Chronic physical pain not only takes away from your quality of life, but it has a debilitating effect on your psyche. Patients are often irritable, stressed, and frustrated, and tend to isolate themselves from family and friends. If the pain makes it harder to work, the financial setback can worsen the situation. Not wanting to develop a dependence on oral painkillers is understandable, and you might have been looking for alternative remedies like a pain relief cream, meditation, yoga, or massages. But, one effective solution can combat the discomfort naturally while relieving the stress and making you feel good–food!
Science Proves that Several Foods Relieve Pain Effectively
Scientific research has proved that the Western diet typically causes inflammation in the body which is the cause of several ailments. Like professional frozen food tasters will warn you, processed foods contain excessive salt, sugar, fat, and preservatives that are harmful. By incorporating more fresh and organic superfoods into your diet, you can tackle the root causes of your pain while also relieving the symptoms. You can make delicious salads, beverages, and dishes that will nourish your body, lift your spirits, and take away the discomfort. Read ahead for some of the best foods to add to your diet for a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Make a Fruit Salad
A simple rule of thumb is to eat food that looks pretty and is appealing to your eyes. And that means lots of colors. Foods with color contain the chemical polyphenol and phytonutrients. Such foods are rich in antioxidants and flavonoids that fight disease and ultraviolet radiation. They’re also healthy for your heart and benefit the human body in different ways. Try this fruit salad for great taste and relief from pain. Add ingredients in whatever proportion you like, and enjoy it as a snack, dessert, or morning pick-me-up before work. Did we mention? This salad is great for keeping your blood sugar in check also.
- Cherries containing anthocyanins that inhibit pain enzymes
- Cranberries that fortify your stomach lining against H. pylori infections
- Blueberries, oranges, and strawberries loaded with anti-inflammatory goodness
Make a Chilled Beverage
Nothing refreshes you more than a tall glass of a chilled beverage on a hot day. Looking for options to relieve the pain? Try these:
- Virgin Mojito with mint leaves that relieve digestive disturbances and the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS); just remember to eat the leaves.
- Chilled cherry or cranberry juice without added sugar
- Cold coffee or Iced tea when you want a break from the steaming cuppa
- Red wine
Make a Vegetable Salad
Follow the standard rule, the more colorful, the better. Pile your bowl high with lettuce, cabbage, kale, herbs, capsicum, peppers, cucumbers, arugula, spinach, and whatever other greens you like. Choose olive olive dressing and toss in edamame and pumpkin seeds, all of which lower inflammation and relieve pain. If you prefer to add a crunch, go with roasted edamame with sea salt. Sprinkling chopped mint leaves and grated fresh ginger adds a bit of a bite.
Make Your Food Spicy
Spices not only have that special zing to any dish, but Ayurveda talks about their many properties for health and wellness. The next time you put together a shopping list, add raw ginger, raw turmeric, red chili peppers, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. The curcumin content is not just good for lowering swelling in the joints and relieving arthritis and muscle soreness, but the taste deflects your mind from the pain. And, of course, makes food taste great.
Change Your Menu
Eating more seafood will also help you improve your lifestyle. Choose fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in mercury. The fatty acids promote blood flow, thus calming inflammation in the joints. Salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, and other varieties of cold-water fish are great options. Avoid catfish and tilapia, though.
Before we sign off, here’s one more superfood that does wonders for your health and relieves pain, that’s yogurt. Eat it in whatever form you like, by itself, combined with fruit as a parfait, or with some zest to liven up the taste. You can also make it into a smoothie with fruits.
The right foods not only nourish your body, but will also heal and repair the cells to take away pain and inflammation. However, healthy food need not taste bland and uninteresting. Use the tips above and make great food your best friend.
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