Inflammation is an unfortunate part of life for many people, particularly with the onset of age. In terms of a process, inflammation is when the body’s white blood cells and substances they produce protect us from infection from foreign organisms. (These “foreign organisms” can be in the form of bacteria and viruses.) Due to this, autoimmune diseases are formed, which in turn cause damage to our naturally protective immune system.

Inflammation is normal from time to time, but its real consequences can be felt over time. Common types of inflammation might manifest in arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gouty arthritis. Inflammation can also affect other difficult and painful conditions of the joints such as osteoarthritis, low back pain, neck pain and fibromyalgia.

For those of you who have experienced chronic inflammation, its symptoms are too challenging to ignore. They can manifest in a variety of ways, such as joint paint, joint stiffness, redness and even loss of joint function. Furthermore, inflammation can result in flu-like symptoms such as chills, fatigue, headaches, loss of appetite and even fever. Long story short—inflammation is no walk in the park and people are constantly searching for remedies to fix it.

With the autumn season and Thanksgiving surrounding us, it’s valuable to take a look at beverages—or tonics—to help ease the symptoms of inflammation. Jay Woodman put it well when he stated, “Reduce inflammation to treat the root of many issues. If your gut isn’t working right, it can cause so many other issues.” Let’s tackle inflammation through some powerhouse anti-inflammatory beverages that hit your gut where it counts and leave you with the remedies you have long hoped for.

After all—who said the cure for ailments can’t be found in a tasty drink?

Best Anti Inflammatory Drinks

Lemon Turmeric Iced Tea

This particular drink has a lot going on for anti-inflammation—as well as other things, too. Have you been reading the buzz about turmeric recently? Or have you seen turmeric beverages at your local juice bar franchise?It seems to be a cure-all for many health problems and is finally making its way to the United States through our recipes as well as our beverages.

Turmeric is actually considered to be a super anti-inflammatory food—that’s right, we said super! Turmeric is a true immune-booster for people suffering from auto-immune problems such as Crohns, IBD, arthritis and IBS. This wonder spice is also known to have cancer-fighting properties, as well as being an ideal anti-fungal and antioxidant. While it’s most well known for being in a lot of Indian curry dishes, it’s delicious in drinks. It’s hard to ignore the “turmeric latte” craze at coffee shops all around the country at the moment, proving that this spice can be a healthy alternative to sugary syrups and artificial flavors.

Additionally, this particular recipe is jam-packed with other anti-inflammatory foods, such as cinnamon and lemon. Cinnamon is a perfect digestive aid that boosts the immune system while lowering blood sugar. It’s also considered to be a powerful anti-fungal and virus fighter.

Lemons function as a toxin flushing diuretic and a common anti-inflammatory ingredient in beverages and goods. It also provides a valuable tang and kick to any drink and is delicious when mixed with turmeric.

To make lemon turmeric iced tea, combine the following:

· 1 ½ quart water

· ½ a lemon

· a tablespoon of ginger paste

· dash of turmeric

· dash of cinnamon

· 2 tablespoons maple syrup or less, depending on sweetness

Also keep in mind that while this is “iced tea,” it can be served cold or hot!

Apple Cider Vinegar Brew

If you have been reading up on health foods, you know that apple cider vinegar is practically a cure for nearly everything—at least so the advertising goes. This particular drink contains apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper, which provide as a digestive vehicle for both ingredients’ anti-inflammatory properties. Also, if you’re not the biggest fan of cayenne, you can trade it out for ginger, which is soothing to stomachs and less intense. To make apple cider vinegar brew, you want to combine these ingredients:

· ½ cup water

· ½ cup apple cider vinegar

· 1teaspoon honey

· 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper or ginger

· a lemon wedge

While tart, this is sure to warm you up and make your stomach feel great during this chilly autumn months!

Purple Cabbage Anti-Inflammatory Juice

Okay, okay, cabbage isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a delicious beverage, right? But truthfully speaking, purple cabbage, in particular, has some serious anti-inflammatory properties in addition to a beautiful and rich color.

Basically, for this particular recipe, you want to combine the juices from a wedge of purple cabbage, a medium-sized beet, one lime, one apple, 5-6 carrots, 4-6 stalks of celery and some ginger for a nice after taste.

Speaking of ginger, you’re probably seeing a trend here. Not only is ginger delicious and a great addition to many beverages, but it also has a variety of anti-inflammatory effects, serving as a top-notch immune-booster as well as a warrior to combat joint and muscle pain. While you can find ginger paste in most grocery stories, cutting up your own from a real ginger root is also just as fun, despite being a bit more work!

Hot Chocolate

Yep, that’s right—we said it—hot chocolate is on this list to help with your inflammation! Good news, right? Not only is dark chocolate delicious and satisfyingly rich, but it’s also jam-packed with antioxidants that ameliorate inflammation.

Chocolate possesses something called “flavanols,” which are responsible for the bulk of cocoa’s anti-inflammatory properties. Flavanols keep the endothelial cells in your arteries healthy and happy.

For this particular recipe, combine the following into a delicious evening or nighttime beverage—and rest assured, this is far better than any instant hot cocoa you can find on the aisle of a grocery store!

· 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder

· ½ teaspoon cinnamon

· ground ginger and turmeric

· sea salt and black pepper

· a pinch of cayenne (optional)

Ultimate Detox Carrot Drink

Did you know carrots pack a mean anti-inflammatory punch? Carrots contain anti-arthritis Vitamin A and Beta-carotene, which have been known to reduce inflammation, especially in joints. In addition to their rich and vibrant orange hue, carrots provide an array of health benefits, especially for problem areas regarding inflammation.

To concoct this awesome Ultimate Detox Carrot Drink, you want to juice the following ingredients and drink immediately after:

· 9 carrots

· 1 apple

· 1 peeled orange

· punch of turmeric and ginger root

· 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Mulled Wine

Okay, so while inflammation is no fun at all, how great is it that wine can actually help you? This is probably the best news ever—especially around this time of year and especially around the holidays.

Red wine contains powerful antioxidants, some of which include resveratrol, proanthocyanidins, and epicatechin—all of which are good to reduce inflammation, according to a variety of studies.

In fact, one study even indicated that those who drank two glasses of wine a day for 28 days had lower levels of inflammatory molecules. Of course, anything not in moderation can have adverse effects, but this is great news, particularly for red wine junkies who are aiming to stay healthy and fit.

Mulled wine, in particular, has a rich history in Europe and is slowly making its way to the United States. Often heralded as “Christmas wine,” mulled wine is red wine steeped in cinnamon and other spices, brought to a near boil and served hot during the winter months. The good news about mulled wine is you can use a very inexpensive red wine to make it, as well as whatever spices you have lying around your kitchen that would work.

Try pouring a bottle over the stove and heating it on low, incorporating cinnamon sticks, cloves, a half a cup of sugar and even a small ginger root. The longer you let the wine steep in the spices, the better it will taste. Of course, you don’t want to disappoint yourself or your guests by bringing it to a boil and eliminating the alcoholic content, so keep a close eye on the stove!

When we find creative ways to tackle common medical problems, we bring a sense of inventiveness and creativity to taking control of our own health and wellness. Using natural ingredients like the ones listed in these recipes can bring some amazing flavors to your daily beverage routine. Thankfully, anti-inflammatory super foods such as turmeric, cinnamon, lemon and ginger are all easily incorporated into diets and are delightful to consume any time of day—morning, noon and night.

Whether you are aiming to start your day with a healthy juice cleanse, give yourself a mid-afternoon hot chocolate pick-me-up or end your long week with a heaping glass of delicious mulled wine, you can ease your inflammation symptoms with many of these easily-bought ingredients. Thankfully, taking care of yourself and easing your ailments can be a fun culinary adventure—one where you reap the benefits of organic ingredients glass after glass, sip after sip.

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