Foods To Avoid When Dealing With Pain And Inflammation

Foods To Avoid When Dealing With Pain And Inflammation

You can eat your pain away, literally. Unfortunately, not many people know about it and continue to consume foods that aggravate their inflammatory conditions. Considering that 34% of the UK adult population lives with chronic pain and several inflammatory diseases, it’s vital to make the right decisions to prevent you from becoming a part of the statistics, starting with your diet. This article will discuss some foods to avoid when dealing with pain and inflammation.

• Sugars, carbs, dairy products, and white flour foods

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When you’re dealing with an inflammatory condition, your immune system loses a bit of its resistance. It explains the presence of pain and swelling in affected body parts and sugars, carbs, dairy products, and white flour foods can be detrimental to the healing process. For example, sugars slow down the production of vital body enzymes already working to bring you relief. It’s the same with pastries, doughnuts, and white bread. In essence, you should avoid any white flour-based food because they aggravate inflammation and pain.

Additionally, you should try to lower your dairy consumption when your body is still dealing with inflammatory conditions. Dairy and most of its products contain protein casein, which irritates in and around the joints. However, there is a ray of hope with a specific type of dairy. Yoghurt with live healthy bacteria can be beneficial to your condition. The advice from nutritionists is to eat this in moderation when you are on an anti-inflammatory diet.

• Red meat

According to viva.co.uk, the average person in the country consumes 226grams of red meat per day. Even though the report indicates that it is a reduction in red meat consumption in the UK, it is still twice the world average. The ideal daily consumption should be 70grams. Moreover, the two most preferred types of red meat in the country are beef and pork. With this information in mind, how does a diet rich in red meat impact an inflammatory condition? 

According to science, red meat takes longer to break down or digest, putting significant pressure on the kidneys, liver, and intestines. Again, because 70% of the body’s immune system is located in the gut, this cannot be good news. Therefore, red meat intake will slow down your healing process, causing you to feel more pain and inflammation. Fortunately, chicken and fish diets are healthier options. You can also seek chiropractic care for pain relief. 

• Trans fatty acids and hydrogenated oils

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In simpler terms, these refer to unsaturated fats. Usually, hydrogenated oils are used in high quantities in the food manufacturing sector. Their primary role is to keep foods fresher for longer. Apart from increasing a person’s risk of contracting heart disease, trans fats worsen your pain and inflammation. Furthermore, the body interprets these fats as heavy, ultimately tasking the immune system to halt some of its vital defence functions. A better alternative is to increase your vegetable and fruits intake while keeping your hydration levels up.