Does Diet Impact Pain?

Pain is unfortunately something you experience more than once in your life. Whether it’s from an injury like a broken bone or a condition that leads to chronic pain, it truly affects every aspect of your life. But did you know that certain foods could be worsening your pain?

At Integrated Body and Medicine, our team of experts helps you understand your pain, so you can get rid of it for good. Along with conventional treatments, we offer nutritional guidance to help you minimize your pain through a healthy diet.

Can food really make your pain worse?

Have you ever heard the term you are what you eat? The truth is, there is some credibility behind it. If you eat healthy, the chances are, you’re healthier than someone who eats junk food on a regular basis.

Food is meant to nourish your body and provide you with the energy you need to get through the day. But certain foods are overly processed and modified with harmful ingredients that aren’t good for your system.

In fact, some processed foods can actually lead to an increase in the inflammatory process in your body. While inflammation is your body’s defense against injury and illness, too much can result in chronic issues, including medical problems and pain that doesn’t seem to get better.

Foods that can lead to inflammation

If you have pain, whether it’s chronic or acute, the wrong foods can lead to excess inflammation in your body. This not only puts you at a higher risk for chronic disease, but also increases the likelihood that your pain won’t go away.

So how do you know what foods are bad for you? The answer isn’t completely straightforward, but generally, the more processed the food, the worse it is for your body. Here’s a small list of foods that lead to chronic inflammation in your body.

Sugar

There are many types of sugar, but sucrose and high fructose corn syrup are the most widely used in American diets. Sugar is harmful, because it doesn’t just cause inflammation; it can also lead to insulin resistance and problems like diabetes and heart disease.

Vegetable and seed oils

You can find these oils in many types of processed foods. Vegetable and seed oils contain omega-6 fatty acids. These acids lead to chronic inflammation in your body over time.

Processed carbohydrates

While not all carbohydrates are bad for you, those that have been modified have had a lot of their natural fiber removed. This can lead to inflammatory issues in your gut and chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel problems and obesity.

Processed meats

Processed meats such as bacon, sausage, and ham put you at a high risk for conditions like cancer and heart disease. The advanced glycation end products in these types of meats lead to inflammation.

How to keep your pain under control

To get your pain under control, contact us for treatment and to get help with your diet. We help you choose healthy, whole food options that aren’t processed or refined.

For example, aim for whole grain carbohydrates, such as oats and barley instead of processed grains like white bread or rice. Focus on eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. These may include berries, leafy greens, and broccoli. Eat red meat in moderation. 

Ultimately, a healthy diet reduces your risk of disease, helps you maintain a normal weight, and keeps inflammation in check.

If you’re tired of dealing with pain and you think your diet could be to blame, don’t hesitate to call our Highland, Indiana, office or schedule an appointment through our online system today.