Food As Medicine

Did you know that most fresh, whole foods have have the ability to heal? Did you know that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can actually improve pain, reduce inflammation as well as have a positive affect on weight? If you experience a variety of chronic painful conditions, then it's key for you to look at what you are consuming.

Processed and refined ingredients, mainly carbohydrates found in many packaged foods, can be inflammatory. Because they have been stripped of many nutrients and fiber, these foods cause a fast rise in blood sugar, provoking a rush in insulin and subsequent rapid decline in blood sugar. These initial high blood sugar levels promote inflammatory molecules called cytokines in your system.body. With time your body begins to store fat with each blood sugar surge. Guess what? Fat tissue actually generates the same inflammatory molecules, cytokines, in your body! This leads to cycles of inflammation, fat storage, then additional inflammation and finally produces pain.

However, the vitamins, minerals and large colorful molecules called bioflavenoids, found in many fruits and vegetables, act as powerful antioxidants to neutralize your body's inflammation. In addition, these foods have a low-glycemic affect on your blood sugar levels. Low glycemic impact foods keep your bloods sugar levels within a normal and narrow range on a continual basis. Maintaining a constantly normal blood sugar level keeps your body in the "fat-bu
ing" zone, thus lowering your body fat content and reducing the amount of cytokines or inflammatory molecules created.

Fats play another key role in producing and neutralizing inflammation and thus pain in your system. Trans-fats are the worst of all. You may be wondering exactly what is a trans-fat? They are chemically manipulated fats that have bee
"transformed" by a procedure that keeps the fat stable on the shelf in processed foods, preventing the fat from becoming rancid. This transformed fat is used by the body but when stored in the body becomes extremely inflammatory. This inflammation leads to blocked arteries, degenerated joint spaces and painful digestive problems. Keep away from these fats at all costs. They are most often found in fast foods, packaged foods and processed foods.

Saturated fats are animal fats and are found in fatty meats, full fat dairy, cheese and butter. They are also inflammatory to your body. When eaten in large quantities, they are incorporated into the cells of your body and lead to widespread inflammation as well. However, if eaten in small amounts on an occasional basis, they lend flavor and texture to food without causing significant health harm.

The best fats for fighting pain and creating health are called polyunsaturated and monounsaturated oils. These are fats and oils found naturally in plants, such as canola oil, olive oil and nut oils. In addition, the fat called omega 3 essential fatty acid, found in cold-water, fatty fish, is extremely beneficial for fighting pain. These fats are easily absorbed by your body and used to build supple, smooth cell membranes less likely to creating inflammation. Additionally,In addition, they are incorporated into your body's system of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are molecules in your body that actually neutralize inflammation. Choosing the healthiest fats to eat can cut down on your body's production of inflammation and neutralize the inflammation already present. Fighting inflammation is the key to decreasing and eliminating pain.

A balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, low-fat or no-fat dairy and whole grains is the crucial component of an anti-inflammatory diet, leading to a pain free lifestyle. Neutralizing inflammation with a wholesome diet and reducing the production of inflammation by maintaining a normal body weight will dramatically decrease symptoms of many common painful conditions.

So remember, the old adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", is a tip-off to nature's ultimate prescription for pain relief! nnn