, helps with easier absorption. That’s why, as kids, we were all made to consume turmeric milk every time we got sick, remember? Have this concoction at night, before bed.
Ginger is another potent ingredient commonly found in our kitchens. It’s great to fight everything from inflammation to nausea and can be consumed in any form. Ginger Tea is nothing but ginger boiled in hot water – add some lemon to that water before consuming it. You can have this ‘tea’ anytime during the day.
Berry Smoothies
Berries are great sources of antioxidants and anthocyanins, both of which are great to help fight inflammation. Along with the berries of your choice, add some yoghurt and chia seeds to your smoothie & have it in the morning.
Tomato Juice
Tomatoes are rich sources of lycopene which is also loaded with anti-inflammatory properties. Since fresh tomato juice might not be the most palatable of drinks, feel free to add some lemon juice & rock salt for flavour.
Infused Water
While water alone is one of the best things for adequate health and wellbeing, infusing it with lemon, mint & cucumber (overnight) and having it the next day is even better. You can even add citric fruits such as oranges to it, if you’d like.