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Want to ease chronic aches without turning to pain medications? Certain foods help the body by fighting inflammation, preventing damage and fortifying joints. Try fitting these four into your diet regularly for the best results.
Grapes: Red grapes pack a mighty punch of resveratrol, a substance that combats pain by keeping tissue healthy. Resveratrol has been shown to block the progress of enzymes that break up tissue and prevent damage that may lead to back pain. Add a handful of red grapes to your lunch or salad or drink one glass of red wine a day to help keep you pain-free longer.
Ginger: Add a dash of ginger to your favorite soup or stir-fry. This natural painkiller works by blocking enzymes that cause inflammation and has been shown to reduce the amount of medication patients need to feel relief. Ginger may also help ease post-workout aches. Try working two or three teaspoons into your daily diet for a flavorful boost that helps you feel better.
Fish: Localized soreness, redness and sensitivity, common symptoms of inflammation, are behind many chronically painful conditions. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish act as a natural anti-inflammatory. Adding fish or fish oil supplements to your diet may help neutralize pain from rheumatoid arthritis, chronic back discomfort and even migraines. Try eating salmon, sardines, tuna and other fatty fish three times a week or talk with your doctor to find out if an omega-3 fatty acid supplement is right for you.
Coffee: Not only does drinking a moderate amount of coffee (a cup or two a day max) make it easier to work out longer and recover faster afterward, but the caffeine in your latte can boost the effects of painkillers such as acetaminophen.
Talk with your doctor about your current medications to find out which pain-reducing supplements are right for you.
