We often view back pain as a problem that only develops or is worsened by a physical issue. If your back hurts, it must be because you tweaked it at work or tore a muscle playing sports. While these are common causes of back pain, they are hardly the only things that fuel prolonged spinal discomfort. One such factor that plays a significant role in our expression of back pain is our diet. In today’s blog, we explain how your diet can lead to worsening back pain, and how to use your diet to aid in your back pain relief.
Inflammatory Diet And Back Pain
Here’s a look at some food groups that are tied to inflammation development in your spine. Too much of these things can make chronic back pain worse or harder to treat.
- Sugar – Excess sugar is problematic for our health for a number of reasons, and you can add spinal inflammation to that list. Overindulgence can trigger an inflammatory response by your body, making it more likely that key structures become compressed. If you’re craving something sweet, opt for a small portion of something with natural sugars like fruit over a processed candy bar.
- Dairy – Dairy can also lead to an uptick in spinal inflammation. Many dairy options are high in a certain protein called casein. Adults don’t typically process casein well, which can trigger an inflammatory response in even the most iron of stomachs. This response can be felt in a number of areas in the body, including the spine. If you’re dealing with prolonged spinal pain and inflammation, try cutting back on dairy or eliminating it from your diet altogether to see if it helps.
- Refined Carbs – Similar to casein, processed grains are hard for the body to digest, and even whole grains can trigger an inflammatory response from the body. However, the biggest culprit is refined carbohydrates, like what you might find in crackers, cereal and pasta. These foods can elevate your blood sugar and lead to prolonged inflammation. Refined carbs also tend to be foods that are high in sugar and casein, so they can be especially bad for your spine health.
- Trans Fats and Oils – You’re probably aware that trans fats aren’t great for your health, but one of the reasons why is because of their ability to kickstart an inflammatory reaction inside your body. Even things like vegetable oils, which are pitched as a healthy type of oil, are highly processed and not something that our bodies handle well. Olive, avocado and sesame oil are all better options for your body than canola or corn oil.
- Red Meat – Red meat can be a great source of protein for the body, but it could be making your spine pain worse if you’re suffering from chronic back pain. Red meat contains an acid called neu5gc that the body cannot properly synthesize. If your body can’t figure out how to process it, an inflammatory response can follow.
So if you’ve been dealing with prolonged back pain, consider syncing up with a spine specialist to learn more about the role your diet plays in eliminating back pain. For more information, or for help with any back pain issue you’re dealing with, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and his team today.
