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Pain-Fighting Foods

Each September, our nation recognizes Pain Awareness Month. Americans and a coalition of organizations use this time to educate the public on pain management for acute pain, chronic pain, and cancer pain.

At Eat, Heal, Travel, we first encourage you to speak with a medical professional regarding your unique health condition and pain. In certain cases, you may find that nutrition could play a role in your pain management plan. It’s widely accepted that fruits, vegetables, and other vitamin-rich foods can boost your heart health and deliver other vital benefits for your overall wellbeing. Experts have also found that the nutrients in certain foods can help in alleviating certain types of pain.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods
A major culprit for pain is inflammation in the body, whether initiated by tissue injury or part of a biological response to damaged cells. Many foods have been researched to treat diseases associated with inflammation, such as arthritis, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, and various cancer types. Certain foods high in carotenoids or vitamins B, C, and E can offer nutritional healing for inflammation. For example, fish, almonds, lentils, pineapple, sweet potatoes, green tea and dozens of fruits and vegetables have anti-inflammatory properties. Combining vitamins with powerful antioxidant-rich foods could help you reduce inflammation in your body.

Eating to Ease Head Pain
Science is recognizing that certain foods can relieve some types of pain just as well as traditional pain relievers and prescription drugs. Nutrients are proving to be quite powerful in fighting head pain.

For example, magnesium is a mineral bringing results for women suffering with head pain during menstruation. Recommended foods for fighting head pain and migraines include leafy greens like spinach, potatoes (sweet and white), wholegrains, brown rice, and quinoa. Studies also show that caffeine has pain-reliveing properties, which is why you can often find it as an ingrediant listed in over-the-counter pain relievers. Notably, consuming different foods can be either the cause or the cure for your headache. And unfortunately, experts can’t agree whether chocolate causes or cures a migraine. As with any treatment, you will have to listen to your own body when attempting to relieve pain through nutrition.

Healing Techniques and Treatments
There is a wide array of medical treatments and medications available to patients with pain. Depending on your condition and personal situation, the treatment that works for one person may not work for another person. For example, relaxation techniques, meditation, or yoga could help improve your condition. Others may consider pharmaceutical options depending on the severity of their pain. The most important thing is to discuss your unique situation with your medical provider to determine a safe path for healing. The American Chronic Pain Association is a leader in raising awareness and support for individuals with chronic pain. Its website, www.theacpa.org, offers a variety of educational tools, treatment information, and pain management tools for individuals searching for more information.

Let us know on Twitter or Facebook about foods you eat or healing techniques you use to fight pain. The Eat, Heal, Travel team looks forward to hearing from you.