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Anti-inflammatory recipes help keep your gut healthy — and when your gut is healthy, your entire body benefits. Balancing the bacteria in your gut so that there’s enough “good” bacteria to counter the “bad” bacteria keeps your immune system up and running, prevents a slew of diseases and illnesses, and can keep you from gaining weight.
Following a healthy, anti-inflammatory diet doesn’t take a universe of preparation, time, or cooking skill — it just takes a few good anti-inflammatory crockpot recipes that are simple to make and can help you lose weight (without trying so hard). These eight slow-cooker recipes run the gamut from hearty soups and stews to a low-carb pizza recipe that’s rich in vitamins and nutrients. They all share one thing in common: after you’re prepped your ingredients and tossed them into the crockpot, you’ll have hours to do whatever you want until that delicious meal is ready.
Crockpot Beef and Sweet Potato Stew
Swap white potatoes for vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes and make sure your meat is lean and (preferably) grass-fed beef. This crockpot beef and sweet potato stew is filling, nutritious, and perfect for cold nights. The ingredients you'll need include:
Beef stew meat
Flour
Garlic
Onion
Sweet potato
Baby potatoes (optional)
Carrots
Red pepper
Beef broth
Diced tomatoes
Beef bouillon
Salt
Black pepper
Paprika
Bay leaves
Chopped parsley
Photos: Shutterstock
A much lighter alternative to heavy stews, crockpot bone broth makes an incredible anti-inflammatory appetizer or snack. Not only is bone broth fantastic for your gut, it also relieves joint pain, gives you gorgeous skin, and supports your immune system to ward off colds and viruses. You'll need the following ingredients:
Carrots
Celery stalks
Onion
Garlic
Beef or chicken bones
Kosher salt
Apple cider vinegar
Water
A spicy, satisfying vegetarian meal that you can eat solo or with a side of brown rice, crockpot chana masala has just 262 calories per serving and plenty of protein and flavor. Gather these ingredients together and, after carmelizing the onions in a pan, let your crockpot do the hard work:
Chickpeas
Butter
Onions
Garlic
Ginger
Jalapenos
Coriander
Cumin
Paprika
Garam Masala
Ground Turmeric
Diced Tomatoes
Vegetable Broth
Salt
Pepper
Lemon
Warm and creamy (thanks to coconut milk), with just enough spice to give it a friendly kick, this crockpot curry chicken revs up your metabolism and lends itself to plenty of substitutes. Don't love potatoes? Swap them for butternut squash. Not crazy about peas? Use any other veggie you prefer — like cauliflower, broccoli, or zucchini.
You'll need:
Chicken breasts
Onion
Chickpeas
Sweet potato
Coconut milk
Chicken stock
Tomato sauce
Curry powder
Salt
Cayenne pepper
Peas
Lemon juice
Cilantro (optional)
This crockpot black bean soup requires basically no prep work on your part and is chockfull of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. With just 233 calories per serving, it's one of the lowest calorie soups out there. Here's what it requires:
Black beans
Garlic
Onion
Celery
Carrots
Salsa
Chili powder
Cumin
Oregano
Vegetable Broth
Water
Crockpot Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Pizza in a crockpot? You betcha — when you're making crockpot cauliflower crust pizza, you can whip up the entire yummy meal (cheese and sauce and all) in your slow cooker. Each serving has 275 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrates, which makes it a far better choice than traditional pizza if you're trying to lose weight. You'll need:
Cauliflower
Eggs
Italian cheese
Italian seasoning blend
Salt
Alfredo sauce
Dried rosemary
You won't miss meat for even a second when you dig into this crockpot vegetarian chili, which uses hearty substitutes like sweet potato, kidney beans, and black beans. A sprinkling of unsweetened cocoa powder doesn't just give it an interesting flavor, it increases its anti-inflammatory benefits. Here are the ingredients:
Red onion
Green bell pepper
Garlic cloves
Chili powder
Cumin
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Cinnamon
Black pepper
Diced tomatoes
Black beans
Kidney beans
Sweet potato
Sour cream, scallions, radishes, and tortilla chips for serving
Crockpot Tuscan White Bean Soup
Lemon gives this crockpot Tuscan white bean soup tang and adds to its detoxing benefits. Kale, quinoa, and beans are among the most healthy, fiber-rich ingredients you can eat — put them together and you've got one incredible, anti-inflammatory soup. Add these ingredients to your grocery list:
White beans
Quinoa
Chicken or vegetable stock
Carrots
Onion
Basil pesto
Red pepper flakes
Sage leaves
Salt and pepper
Parmesan rind
Lemon juice and lemon zest
Tuscan kale
Grated parmesan
[Photos: Shutterstock]
