The Connection Between Nutrition and Chronic Pain

Your body needs fuel to function and survive through the odds of life that come with stress, pain, and tragedy. In short, you endure on food; if it’s not healthy, the stressed lifestyle will make everything else even harder. Nutrition and chronic pain look like two different terms, having no connection with each other, but they are linked, definitely! If you are willing to spend more time on earth happily, a nutritious diet is one bridge to take you over that. Studies have shown that nutrition can heal chronic pain. Let’s find out how they are actually connected.

What is Chronic Pain?

Pain lasting over months and exceeding up to years without any relief defines chronic pain. The pain may stick to you all the time or switch between different time intervals. Chronic pain is not associated with any particular space in the body but can happen anywhere. The pain can get severe with time and interfere with your everyday life. The problem can turn worse leading to anxiety, depression, or sleeplessness. Chronic pain can happen due to some disease that you may already be suffering from, or it may be due to some psychological factors like depression or anxiety. Chronic pain may feel like 

• Sharp shooting pain.
• Burning sensation.
• Aches.
• Stiffness in any area.
• Stinging sensation.
• Throbbing.

Importance of Diet

Diet is crucial for survival. A nutritious diet helps maintain good body weight, fuels body functions, helps perform better and fights diseases. A good balance diet keeps cholesterol levels under control and lowers the concentration of triglycerides. This is good for preventing various heart diseases like diabetes, stroke, and blood pressure problems. It also drives away obesity- the number one reason for most of the ailments in the body. A balanced diet is vital for your mental and physical health, so you need to watch your diet carefully. You need to shift your love from junkies to healthy foods to lead a better life. 

The Connection Between the Two

There is a strong link between the two. Your diet can determine how healthily you can live your life. Nutrition can heal chronic pain. There is still research going on the way, to find the importance of nutrition in treating chronic pains. Want to learn more about what types of foods are good for chronic pain? Here are some of them: 

Also Read: What are the Benefits of Body Contouring?

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are present in abundance in foods like walnuts, fish, flaxseed, and shrimp. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids have been known to improve conditions of severe pain like migraine, arthritis, stiffness, menstrual cramps, and sclerosis. 

Get Vitamins And Minerals

Pain can also be due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Enrich your diet with minerals and vitamins by including Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and magnesium. Add dairy products, fish, and whole grains into your diet to make it nutrient-rich. Get your daily source of vitamin D from the sun, which will help strengthen bones and help heal joint pain. B vitamin is crucial for people with nutrient deficiencies, as stated by Markita Lewis, a former research assistant at Louisiana State University.

Tryptophan

An amino acid is found in foods, dairy products, milk, oats, yogurt, sunflower, and sesame seeds. Tryptophan is converted into serotonin in the body, which controls pain triggers in the body. Make your diet filled with food rich in tryptophan to reduce neuropathic pain in the body. 

Fibers

A low level of C-reactive protein is crucial to maintain because high levels lead to health problems. Fiber-rich diets help to keep the level of C-reactive protein to a minimum. The microflora in the gut is highly dependent upon fibers for their survival. These bacteria are capable of releasing substances to lower the pain in the body. Fruits and vegetables are high in polyphenols. These polyphenols are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and can treat a wide range of chronic pain. The problem of inflammation can be reduced with a fiber-rich diet as it aids in maintaining the normal weight, as weight gain is associated with numerous diseases.

Hydrate

Dehydration can be dangerous as it increases your body’s sensitivity to pain. It can lead to constipation and also make the blood clotting process slower. Drink 2-3 liters of water every day and consume more water in the morning to stay hydrated.

Reduce Junk Foods

Junk foods and sugar can increase the oxidation and inflammation process in the body. High consumption of junk food can lead to poor cardiovascular health, increasing the risk of multiple diseases. Processed food can worsen your health condition and reverse all the health precautions that you might have taken till now. 

The Bottom Line

Focusing on taking the right kind of nutrition can improve issues of chronic pain. It can influence your immune and endocrine system, reducing the extreme pain response. According to www.healthcanal.com, nutritious food can reduce inflammation, prevent overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, and support normal immune function. It is crucial to maintain optimum body weight. It keeps diseases and inflammatory problems at bay. When you are obese, your knee joints may have to carry the burden of the upper body which is heavier; thus your joints may suffer. This leads to chronic pain in the joints. So, improving diet is crucial to reduce the risk of chronic pain and physical health.