One of the many lifestyle changes recommended by chronic pain specialists is a change in diet. Everything you eat triggers a certain response from the body, so knowing what role your food plays can empower you to help manage your chronic pain.
Continue reading to learn more.
How Inflammation Affects Chronic Pain
When it comes to eating foods that can help manage chronic pain, the key word is “inflammation.” Inflammation (or swelling) is your body’s response to an infection, illness, or injury. An inflammatory response can exacerbate or trigger additional pain. This is why it’s common for anti-inflammatories to be recommended or prescribed after an injury.
Consuming certain foods can also trigger inflammation, therefore increasing chronic pain. Likewise, many foods work hard to reduce inflammation. For this reason, it is important that you learn to avoid foods that cause inflammation, and instead look for foods which reduce inflammation.
Foods That Minimize Inflammation
A good place to start when searching for foods that can help to keep inflammation at bay is to look for whole foods rather than partially or highly processed foods.
Whole grains are an excellent example. Oats, quinoa, brown rice, and couscous are less processed than grains like corn cereal, instant oatmeal, and white bread. When reaching for plant-based snacks, nuts, beans, legumes, seeds, and tofu are safe choices.
Whenever possible, avoid or minimize your consumption of red meat and processed meats. Instead, opt for white meat poultry or cold water fish, such as wild salmon or herring.
Cheese, eggs, and dairy are also safe to consume, but try to avoid eating yogurts with high levels of sugar. Greek yogurt is typically higher in protein and has less sugar than most yogurts.
Some spices and herbs are powerful anti-inflammatories. Try to incorporate cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper into your diet as these can easily be integrated into recipes or drinks such as tea.
While fats are a necessary part of cooking, extra virgin olive oil is a better choice than butter, shortening, or lard.
Find Holistic Chronic Pain Management in Charlotte, NC
While adjusting your diet will not magically remove your chronic pain symptoms overnight, it can be a crucial step in your healthcare plan as you work with a chronic pain specialist to address your symptoms for long-term health and recovery.
At Dynamic Health, we value a variety of treatments to address every part of our patients’ lives through a modern holistic approach. We provide chronic pain treatment in Charlotte, North Carolina. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation so we can create a personalized healthcare plan just for you.