Visceral fat is something we all have. It’s the deep belly fat that’s hidden behind your abs and surrounds your organs. But when in excess, visceral fat is problematic—it fuels chronic inflammation in the body. “Inflammation sets off a cascade of hormonal and metabolic changes that slowly raise your risk for chronic conditions like heart disease, autoimmune conditions and weight gain,” says Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., RD, author of Meals That Heal.
Fortunately, the same habits that calm inflammation also help shrink visceral fat. “A key component of reducing both is regularly eating anti-inflammatory foods—like berries, leafy greens, whole grains, beans, lean proteins and healthy fats,” says Williams. These foods work in two ways: they directly lower inflammation, and over time, they help reduce visceral fat. And as visceral fat decreases, the body produces fewer inflammatory compounds—a win-win for better health overall.
“Having the right kitchen tools on hand to make these foods easier to prepare and eat can be a real game-changer,” says Williams.
Best Anti-Inflammatory Kitchen Tools on Amazon
- Zojirushi 10-Cup Rice Cooker, $377 (was $403)
- Nslll Titanium Cutting Board, Set of 3, $60 (was $70)
- Reusable Silicone Avocado Huggers, 2-Piece, $15
- Pyrex Simply Store Glass Food Storage Containers, 12-Piece, $42
- U.S. Kitchen Supply Stainless Steel Collapsible Colander, $20
- Onemore Ceramic Berry Basket, $24 (was $25)
- Onemore Large Garlic Keeper with Lid, $20
- Misen 8-Inch Chef Knife, $99
- Nordic Ware Naturals 3-Piece, $33 (was $41)
Zojirushi 10-Cup Rice Cooker
Amazon
If you’re trying to eat more anti-inflammatory whole grains, this rice cooker is hands-down worth every penny. I was skeptical when I was first asked to test it, but was almost immediately sold on its value: I love that you can rinse your grains, add them to the pot, set the cooker and then forget it for hours. Once the grains are done cooking, it switches over to warm mode immediately, so when you’re ready to eat, the grains are ready and hot.
Nslll Titanium Cutting Board, Set of 3
Amazon
When it comes to prepping raw lean proteins, I try to avoid my wooden cutting boards since they’re more challenging to sanitize. But I’m also trying to minimize my exposure to inflammation-producing microplastics. Enter these titanium cutting boards, an Amazon favorite that our readers have been loving!
Reusable Silicone Avocado Huggers, 2-Piece
Amazon
An avocado is my absolute favorite ‘healthy fat’ to eat! But I’ll rarely eat an entire avocado in one sitting, which is why a cute little storage solution like this avocado hugger is a great kitchen tool to have on hand.
Pyrex Simply Store Glass Food Storage Containers, 12-Piece
Amazon
Meal prepping is often an overlooked hack to making diet changes stick, but it’s incredibly helpful. That being said, the MVP of meal prep is a great set of food storage containers. This particular set has been my go-to for years. The glass material means less inflammation-causing microplastics exposure, and the variety of container sizes is great for food prep and meal planning.
U.S. Kitchen Supply Stainless Steel Collapsible Colander
Amazon
Whether you’re rinsing grains, beans, berries or vegetables, this colander is a great choice: The small mesh will hold even the smallest of grains, and the collapsible component will keep it from clogging your sink (a hot spot for foodborne illness-causing bacteria).
Onemore Ceramic Berry Basket
Amazon
Berries are brimming with anti-inflammatory compounds—and especially those really dark blue and purple ones like blueberries and blackberries. But when they’re “hidden” in the refrigerator, my kids often forget to eat them. This is why I love a berry basket: I rinse them, leave them out on the kitchen counter and before the day is over, the basket is empty!
Onemore Large Garlic Keeper with Lid
Amazon
Garlic is well-known for its anti-inflammatory antioxidants—that’s one reason we crush, mince and grate our way through so many cloves in our house. It’s time that I stop putting garlic in my fruit and veggie basket (it dries out much faster!) and give it a better storage vessel. This garlic keeper is pretty enough that I’ll leave it on the kitchen counter 24/7.
Misen 8-Inch Chef Knife
Amazon
A high-quality chef’s knife is a must-have for healthy food prep. You need to easily slice your way through vegetables and lean proteins. This knife, in particular, is one that I’ve been testing recently and am enjoying for its size, sharpness and ease of use. In fact, I plan to keep it in my day-to-day knife block when testing is done.
Nordic Ware Naturals 3-Piece
Amazon
One of my favorite ways to prepare anti-inflammatory vegetables is to roast them. Carrots, cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts are all absolutely delicious when roasted, and I’m much more likely to encourage veggie skeptics to try them when they’re cooked this way. These rimmed baking sheets are my favorite for roasting veggies—and the three different sizes are helpful when I’m cooking for just me and my kids versus a crowd.
