While many of our daily activities and habits contribute to back pain, did you know that what you’re eating could be a factor as well? An anti-inflammatory diet is key to reducing back pain. A highly plant-based diet rich in omega-3’s will be your best bet to avoid or fight pain. Continue reading below for more information about certain foods that can help with back pain.
Could what you eat be contributing to your back pain? Maybe. Many foods have been shown to reduce (or increase) inflammation, a known cause for back pain. So when you have back pain, changing your diet may help you avoid it.
If you’re prone to back pain, consider these diet tips:
Eat Your Veggies to Fight Back Pain
A mostly plant-based diet that includes such things as flax and chia seeds, is probably your best bet to avoid inflammation, especially when eaten in combination with omega-3-rich coldwater fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, black cod, tuna, and trout.
“Deeply colored fruits and vegetables are a key part of an anti-inflammatory diet,” says Dana Greene, MS, RD, LDN, a nutritionist in Brookline, Massachusetts. If you’re looking for foods that reduce back pain and are loaded with nutrition, try carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, cherries, berries, grapes and red wine, pomegranate, and watermelon, she says. Herbs and spices, including basil, cinnamon, ginger, rosemary, garlic, curcumin, onions, oregano, and turmeric tend to be especially rich in anti-inflammatory agents, so season generously. Also, drink healthy herb teas and true teas (green, oolong, and white).
Experts say that olive oil, green tea, and brightly colored fruits and vegetables have all been shown to reduce inflammation in cartilage in the spinal column, which helps to control back pain and stiffness. When eating vegetables, think the greener the better, experts say. Kale, spinach, and broccoli are all list-toppers for an anti-inflammatory diet with back-pain-fighting properties. Other good food choices for an anti-pain diet: avocados; nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, and Brazil nuts); lean proteins, such as chicken and turkey; beans; and cocoa.
Avoid These Foods to Reduce Pain
Robin Barrie Kaiden, RD, CDN, a registered dietitian at Robin Barrie Nutrition in New York City, says that some people avoid nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant, white potatoes, and peppers) as part of an anti-inflammatory diet. “No research supports this, however,” she says. “To find out if these vegetables contribute to inflammation in your body, don’t eat them for two weeks and see if your symptoms disappear — just like you should do with any other potentially sensitive food.” Always talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian when making changes to your diet.
Other foods to avoid? Processed foods, fast foods, and saturated fats. All of these fuel inflammation. This includes white bread, pasta, rice, sugary drinks and snacks, fried foods, and anything with partially hydrogenated oil in the ingredients, often found in preservative-packed products with a long shelf-life, such as chips, crackers, and pastries. (Opt for poly- or monounsaturated oils, such as canola or olive oil, when cooking.). Stay away from caffeine and alcohol as well, experts say.
The Calcium Factor
Another way to keep back pain at bay is to make sure you’re getting enough of the right nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D. Bone is the body’s storage reservoir for calcium. “As you age, it is hard to maintain bone mass, which can lead to such conditions as osteopenia or osteoporosis,” experts say. “These diseases can weaken the vertebrae in your spine. Calcium contributes to bone mass, helping you avoid those conditions.”
A 2010 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) gave new guidelines for daily calcium supplementation. These definitions are commonly referred to as the recommended daily allowance. According to the IOM, you shouldn’t consume more than 2,000 milligrams of calcium a day (either through foods or supplements), says experts.
“Gone are the days when more is better,” experts say. Studies show that if you take a high dose of calcium supplements, you increase your risk for heart problems and atherosclerosis, which involves plaque forming in your arteries. Consuming too much calcium can also cause bone fractures. Calcium should come from natural sources, experts say. Natural food sources for calcium include yogurt, milk, and cheese, as well as leafy green vegetables. If you’re not able to obtain enough calcium from your diet, then talk to your doctor about whether supplements are right for you. Teens, for instance, require 1,300 mg of calcium a day, and older people about 1,000 mg daily, experts say, but “do not supplement more than 500 mg a day.” Instead, doctors suggest trying to get more calcium from your diet.
Experts add some words of caution: When fractures occur, just using calcium supplements is not enough. “Consult an orthopedic surgeon and musculoskeletal specialist to devise a complete medical plan to deal with your condition,” experts say. “This regimen may include medications, such as bisphosphonates that help build bone, and regular exercise.”
Complete and original article posted on everydayhealth.com
