Do you suffer from chronic aches and pains? If so, you’re not alone. Oftentimes, chronic aches and pains are caused by localized inflammation in the body, which can occur as a result of overuse or even injury.
Anti-inflammatory medications are available to help relieve pain. But these come with their own potential for adverse side effects. What many people fail to realize is that inflammation can be hugely impacted by diet and nutrition. By avoiding certain foods, you can prevent inflammation from occurring in the first place. Also, eating the right foods can help rid your body of toxins and reduce chronic pain and inflammation.
Foods that won’t reduce chronic inflammation and pain
There are numerous foods and drinks that you should actively avoid if you want to reduce chronic pain caused by inflammation. In fact, some of the foods and beverages people commonly drink could only be increasing your pain and inflammation. A few of the foods and drinks that can do this include:
- Caffeinated beverages — Caffeine can alter your body’s pH balance, resulting in an increase in acidity. This increases inflammation by changing your body’s natural chemical processes.
- Sugar and artificial sweeteners — This category of foods should also be avoided. Sugar causes your body’s insulin levels to spike, and this makes you even more sensitive to pain. Aspartame has a similar effect on the body.
This means you should avoid any foods and beverages with added sugars and artificial sweeteners, including diet sodas. Even some seemingly healthy fruit juices have sugar added, so it’s important to avoid them, too.
Some other foods and drinks to avoid include:
- White breads
- Coffee creamer
- Alcohol
Tips for reducing chronic pain and inflammation through nutrition
What kinds of changes can you make in your diet to reduce chronic inflammation and pain? For starters, you can opt for a more natural diet of fresh fruits, greens and other vegetables.
Another excellent option is to simply drink more water. If you’re the type of person who drinks a lot of juices, sodas and other questionable beverages, you may be amazed at how much better you feel just by switching to water. That’s because water can help flush toxins out of your body, which can in turn reduce pain caused by inflammation.
Now is also a good time to start working to improve your gut health. Consider taking a daily probiotic, which will help balance out the bacteria in your gut. There are also foods you can eat that contain natural probiotics, such as yogurt. Just be sure to avoid yogurts that have a lot of added sugar and flavoring. Plain, Greek yogurt is typically your safest option here. You can always add a little granola or even fresh berries for more flavor.
Panther Physical Therapy can help you find ways to reduce chronic pain
Looking for more ways to reduce chronic inflammation and pain? Our Panther Physical Therapy team is ready and willing to help you. We offer free screenings that can pinpoint the source of your chronic pain. Our physical therapists can then build you an individualized therapy plan designed to reduce your pain and the inflammation that’s causing it.
Can’t leave your home right now? No worries! Our team offers therapy services that our patients can use from home, including at-home care and virtual therapy appointments. We can even get you started with the therapy you need without a doctor’s referral.
Take the next step to get our help with your pain. Contact our team today for more information about how we can help or to schedule a free screening.