Diet and Pain Management

Easing Your Pain Through a Proper Diet

A lot of people think chiropractic care is only about spine and neck manipulation. But there’s a reason we’re called Total Chiropractic Care and Wellness. We certainly use chiropractic techniques, but we also know that one of the keys to pain management is total health. That means looking at things like exercise and lifestyle choices as well. One area that should always be looked at when trying to achieve total health is diet. What you eat can have an impact on pain management, so we want you to know the connections between diet and easing pain.

Diet and Chiropractic Care

In an article on the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) website, Amanda Donohue writes that more and more, nutrition is being incorporated into chiropractic care. In 2015, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners did a practice analysis that indicated that 97 percent of chiropractic doctors gave nutritional and diet recommendations to their patients.

An earlier study in 2007, said that 80 percent of chiropractors incorporate nutritional counseling into their practice with more than half addressing health issues other than musculoskeletal disorders.

The Connection Between Nutrition and Pain

According to the Mayo Clinic, research suggests that there’s a link between diet and inflammation. This is important because inflammation is our body’s response to injury or infection. It causes areas of the body to heat up, swell and become red. It also causes pain. Over the long haul, inflammation can cause very serious problems like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

There are foods that can contribute to inflammation and foods that have anti-inflammation properties. Among the types of food that can increase inflammation are:

• Processed foods
• Deep fried foods
• Pastries
• Processed cereals
• White rice
• White potatoes
• Sugar
• Breads
• Red meat

Processed foods tend to be high in unhealthy fats as well as carbohydrates, preservatives, and added sugars.

Foods that are anti-inflammatory and can help fight off pain include:

• Fish and foods containing omega-3 fats such as salmon, tuna, trout, walnuts, and pecans.
• Foods rich in antioxidants which can prevent or repair tissue damage. These foods include lentils, beans, nuts, seeds and green tea.
• Some dietary supplements such as ginger root or omega-3 fish oil.

“Most of my patients receive an anti-inflammatory diet, which excludes corn, wheat, dairy, and soy to name a few, but all of my patients receive a tailored diet individualized for their needs, enabling them to reach their epigenetic potential,” Dr. Robert Silverman a chiropractic doctor who is also a certified nutrition specialist told ACA.

Total Chiropractic Care and Wellness Will Incorporate Diet into Your Care

At Total Chiropractic Care and Wellness, we’ll talk to you about your diet and make suggestions about food and nutritional supplement choices. We tailor care to our individual patient’s needs, so we’ll also look at exercise, lifestyle and other pain management techniques. We’re looking to help our patients achieve optimum health and if you’re looking to manage pain or do more to prevent pain, let’s talk. Contact Total Chiropractic today!

Please note that the author of this piece is not a doctor and the information in this material is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your doctor or medical professional for specific information regarding your individual situation.