What Are Anti-Inflammatories and How Can They Help Us?

Anti-inflammatories, as the name suggests, reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation occurs on a daily basis and is the body’s attempt to protect itself by trying to remove foreign substances and start the healing process.

Our body’s inflammatory response is triggered when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma, toxins, heat, or any other cause.  An acute inflammatory response is meant to heal the body. Chronic or excess inflammation, though, harms the body and causes most chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, liver problems, cancer, dementia, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune disease like thyroid disorder, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Three years ago, while researching gut health, Jamie Baird stumbled upon a recipe which originated in the 70’s, created by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar who coined the phrase “Fire Cider”. Fire Cider is popular in the US but still under-the-radar here in the UK, although we are slowly getting on board with the idea.

Fire ciderbuilt a reputation as the remedy for everything from dull skin and dandruff to improving digestion, assisting weight loss, and supporting a healthy immune system.

Jamie started experimenting with the recipe making it in his garage and was fascinated with the ingredients and their individual health benefits. Is it really possible to have all those benefits and all that goodness in one small daily shot?

As a personal trainer and dad to three kids, Jamie says yes.

“To me this recipe seemed the ultimate solution to keep my immune system fully charged, and more than that, you know what – it really does work!,” he tells Belle About Town.

Fast forward a few years and Jamie has launched the UK’s answer to fire cider with a product called Steeps One Shot, a fiery blend of seven raw, natural, sustainably-sourced organic ingredients – turmeric, ginger, chilli, garlic, onion and horseradish all infused (steeped) for 12 weeks in Apple Cider Vinegar.

Jamie recommends taking a 10ml shot daily.

But do we really want to be drinking horseradish? Or downing a shot of chilli? Surely not… However, these seven raw ingredients are natural anti-inflammatories and the more we’ve looked into this, the more we realise how much we need them.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of these anti-inflammatory ingredients.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (ACV) contains beneficial enzymes and probiotics and has antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. There is evidence to suggest the health benefits may include aiding weight loss, reducing cholesterol, lowering blood sugar levels, and improving the symptoms of diabetes. It contains gut-friendly bacteria which helps to improve digestion and keeping your digestive system working properly helps you to avoid, or combat, stomach problems like indigestion and heartburn. It works by neutralising the stomach acid and by fighting harmful bacteria.

TURMERIC has an active powerful ingredient inside it called Curcumin and this has powerful biological properties. Ayurvedic medicine recommends it for a variety of health conditions, including chronic pain and inflammation. Removing inflammation from your body supports your immune system by taking the heat off it, so it can work to its full capacity and basically do it’s thing, meaning you’re more likely to ward off diseases and infections.

GINGER has been around and used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. This odd shaped spice’s possible health benefits include reducing nausea, pain and inflammation. It’s loaded with antioxidants, which are compounds that prevent stress and damage to your body’s DNA and therefore helps your body to fight off chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diseases of the lungs. If that’s not enough, it also promotes healthy aging.

CHILLI also goes by the great name of “Capsicum” and is another great ingredient used for fighting inflammation. Chillies also aid weight loss by reducing appetite and increasing fat burning, they are powerful little things. As well as all that they can also help with pain relief. 

HORSERADISH is neither a horse nor a radish but this vegetable has been used for hundreds of years for its wide variety of health benefits. Horseradish is naturally antibacterial, boosting circulation and clearing mucus as a decongestant. It speeds up metabolism and also aids weight loss and digestion.

ONION and GARLIC contain antioxidants and compounds that fight inflammation, decrease triglycerides and reduce cholesterol levels — all of which may lower heart disease risk. Their potent anti-inflammatory properties may also help reduce high blood pressure and protect against blood clots and help to combat sickness.

• If you want to try Steeps One Shot we’ve agreed a unique discount code – BELLE15 – for 15% off the price of your bottle  when you purchase direct from the Steeps One Shot website here, or why not try and make your own at home. Let us know what you think we’d love to hear about it.