By According to the National Institutes of Health, over 25 million American adults suffer from chronic pain, having it daily as a part of their lives (1). Those who are in pain, like everyone else, need to eat each day in order to nourish themselves and stay alive. What many people may be overlooking, and what scientists are now studying, is what impact food has on pain. The more information that becomes available, the more we begin to see that what you eat may have a big impact on easing chronic pain.
In a study published in the August 2018 issue of the European Journal of Pain, researchers shared their findings from a study conducted on mice to see the effects that a Standard American Diet (SAD) has on chronic pain (2). They investigated the effects the SAD had and compared it to an anti-inflammatory diet. They found that a SAD prolongs recovery time from an inflammatory injury, and with it being associated with obesity it can lead to chronic pain. They concluded that diet has the potential to be used as treatment for pain.
This study outcome supports another study that published earlier this year. In March 2018, researchers shared their findings in Nutrición Hospitalaria regarding the impact of a lacto-vegetarian diet and stabilization core exercises have on those with chronic low back pain from fibromyalgia (3). There were 21 women who participated in the study that lasted for four weeks. They found that the 4-week intervention program, that included having them eat a lacto-vegetarian diet and do core stabilization exercises, led to a reduction in pain and helped improve their body composition.
There has been additional research conducted that also points to the fact that diet plays an important role in systemic inflammation, which can ultimately lead to chronic pain. Recent research has shown that unhealthy diet puts our gut microbiome out of balance, which leads to systemic inflammation. By eating a healthy diet, we can help to correct the imbalance in our gut microbiome, and help to avoid some chronic pain, and possibly get some relief from the pain we already have.
With the research that is emerging regarding the importance of diet in our overall health and its impact on chronic pain, it’s just one more reason to make sure you are getting plenty of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean protein sources and whole grains.
Sources:
National Institutes of Health. Estimates of Pain Prevalence and Severity in Adults. https://nccih.nih.gov/research/statistics/NHIS/2012/pain/severity
European Journal of Pain. Effects of a Standard American Diet and an Anti-inflammatory diet in female and male mice. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29436058
Nutrición Hospitalaria. Effects of lacto-vegetarian diet and stabilization core exercises on body composition and pain in women with fibromyalgia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29756974
