24 Aug Fighting Pain and Inflammation With Nutrition
Pain and inflammation are almost always associated with one another. Patients experiencing inflammation in their bodies often experience pain or swelling, especially those with arthritis, fibromyalgia or other conditions.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is your immune system’s natural response to an injury or to fight infection. There are two different types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is caused by harmful bacteria or injury to tissue. Because of this, acute inflammation is quick and lasts only a few days. However, pathogens the body can’t break down cause chronic inflammation, which can last months to years.
Diet and nutrition to decrease inflammation
The foods you eat can either increase or decrease inflammation in the body. So, an unbalanced diet or a poor diet can increase inflammation, while a balanced, healthy diet decreases inflammation. Here are some foods that help fight inflammation:
- Green leafy vegetables (spinach, collards and kale)
- Broccoli
- Green tea
- Tomatoes
- Olive Oil
- Fruits
- Fatty fish (tuna, salmon)
But it is important to remember that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ nutrition plan that is guaranteed to work for everyone. The best way to manage your pain with diet and good nutrition is to get a variety of foods from all five food groups—fruit, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy and lean meats—and to color your plate.
Weight management to decrease inflammation
Also, managing your weight can decrease inflammation. Being overweight causes your body to increase its immune response, and that can cause excessive inflammation. Here are some typical ways to help manage your weight:
- Get 150 minutes of physical activity a week
- Avoid overeating by measuring portions
- Fill up half your plate with vegetables
- Don’t skip any meals
Additional resources:
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248423.php
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140825084836.htm
- eatright.org
- thedairyalliance.com
- choosemyplate.gov
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For more information on The Pain Management Group, please visit thepainmanagementgroup.com or schedule an appointment at one of our locations throughout Middle Tennessee.
We are committed to providing individualized care and vow to treat each patient with compassion and respect, never turning anyone away. Our physicians are fellowship-trained pain specialists who utilize a combination of interventional procedures and medication management services to tailor a personalized care plan for each patient’s long-term pain relief.
