The Pantry Pulses That Fight Inflammation Better Than Berries

29. Mesquite Pod Flour (Low-Glycemic Fiber)

Mesquite Pod Flour, made from the ground seed pods of the Mesquite tree (a legume), is a unique South American addition. Its flour is exceptionally rich in soluble fiber and protein, and its complex structure is digested extremely slowly. This results in an impressively low glycemic index, making it outstanding for blood sugar stabilization. Since wild blood sugar swings are a major driver of chronic inflammation, using Mesquite flour (in small amounts in baking or drinks) provides a powerful, sustained metabolic anchor against inflammatory spikes.

30. Chickpea Hulls (The Insoluble Gut Scrubber)

While we typically focus on the soluble fiber and protein of the chickpea seed, the discarded, papery hulls offer a specialized anti-inflammatory benefit due to their high concentration of insoluble fiber. This structural fiber acts as a non-fermentable gut scrubber, adding bulk to waste and dramatically speeding up transit time. Rapid removal of toxins, metabolic waste, and used bile acids from the colon minimizes the time these inflammatory compounds spend near the gut wall. By ensuring a clean, efficient exit pathway, the hulls reduce the chronic, low-grade inflammatory stress that stems from poor digestive clearance, supporting a healthier, less reactive intestinal barrier.