Nutritional strategies for back pain

Maintaining a healthy weight is one way to avoid back pain.  Another way to prevent an aching back is to watch what we eat.

When it comes to prevention, weight is certainly one of the most important factors and excess weight can put a lot of strain on the lower back.

So we want to use foods that promote ideal body weight, which include lean protein sources, staying away from the white, refined foods or sugary foods, and incorporating those foods that are nutritious, high in vitamin and mineral content, such as fruits, vegetables, salad, etc.

Once you are suffering from acute back pain, doctors find that there are some nutritional steps that can be taken to make things better.

By increasing lean protein intake, you will not only help with the weight control, but you will also help with rebuilding, especially if you are involved in a rehabilitation program to improve muscle strength.

Foods to watch out for are eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers.  These foods can actually increase some of the chemicals responsible for inflammation and getting these out of the diet can help 30-40 percent of patients substantially decrease their levels of inflammation and pain.

Foods that can help ease nerve pain are broccoli, spinach and kale.  These dark green leafy vegetables contain a high vitamin B content and a lot of the nerve problems show a deficiency in B vitamins.  B vitamins are required to transfer a proper message along the nerve segment.  Therefore, these foods can help ease nerve pain and can also help increase the production of serotonin-our "happy" hormone- so that in itself can ease the ill side effects of the back pain.

Pineapple is a fantastic food because it contains natural enzymes that help break down the fibrin capsule that forms around an acute injury area.  By breaking down that barrier, it allows nutrients into the area.  Papayas and kiwi are also fantastic.

Carrots are high in vitamin E and C.  These antioxidants help protect healthy tissue around the area of inflammation. 

Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory that decreases inflammation in four different ways.  You can slice it into hot water with lemon and make tea.  Or you can make a glaze and put it over salmon which is a great source of protein that also decreases inflammation.