Colorful list of foods to eat more of and eat less of for aches and pain, from The Move Easy Method in Oak Park, IL
Not sure what to eat when your body aches? You don't need a perfect diet. Start with one swap.
PubMed is a free medical library, run by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, that collects published health research. A review of 43 studies in PubMed found that whole-food eating may help chronic pain. No single eating style won: not the Mediterranean diet, not the Paleo diet, not vegetarian or vegan. The quality of the food seems to matter more than the label.
Two more findings: sugary drinks may raise inflammation, while fruit may not, and processed red meat may be the one to watch.
Eat more: vegetables, fruit and berries, beans, lentils and nuts, fish, and olive oil.
Eat less: soda and sweet drinks, candy and pastries, bacon, sausage, hot dogs and deli meat, and packaged snacks like chips and boxed cookies.
Food is one piece of the puzzle. Sleep, gentle movement and stress management matter too. If you have a health condition or take medication, check with your doctor before you change how you eat.
See the full list with the research, the printable picture and the free quiz here:
Take it slow and move easy.
Dr. Dan, Oak Park, IL
