When a part of your body suffers an infection or injury, your immune system responds by gathering its ammunition of nutrients and immune cells to the affected area. This defense mechanism facilitates healing, but at the same time results in the inflammation of the affected area. Minor cases of inflammation are nothing to worry about but when they cause excessive or debilitating pain, you could be suffering from chronic inflammation. You need to start paying attention to the concept of inflammation since chronic inflammation is known to cause illnesses such as colitis, diabetes and arthritis.

As part of a holistic anti inflammatory diet, some vegetables alleviate inflammation and joint pain. This natural remedy is preferred because the long term use of anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen have adverse side effects that include the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and gastrointestinal problems. If you are not suffering from any pain currently, those vegetables will make sure you do not suffer any undue inflammation.

Anti inflammatory vegetables are usually ideal for fighting inflammation because they do not have any refined sugar or carbohydrates that often cause and aggravate inflammation. They are also low calorie foods and may prevent weight gain, which also heightens inflammation in the body. Here is a review of some of the best vegetables with inflammation fighting elements.

Kale: Kale is a super food that should be included in everybody's healthy diet. This cruciferous vegetable is packed with numerous vitamins and nutrients that contain phytonutrients and antioxidant properties. One cup of cooked kale has approximately 1327.6% of vitamin k. Vitamin k is an essential nutrient in helping the body regulate its inflammation process. Combined with other vitamins and minerals, it aids in reducing the body's oxidative stress thus lowering the effects of inflammation. In addition to this, kale also has plenty of omega 3 fatty acids that offer anti inflammatory benefits.

Broccoli: This vegetable offers both detoxifying and anti inflammatory benefits. It has a combination of phytonutrients namely glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiin and glucobrassicin that aid the entire detoxification process while working at a genetic level. In doing so, broccoli not only aids in alleviating inflammation but also reduces damage to DNA in cells, which could foster cancer. Isothiocyanates (ICTs) found in broccoli directly suppress inflammatory components. In addition, broccoli also contains kaempferol, a flavonoid that aids in reducing the effects of allergenic elements. This anti inflammation fighting vegetables could be helpful in preventing allergies that often result in inflammation and pain.

Red Cabbage: Unlike its counterpart the green cabbage, people rarely eat red cabbage. It happens to offer more anti inflammatory benefits compared to the green cabbage making it one of the best vegetables. Red cabbage contains sulforaphane, an ICT derived from the glucoraphanin found in the cabbage. These are proven anti inflammatory agents that detoxify and protect the body's immune system by eliminating inflammation. Cabbage juice derived from red cabbage can also promote the healing of stomach ulcers. The digestive tract is highly prone to inflammation and regular intake of cabbage juice supplies ICTs that regulate stomach microorganisms and prevent their overpopulation.

These top three vegetables should be eaten 2 to 3 times in a day, preferably as part of a balanced meal. It is important to ensure that you pair these foods with other anti inflammatory foods such as blueberries and fish to derive even more benefits.