“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?

How Can Food Help Relieve Chronic Pain?

Food can help relieve chronic pain by providing anti-inflammatory nutrients. Chronic pain, often caused by inflammation from conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and diabetes, can be debilitating. While pain medications may be necessary, incorporating the right foods into your diet offers a natural method to ease pain. Many foods contain anti-inflammatory nutrients that will help relieve your inflammation and pain, making them beneficial additions to your diet regardless.

What Foods Fight Chronic 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.