Changing Your Diet Could Relieve Your Pain and Inflammation

Find the Benefits of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet by Consulting with a PT!

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

Our in-home physical therapists typically recommend dietary changes alongside exercises and other natural techniques as part of a holistic physical therapy program. Try replacing some of your old, regrettable menu items with this pain-reducing, anti-inflammatory diet.

Choose lean meats

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 kick in, they don’t seem so worth it.

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

Pick food for great gut health

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.

Be spice-smart

Even though these foods are delicious, you’ll probably want to spice them up a bit. Fortunately, nature has created a plethora of herbs and spices that can assist in the reduction of pain and inflammation.

If you like Indian food, for example, you’ll appreciate the fact that turmeric contains curcumin, a potent anti-inflammatory. Diallyl disulfide, another natural anti-inflammatory, is abundant in garlic. Capsaicin, a natural pain reliever, is abundant in cayenne pepper. Don’t forget about oregano, which is high in antioxidants.

Eat plenty of fruits and veggies

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

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

Don’t give up sweets, just change the types of sugar you’re eating.

You can have a pretty sweet diet without the sugar.

Refined sugar is notorious for feeding painful inflammatory disorders and symptoms. In fact, just one sugary soda per day has been shown to increase rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in women by 68 percent!

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.

Try physical therapy treatment along with an improved diet

Although altering your diet is a good place to start, it may not be enough to alleviate chronic inflammation and pain. Physical therapy might be able to help you alleviate or even remove the discomfort.

Our in-home physical therapists may use a variety of techniques. Manual therapies, dry needling, and even ultrasound procedures are some of the methods that can be used. The use of heat or ice therapy is two more basic approaches. Stretching and motion exercises can also be provided to you by your physical therapist, which you can do at home.

Let us help you feel your best

As you start to feel the pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory benefits of your new dietary habits, you can get even more benefits from in-home physical therapy and other pain management options.

Your physical therapist can help you construct an entire lifestyle plan that incorporates diet, exercises, healthy ergonomics, and other strategies for helping you feel great. Contact Cedar Hill Physical Therapy today!