One of the most powerful factors, possibly even THE most powerful factor, when it comes to our health and wellbeing is a decision on our part to take radical responsibility for ourselves.

This choice acted out on a continued basis changes everything, and it moves us from being the victim, the person stuff happens to, into the owner, the one in control, the one who takes charge. It’s not that we are in control of everything that happens in our lives, but rather that we choose our actions and our responses to life’s events.

How many of us have reached for painkillers in our lives, specifically something to combat inflammation? Whether we’ve got a migraine, a sprained ankle, period pain, the aching that comes along with a heavy cold or ‘flu, or those longer-term aches and pains, ibuprofen or aspirin can provide some much-needed relief at times.

But anti-inflammatory medication is not the only way to get relief. Substances found in natural foods can also provide pain reduction, and with the additional benefit of NOT having the risks and side-effects that the anti-inflammatory medications do.