Pain Relief through Diet Changes

Today I am in very good spirit. Why? Because today I'm on a river boat cruising the beautiful Rhine river.

Although I've been just a touch homesick, I've had a wonderful time wandering through Strasbourg, France and Heidelberg, Germany. Tomorrow I'll be in Cologne. Needless to say, but the scenery has been beautiful. The food & wine? Fantastic! (Don't worry. I haven't gained too much weight. I think... ;-)

There is one thing I've discovered, though; sweet wines (like German Riesling) almost instantaneously give me a headache. And before you start judging me: No, I haven't been drinking more than a glass of it. LOL!

However, since pain management is my business, I began to wonder: Could food be affecting your pain, too? It's possible.

People with migraines often find that specific foods -- like red wine and cheeses -- trigger attacks. There's even some studies that suggest consuming fatty meats or milk may worsen the pain of inflammatory arthritis. It's something to seriously think about if you suffer from any type of chronic pain.

Pain is elusive -- it can mysteriously appear from one day to the next and you might never have thought it to be a result of something you consumed. Instead, you may have written it off to just getting older.

If you suspect your diet may be triggering your own flare ups of pain I suggest keeping a food diary for a few weeks to see whether any foods seem to increase your pain. If you think certain foods might be triggers, cut them out and see if your symptoms get better.

After a few weeks, you'll have a valuable record to share with your doctor, or with me at your next massage visit. Which, by the way, I'll start taking appointments on Monday, August 4th - and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

“Listen to your Body”

John Aaron
massage therapist | health coach

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