People typically decide to go on a diet to lose weight and fix bad eating habits. There are so many great diets filled with colorful and delicious foods out there with a slue of benefits. Dr. Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet is notoriously imitated for its countless health benefits.
Losing weight, though may indefinitely come with the plan, isn’t the only thing that can be altered and helped while dieting. Spinal pain can actually be reduced by eating food with the proper nutrition. Southwest Spine and Pain Center encourages all patients to choose nutritionally rich foods when they eat as another effort to help with their treatment.
Spinal stenosis is a spinal condition, which occurs when the spinal canal becomes narrowed. The nerves between the canals become constricted resulting in immense pain. Herniated discs, bulging discs, bone spurs, osteoarthritis, spondylolisthesis, and facet disease are common conditions that may cause stenosis and spinal nerve constriction.
Dieting changes can be beneficial to reduce inflammation. Under the supervision of a physician, a patient should seek a diet that reduces unnecessary inflammation in the body.
Foods that are rich in omega-6 fatty acids tend to make inflammation worse. On the contrary, foods high in omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation, and in turn reduce pain caused by spinal stenosis.
Omega-6: found in dairy products such as cheese, whole milk, and egg yolks. Also found in packaged foods with preservatives.
Omega-3: found in canola oil, flax seeds, nuts, and fish (salmon, tuna, halibut).
Omega-9: found in nuts, sesame oil, and avocados.
At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, our physicians like to use a conservative approach to care before considering aggressive therapies such as surgery. Spinal stenosis and similar spinal conditions can get better with conservative treatments such as physical therapy and simple lifestyle changes. If the stenosis escalates and encourages more pain, a physician may suggest surgery after thorough examination.
People with or without a spinal condition who wish to improve their diets and reduce pain should definitely consider an anti-inflammatory diet. Dr. Weil provides greatly useful and beneficial information about this diet at his website: http://www.drweil.com/.
For more information about dieting and reducing your pain, contact a medical team member at Southwest Spine and Pain Center, today!
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With four locations and same day appointments, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
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