Can food or the use of certain supplements help in the management of pain or chronic pain?

Food can definitely play a role in the management of chronic pain. How much influence it will have can depend on what is causing your chronic pain! If your chronic pain is caused by inflammation than yes what you eat can play a huge role in helping to reduce inflammation and ultimately reduce your pain.

Researchers have demonstrated that managing inflammation is more about giving your body the nutrients that it needs to fight inflammation than it is about eliminating foods. A recent study that was done in England and in the US showed that even in identical twins, the foods that caused inflammation were different. Decades of research based on looking for the one or 2 foods that cause rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disorders have not supplied any conclusive evidence that a particular food or food group causes problems in the majority of people.

Based on the current evidence, the Mediterranean diet helps to reduce inflammation and the pain that accompanies it. The Mediterranean diet a mostly plant based diet that includes lots of vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices, nuts, seeds and olives, whole grains, fish, poultry, eggs, legumes and pulses and fermented cheese. It limits red meat, sweets and ultra processed foods.

The Mediterranean diet also supplies the brain with all the nutrients it needs to function well. This will contribute to feelings of well being, regardless of whether or not the level of inflammation in the body changes.

There are no studies that suggest that supplements could help to manage chronic pain. Since supplements like medications can be specific to a specific condition it is imperative to ask your health care team if a supplement could be of benefit to you. Before starting any supplement it is necessary to ask your pharmacist or your dietitian if the supplement could have a negative effect on your condition or if it could interact with your medications.

Kim Arrey, RDN
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Food Coach
Author: The Complete Arthritis Health Diet Guide and Cookbook (with Dr. Michael Starr)
kimarreynutrition.com
FB: @kimarreynutrition