Have you ever stopped to think about how the foods you put into your body could actually be contributing to your back pain? Most people know that eating unhealthy foods can lead to weight gain and a number of other issues. However, the food that you eat could actually play an important role in back pain, as inflammation is a major cause of this type of pain. Certain foods have the ability to decrease inflammation, while other foods will increase it. Those who suffer from back pain may want to carefully consider what they eat to help them reduce instances of back pain. Let’s look at some of the things you can do when it comes to getting healthier and alleviating back pain.
What Should You Eat?
According to the American Nutrition Association, foods that are anti-inflammatory in nature tend to have their own natural pigmentation. This includes things such as carrots, beets, berries, grapes, cherries, and watermelon. Some herbs and spices are anti-inflammatory as well. Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and kale, are good for the body. These include basil, cinnamon, ginger, oregano, and garlic. Green tea is another fantastic anti-inflammatory option. Lean proteins such as turkey and chicken are good options as well. Using whole foods, in as natural a preparation as possible, is your best bet and the variety you can choose from is quite wide.
When you look at these foods, it’s obvious that they are healthy, and that they should be a part of your normal diet. Eating healthy foods that have anti-inflammatory properties is about more than just reducing your back pain though. It is also about getting healthier overall.
Something else that you will want to add to your diet to ensure proper back health for a number of years to come would be to make sure you are getting enough calcium. This is especially true as people age. If they are not getting enough calcium, that means they start to lose bone mass. This can lead to issues such as osteoporosis as well as brittle bones.
Foods to Avoid
If the above foods are good for you and could help your back pain, what types of food should you avoid? As you might imagine, the junk food tends to be the worst. Take-out, processed food, fast food, and saturated fats. Try to avoid white bread, rice, pasta, and sugary foods. It’s important to avoid alcohol and caffeine as well.
Once again, it’s easy to see that these are the “bad “foods that take up so much space on the shelves of the grocery store. You need to stay away from these foods for better back health and for better overall health.
Is This All You Need?
Is good nutrition all you need when it comes to better back health? No, you still need to do other things to make sure your back stays in good shape. Make sure that you pay attention to your posture and try to keep your spine straight. Take some time each day to stretch as well. Of course, adding some exercise into the daily routine is another great way to keep your back healthy and strong.