When dealing with chronic pain, much of the advice emphasizes maintaining proper posture, stretching and exercise. While the majority of chronic pain symptoms do come from mechanical issues with the spine or nerves, good nutrition can help prevent and alleviate your chronic pain as well. The benefits of a healthy diet are increased recovery time, mood improvement, and a stronger immune system. So in what ways can good nutrition affect and improve your chronic pain?
Good Nutrition Prevents Inflammation
Some chronic pain symptoms, such as back inflammation, are due to a chemical rather than mechanical-based conditions. When inflammation carries on for too long, it can cause problems beyond lower back pain. Plant based diets, primarily those that focus on flax and chia seeds, are the best to help reduce inflammation. Additionally, any deeply colored fruits and vegetables provide vitamins that help to resist inflammation. If you’re someone who would find it difficult to stick with a plant-based diet, certain fish, like mackerel, black cod, salmon, tuna, and herring provide your body with omega-3. This is a fatty acid that can help prevent inflammation in combination with vegetables.
Focusing on Calcium
A steady intake of calcium and vitamin D can also help with chronic pain, as these are the nutrients that build and strengthen your bones. Maintaining bone mass becomes harder as you age, this can lead to arthritis and other age-related conditions that weaken your spine’s vertebrae. Fortunately, you only need about 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day; Foods like yogurt, cheese, and leafy vegetables can naturally provide that amount daily. However, consuming more than 2000 mg a day of calcium can lead to heart problems. So make sure to stay between 1,000-2,000 mg daily.
Everybody knows that a healthy diet is an essential part of any healthy lifestyle, the trick is knowing which healthy diet is right for you. If you are looking for a more in-depth look at what lifestyle changes you can make, or what treatments are available for your chronic pain, contact us here at Pain Specialty Group today to set an appointment with experts.
