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Whether you sit for hours at a stretch at your desk job, or you had an
intense workout, or you pulled a muscle, most people have experienced
back pain, and it is no joke. Back pain can drastically affect your
daily routine by causing pain and discomfort, and while pills and
tablets can offer temporary relief, what you need is a long term
solution. This is where diet comes in. Your diet can either be your best
friend, or your worst enemy. Let us see how your eating habits can
influence the niggling pain that affects the back.
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A known cause for back pain is inflammation, and many foods are known to
either increase or decrease inflammation. It is important to include
more anti-inflammatory foods in your diet to manage back pain. Fruits,
vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and fish, all contain anti-inflammatory
properties, and must be consumed regularly to fight back pain. On the
other hand, pro-inflammatory foods like fried foods, sodas, processed
meat, and refined carbs must be eliminated or minimized from your diet.
Having a diet rich in calcium is another way to ward of back pain.
Strong vertebrae is essential to maintain proper back health. They must
be supplied with a constant supply of calcium so that they can they can
support the back and help in reducing pain. Losing bone strength or bone
mass can also cause conditions like osteoporosis or osteopenia, which
would make back pain seem like a minor scratch. So be sure you stock
your kitchen with calcium concentrated foods like cheese, milk, yogurt,
and seeds like sesame and chia.
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Certain eating habits like skipping meals, eating large portions, or
following a restrictive diet, can cause stress to the body. While it may
not seem to do any harm at the present, it builds up into muscular
tension which can trigger pain not just in your back, but in other parts
of your body as well. It is best if you eat small portions and varied
foods at every meal. Do not incorporate any major dietary changes at
once, as you wouldn’t want to trigger your muscular system.
Apart from eating habits, there are certain foods that can cause stress
to the body by increasing the level of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Excessive caffeine, alcohol, and sugar, are all capable of increasing
cortisol levels, and an excess of cortisol can cause connective tissues
to get inflamed, causing pain. Consumption of such foods are a grave
concern when dealing with back pain, and must be avoided to normalize
cortisol levels.
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Diet heavily influences back pain. It is important to adhere to these
eating habits if your back is in pain or if you want to avoid reaching
that stage. Food can make or break your body, so it's best to take
advantage of the good things food offers, rather than compromising on
your diet and having to deal with the ill effects.
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