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The Connection Between the Foods You Eat and Inflammation and Pain

Pain is a part of life for those suffering from arthritis. Pain comes when joints become inflamed. Asthma suffers feel pain when lung tissue becomes inflamed. Inflammation occurs when cell tissue in the body becomes irritated, injured or infected. You know you have inflammation when you see a red coloration of the skin in the affected area, or you feel pain or have a loss of function or ability to move.

Doctors and other healthcare professionals will prescribe medications to relieve the swelling, alleviate any infections and reduce the pain. The types of medications most often prescribed are Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). They are popular drug choices for controlling inflammation, but they can lead to stomach irritation and in rare cases to kidney problems. Did you know that some foods you eat could actually aggravate inflammation?

Foods that could actually increase inflammation in tissue are called pro-inflammatory foods and they not only increase the occurrence of inflammation but you will also feel pain from the inflamed area. So, the foods you eat can cause you discomfort. Junk foods contain unhealthy fats, especially trans fats and saturated fats. Processed foods such as lunchmeats, hot dogs and sausages contain nitrates that have been associated with chronic diseases and inflammation. You can also find these saturated fats in other foods like: meats, dairy products and eggs. Besides the saturated fats these foods also contain something called "arachidonic acid" which you need for good health, but too much of this acid can make any inflamed condition worse. When you suffer from any type of inflammation the better food choices would include: low fat milk and cheeses, and also lean cuts of meat.

When you eat foods that are high in sugar, these can also add to your discomfort from inflamed tissues.

Some foods can actually make pain worse, foods like: potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. You may be curious as to how this can happen; here is a little tidbit for you. Potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant contain a chemical called "alkaloid" which is also called s"olanine". This chemical can trigger pain in some people. There is on real research done on this chemical and how it relates to pain, but avoiding these foods to see if you feel a decrease in your pain level from inflammation, can't hurt and could even help you.

Red meats can increase inflammation so replace red meat diet choices with other sources of protein like: fish, seafood, poultry, nuts, legumes and seeds. When you do make a decision to eat red meat, make your choice one that is a lean cut like: lean bison, lean venison or find the lowest-fat cuts of beef like the kind from grass-fed beef. Make soy protein choices also, like: soybeans, tofu and soymilk. All of these healthier choices will cut down on both the pain and the inflammation.

Berry lovers will rejoice to find out that they too are great food choices when it comes to anti-inflammatory phytochemicals and anti-oxidants - both anti-inflammatory fighting agents in the battle to win over inflammation.