Just like there are foods that can help to eliminate back pain, plenty of foods can actually cause back pain. If you suffer from chronic back pain, your diet could be to blame. Many American diets consist of inflammatory foods which can cause back and joint pain. Thankfully, you can easily eliminate these foods from your diet and choose anti-inflammatory food options instead.
First, consider the amount of inflammatory foods you are eating. These include processed foods, red meat, foods high in sugar, or junk food in general. These foods are likely to contribute to inflammation in the body and even obesity. Instead, choose anti-inflammatory food options. Anti-inflammatory foods consist of lean proteins, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables.
If you think that you may be eating too many inflammatory foods, you can easily change your diet. Do you consume a lot of the following foods?
White bread, Ice Cream, Cheddar Cheeses, Snack or Junk Foods, Oils such as vegetable and corn, Pasta, Soda, caffeine and alcohol, Sugar, Processed foods, French Fries, or Fast Foods?
If you find yourself consuming any of these inflammatory food options on a daily basis, simply change your diet so that you consume more of the following anti-inflammatory food options:
Green Tea, Water, Wild Alaskan Salmon, Fresh whole fruits, Fresh vegetables, Bright multi-colored vegetables, Olive oil, Lean poultry, Nuts, legumes and seeds, Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, swiss chard, or collard greens, Old fashioned oatmeal, Spices, especially Turmeric and Ginger.
In addition to a simple diet change, remember to maintain a healthy weight and to exercise on a regular basis. Even during the colder months when it’s harder to get to the gym, designate a certain amount of time each day for exercising in the home if commuting to the gym is not an option. Even 15-20 minutes of exercise three times per week is an excellent goal to set.
In maintaining a healthy weight, a person should also increase their daily fiber intake. Typically, 35 grams of fiber is a good number to aim for on a daily basis. Also remember to decrease your sugar and hydrogenated oil intake, which will help to alleviate inflammation in the body.
Getting a good night’s sleep is also great for reducing inflammation in the body. 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night is preferred for people seeking to reduce inflammation in the body. A good night’s sleep can also help to reduce stress.
In addition to choosing anti-inflammatory food options instead of inflammatory foods, chiropractic care can also help to alleviate back, neck, and joint pain. To make an appointment with a chiropractor at Premier Health, please contact us to schedule your appointment. Premier Health can be the perfect solution for you and your family!