“Eating your pain away” this phrase typically conjures up images of people stuffing their faces with all sorts of food in order to push down whatever pain and suffering they are feeling. But, is it possible that we’ve got it all wrong?

Eat the pain away!

Chronic pain is a huge problem plaguing 100 million Americans and many more across the globe. It can become debilitating, consuming a person and leaving them unable to partake in their daily activities. This may account for the spike in prescriptions for pain medications in the last decade. Many people have come to depend on these medications to be able to function normally in their daily lives. And while pain meds may be necessary, we all know by now the dangers of addiction to pain medications and therefore should at least try other methods to help relieve the pain. Here is where food comes in, it is possible, if you eat the right foods, to actually eat your pain away, or at least help ease it. Chronic pain resulting from many of the most common diseases such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, diabetes, and more, is caused by none other than inflammation. Many foods contain anti-inflammatory nutrients that will help relieve your inflammation and pain. All of these foods are healthy and natural so it’s best to include them in your diet regardless.

Let’s take a look at the Foods that fight pain:

Blueberries – are rich in phytonutrients that decrease inflammation and lessen pain. And don’t worry about the season, fresh or frozen they work equally well. Salmon – is crammed full of omega-3 fatty acids which are the kings of the anti-inflammatory world. In fact, you are sure to find salmon on pretty much every list of “good-for-you foods”, it’s heart-healthy and may relieve joint pain and tenderness, if you have arthritis or just joint problems. Ginger – to start off with this spice has been a staple in traditional medicine for nausea and stomach soothing, but it has been found to contain compounds that fight pain and inflammation as well. Turmeric – yet another spice that is great for fighting inflammation. Black pepper helps the body absorb it, so you can go for a trifecta with a blend of black pepper, turmeric, ginger, and honey with green tea. Coffee – the main thing coffee is known for is providing us with a dose of caffeine which helps reduce inflammation and gives us energy to boost! This gives us an overall perception of lowered pain. Olive oil – seems to offer anti-inflammatory benefits, along with lubricin, found in extra virgin olive oil, which essentially lubricates the joints helping them to glide smoothly and prevents cartilage damage. Red Grapes / Red Wine – resveratrol, a compound found in grapes, is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body. But let’s be honest even if it doesn’t, isn’t the intoxication induced by the wine sufficient in dulling the pain? In general, a Mediterranean style diet (most of the above foods fall into that category) seems to be best for helping to relieve chronic pain due to inflammation. In fact, populations who eat this diet (persons living around the Mediterranean) seem to suffer less from inflammation and pain.