Although the drug can be used to
treat and control chronic pain and inflammation, the diet also helps in
treatment.
The usual pain is a symptom of
inflammation. This is the body's response to happening trauma. Dr. David Maine,
Director of Mercy Medical Center, the US, says that inflammation is a normal
process. The response to acute inflammation (inflammation in a short time due
to accidents or injuries such as dislocated ankle) can cause pain, but it's
useful reflection of the body. If there is no alarm for us to heal wounds and
prevent infection, then we will be in trouble. However, chronic pain (eg,
rheumatoid arthritis) can break all signs in the development process of the
body and health.
Choosing
natural, colorful foods can help you avoid painful inflammation
Some foods have been proved to help reduce
some diseases. Let's pay attention to the following foods with pain relief:
1. Salmon
Thanks to the anti-inflammatory ability,
omega-3 fatty acids in salmon are good for heart. Not only that, they can beat
inflammation in other parts of the body to reduce pain. A research in the U.S.
shows that fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, helping reduce soft joints in
patients with rheumatoid arthritis and limit the production of pro-inflammatory
(the cause of inflammation in the body).
The omega-3 fatty acids in fish such as
salmon, sardines... can reduce pain by controlling the enzymes that cause
inflammation. They are called essential fatty acids because they are essential
to human health and our bodies cannot produce them by our own. Fatty acids
should be supplemented through food. After receiving omega-3 from plant sources
such as flax seed and walnuts, the body must convert them into fatty acids, so
the absorption decreases. However, the omega-3 fatty acids from fatty cold
water fish are easier to absorb because they do not need to go through the
conversion process. American Heart Association recommends eating two servings
of fish per week for a healthy heart.
2. Ginger
This is a popular remedy to treat many
kinds of sickness such as colds or indigestion. A research of Georgia
University (USA) shows that this spice also helps reduce about 25% of muscle
pain after you do exercise.
Ginger
is a popular remedy to treat many kinds of sickness such as colds or
indigestion.
Gingerol - a plant nutrient in ginger is
considered as an analgesic substance. Another study confirms that ginger is
effective anti-inflammatory drugs without steroid such as aspirin or ibuprofen,
which is for the treatment of pain status after exercise. Ginger has the
ability to relieve pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
We can use ginger in many different ways:
cook them with stir-fries or chop them and eat with green vegetables, making
ginger juice by slicing ginger and soak it in boiling water for about 10
minutes, continue to add a little honey for sweetness, then you have a
delicious glass of drinking that is good for health.
3. Cherry
Cherry or any kind of green, purple or red
fruits as strawberries, mulberries, blueberries, grapes... are able to help
relieve pain due to the presence of plant nutrient called anthocyanin, which
has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ability.
A research of the Agricultural Research
Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that cherries help to
prevent inflammation related to arthritis, heart disease and cancer.
Anthocyanin helps relieve pain by
neutralizing the free radicals that cause inflammation - it also controls the
enzymes that cause inflammation cells. Free radicals are unstable molecules
that cause damage to cells in the body. Anthocyanin neutralizes these
molecules, so they cannot harm your health. Some free radicals are formed in
the body through metabolic process. Other reasons make radicals appear
including cigarette smoking, sunlight and air pollution.
4. Olive oil
Olive oil is also an anti-inflammatory food
which helps reduce inflammation, relieve pain and inflammation in long time.
According to some researches, compound in pure olive oil named oleocanthal is
able to beat the pain as anti-inflammatory drugs without steriod.
Using
olive oil for pain release is considered healthy because it does not cause side
effects such as increasing the risk of kidney disease...
Dr. Steven Cohen, a professor assistant at
Johns Hopkins Medical University (the US) said: "At present, there are a
lot of pain release medicines from nature. For example, from the cough
treatment ability of willow, aspirin was modulated. However, most people using
aspirin do not know this".
Using olive oil for pain release is
considered healthy because it does not cause side effects such as increasing
risk of kidney disease... However, we need to choose good-quality oil and use
it for fresh dishes to get the best nutrition.
5. Green Tea
The EGCG in green tea has been proved to
have the ability to control the production of substances that cause damage to
the cartilage and bone. Therefore, green tea is included in the list of foods
that can reduce joint pain.
According to the result of a study in mice
of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, green tea significantly reduces
therheumatoid arthritis level of patient, an autoimmune disease caused by
immune response and inflammation substances in the body. Research results have
demonstrated the antioxidant EGCG can prevent the risk of arthritis. Therefore,
nutritionists recommend drinking one to three cups of green tea per day to
reduce pain and prevent arthritis.
However, the amount of caffeine in a cup of
green tea is about 1/3 of a cup of coffee with equivalent capacity. So, those
who are sensitive to caffeine should not use caffeine excessively to protect
health.
