pain and diet
Simple changes to diet can reduce pain and improve tolerance of pain.
irritant foods
Stimulants evoke the stress reaction in most people. Stress activates sensory pathways shared by pain sensations and so amplifies the sensation of pain.
Some stimulating foods heighten the sensation of pain. Caffeine or glutamates are exciting but also trigger almost the same physical reaction as stress in most people which increases sensitivity to pain.
Most drugs including alcohol disrupt the quality of sleep and so diminish the capacity to resist the stress that amplifies pain.
Sugar, alcohol and white flour are often taken interchangeably to stimulate the pleasure centers and are very addictive. They severely disrupt the hormonal systems in several ways promoting rage, anxiety and depression and mood swings which amplify the experience of pain.
healthy diet and lifestyle
A healthy body is quicker to recover from painful injury or illness and better able to maintain fitness, relax, feel good and tolerate pain.
Keeping healthy reduces or eliminates many causes of pain. For example the lumbar arteries that nourish the spine are among the first to develop atherosclerotic plaques. As many as 10 percent of people have advanced blockages by age 20. When the lumbar artery is blocked the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the vertebrae and discs are reduced. The ability to repair damage and eliminate cellular waste products that can irritate nerve endings is compromised and degeneration may even result. In autopsy studies, people who had a history of back pain have been found to have an average of two completely blocked arteries to the lower back and at least one more that was narrowed but not yet blocked. Those who had not had back pain had fewer blockages. A healthy diet, regular exercise, not smoking, and reducing stress prevents and even reverses artery blockages.
A high protein diet produces toxic by products which may increase pain or slow healing. A high salt diet may raise blood pressure and reduce the capacity to deal with stress. A high fat diet clogs arteries and reduces capacity to heal, exercise and eliminate irritating toxins. The list of is endless - the solutions are simple.
The food pages have more information and suggestions to try out.
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copyright (C) John Brasted 2008
updated 11/06/11
