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You Can Use Food As Medicine To Relieve Pain and Inflammation!

You Can Use Food As Medicine To Relieve Pain and Inflammation!

Do You Know The Benefits of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet?

Who says staying in shape has to be a chore? You’ll be ecstatic to find that merely changing your diet can help you manage chronic pain and inflammation (or possibly even avoid those symptoms entirely). Even better, the diet you choose doesn’t have to taste like a punishment for bad behavior in the past.

Physical therapists typically recommend dietary changes alongside exercises and other natural techniques as part of a holistic physical therapy program. We strongly encourage you to try replacing some of your old, regrettable menu items with this pain-reducing, anti-inflammatory diet, and give Lake County Physical Therapy a call today to set up an appointment as well!

Use spices to your advantage

Most people enjoy spicing up their meals a bit. Thankfully, Mother Nature has offered a plethora of herbs and spices that can assist in the reduction of pain and inflammation. Just one sugary soda per day has been shown to increase rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in women by 68 percent.

The good news is that you can have a pretty sweet diet without sugar. Try serving fresh or frozen fruit at the end of a meal for a refreshing change that won’t set off your pain sensors. If you must use a packaged sweetener, a natural option called stevia is probably the next-healthiest choice.

Stock up on fruits and veggies

From deep purple and vibrant green to neon orange and brilliant yellow, fruits and vegetables come in a rainbow of colors. These hues, on the other hand, aren’t just for show; they’re a message that you should be consuming more of these foods.

Antioxidants, which are nutrients with significant anti-inflammatory properties, are responsible for the vibrant colors. Broccoli and cabbage are high in Vitamin K, a potent anti-inflammatory. Make fruits and veggies a staple in your diet, and you’ll be on your way to feeling better in no time.

Try lean meats instead

It’s all too tempting to fall back on hamburgers, fried chicken, deli meats, and other quick protein sources, but once the pain and inflammation start, they don’t seem worth it!

Switching to healthier proteins with all the nutritional content but none of the inflammatory qualities is a simple way to solve this problem. Fish (particularly fatty fish like tuna or salmon, which are high in anti-inflammatory omega-3s), tofu dishes, and legumes should all be on your menu.

Pair physical therapy with nutrition

While altering your food is a fantastic place to start, it may not be enough to alleviate chronic inflammation and discomfort. Physical therapy may be able to help you alleviate or perhaps eliminate your discomfort.

A physical therapist can employ a variety of techniques. Manual therapy, dry needling, and even ultrasound treatments are some of the modalities that can be used. The use of heat or cold therapy are two more basic ways. You may be given stretching and mobility exercises to undertake at home by a physical therapist.

Improve gut health with yogurt and fermented foods

There’s a constant battle going on in your gut between “bad” bacteria (which promote inflammation, chronic pain and digestive discomfort) and “good” bacteria (which support digestive health by crowding out the “bad” bacteria).

You can give the good guys an edge by adding plenty of probiotic foods to your diet. Options include low-fat yogurt and fermented products such as kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, and pickles.

Looking for more advice? Allow a PT to help!

You can obtain even more benefits from physical therapy and other pain management treatments as you start to feel the pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory advantages of your new dietary habits.

Our physical therapist can assist you in developing a comprehensive lifestyle plan that includes food, exercise, ergonomics, and other measures to help you feel better. Get in touch with Lake County Physical Therapy right away!

Sources:
Erin McCabe

Written By

Zenobia Tantra

PT, DPT, CAPP-PF, CCI, CFeMT

Zenobia is one of the founding members of the company. She specializes in Pelvic Floor Rehab and is one of the few CAPP certified pelvic floor therapists in the country.

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