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Ready to Learn About the Benefits of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet?

Sep20th 2023

Who says staying healthy has to be a chore? You’ll be overjoyed to learn that changing your diet can help you manage chronic pain and inflammation (or possibly even avoid those symptoms entirely). And the best part is, you can gain all these benefits while still having a diet that tastes good!

As part of a holistic physical therapy program, our in-home physical therapists typically recommend dietary changes in addition to exercises and other natural techniques. Are you ready to say goodbye to being controlled by chronic pain? ContactFirst State Rehab At Home in  Wilmington, to start your journey towards better health.

5 ways to improve your diet, starting today

1. Choose foods that promote good gut health

In your gut, there is a constant battle between “bad” bacteria (which promote inflammation, chronic pain, and digestive discomfort) and “good” bacteria (which support digestive health by crowding out the “bad” bacteria).

You can give the good guys an advantage by eating plenty of probiotic foods. Low-fat yogurt and fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, and pickles are a few options.

2. Consume plenty of fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables come in a rainbow of colors, ranging from deep purple and brilliant green to neon orange and brilliant yellow. These colors, however, aren’t just for show; they’re a telltale sign that you should eat more of these foods!

The vibrant colors are caused by antioxidants, which are nutrients with strong anti-inflammatory properties. Broccoli and cabbage are high in Vitamin K, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Make fruits and vegetables a part of your daily diet, and you’ll be feeling better in no time.

3. Select lean meats

It’s all too easy to turn to hamburgers, fried chicken, deli meats, and other quick protein sources – but once the pain and inflammation set in, they don’t seem so appealing.

A simple solution is to switch to healthy proteins that have all of the nutritional value but none of the inflammatory properties. Fish (particularly fatty fish such as tuna or salmon, which are high in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids), tofu dishes, and legumes should all be on your menu.

4. Be spice-savvy

Even though these foods are delicious, you might also want to spice them up a little. Fortunately, nature has created a plethora of herbs and spices that can help with pain and inflammation relief.

If you enjoy Indian cuisine, you’ll appreciate the fact that turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory. Garlic contains a lot of diallyl disulfide, which is another natural anti-inflammatory. Cayenne pepper contains a lot of capsaicin, which is a natural pain reliever. Don’t overlook oregano, which is high in antioxidants.

5. Don’t give up sweets; simply alter the type of sugar you consume

Even without sugar, you can have a pretty sweet diet.

Refined sugar is notorious for promoting the development of painful inflammatory disorders and symptoms. In fact, just one sugary soda per day has been shown to increase the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in women by 68%!

For a refreshing change that won’t set off your pain sensors, serve fresh or frozen fruit at the end of a meal. If you must use a packaged sweetener, stevia, a natural sweetener, is probably the next healthiest option.

Try physical therapy along with a healthier diet

While changing your diet is a good place to start, it may not be enough to relieve chronic inflammation and pain. Physical therapy may be able to alleviate or even eliminate your discomfort.

Our in-home physical therapists may employ a variety of methods. Some of the methods available include manual therapies, dry needling, and even ultrasound procedures. Heat and ice therapy are two more basic approaches. Your physical therapist can also provide you with stretching and motion exercises that you can do at home.

Allow First State Rehab At Home to assist you in feeling your best!

As you begin to notice the pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory benefits of your new eating habits, you can benefit even more from in-home physical therapy and other pain management options.

Your physical therapist can assist you in developing an entire lifestyle plan that includes diet, exercise, healthy ergonomics, and other strategies for feeling great. Please contact our  Wilmington, office right away to start feeling better!

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