A large percentage of the world’s population suffers from chronic pain, due to several reasons, ranging from overdoing it at the gym, to various serious health conditions. Healthy pain fighting foods not only provide our bodies with energy, they can also help to prevent pain and inflammation.
Pain can be our body’s way of letting us know, that something is wrong. Even though analgesics, like paracetamol and morphine are effective for pain relief, addiction and other side effects can manifest. Include these some of the best pain fighting foods in your diets to help to reduce pain.
1. Onions as Pain Fighting Food
This is a commonly used vegetable that contains flavonoids, like anthocyanin, quercetin and other sulfur containing compounds, which have anti-inflammatory effects. Quercetin decreases production of certain substances, like leukotriene and histamine which are associated with inflammation. They also inhibit enzymes that mediate inflammation in the body. Sulfur has been known to be useful in management of arthritis.
1. Quercetin and Anti-inflammatory Properties:
Onions contain quercetin, a flavonoid known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Quercetin helps reduce inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory substances in the body. By decreasing inflammation, quercetin can alleviate pain associated with conditions such as arthritis or muscle soreness.
2. Sulfur Compounds and Analgesic Effects:
Onions are rich in sulfur compounds like thiosulfinates and cepaenes, which possess analgesic properties. These compounds have been found to have pain-relieving effects, possibly by interacting with pain receptors in the body or by reducing the transmission of pain signals.
3. Topical Application for Pain Relief:
Some people use onions topically to relieve pain. Applying crushed onion or onion juice directly to the affected area may help reduce pain and inflammation. Onion poultices, made by wrapping crushed onions in cloth and applying them to the skin, are also used in traditional medicine for pain relief, particularly for conditions like arthritis and joint pain.
2. Ginger as Pain Relieving Food
Ginger contains compounds known as gingerols, which can help relieve joint pain, prevent cell damage by free radicals and generally helps to boost your immune system. It can also prevent vomiting and nausea, which can help relieve symptoms of morning sickness or motion sickness.
1. Anti-inflammatory Effects:
Ginger contains bioactive compounds such as gingerol, shogaol, and paradol, which have potent anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds work by inhibiting inflammatory pathways in the body, thus reducing inflammation and swelling associated with conditions like arthritis, muscle soreness, and other inflammatory disorders.
2. Pain Modulation:
The bioactive compounds in ginger may also interact with pain receptors in the body, effectively modulating pain perception. By influencing the transmission of pain signals, ginger can help alleviate discomfort from conditions such as headaches, menstrual cramps, and neuropathic pain.
3. Prostaglandin Inhibition:
Similar to onions, ginger contains compounds that inhibit the production of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances involved in inflammation and pain sensation. By reducing prostaglandin levels, ginger can help mitigate pain and inflammation, particularly in conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Oranges to Fight Pain
Vitamin C contains an antioxidant known as beta-cryptoxanthin which is an antioxidant. This compound also helps to reduce chances of development of certain auto-inflammatory conditions, like Behcet’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. These debilitating conditions are caused by over-activity of the immune system, your immune system begins to fight against your own body tissues.
1. Vitamin C and Antioxidants:
Oranges are a rich source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. Chronic inflammation and oxidative damage are common contributors to pain and discomfort in conditions such as arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. By consuming oranges, individuals may help mitigate these factors and experience relief from associated pain.
2. Citrus Flavonoids:
Oranges contain various flavonoids, including hesperidin and narirutin, which possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. These compounds have been shown to inhibit inflammatory pathways and reduce pain sensitivity, potentially providing relief from conditions such as muscle soreness, joint pain, and headaches.
3. Immune Support:
The immune system plays a crucial role in managing pain and inflammation. Oranges are known for their immune-boosting properties due to their high vitamin C content. By supporting immune function, oranges may indirectly contribute to pain relief by helping the body better combat infections, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.
4. Pineapple as Pain Fighting Food
Pineapples contain an enzyme known as bromelain, which aids the digestion of proteins. This enzyme makes the body produce substances that can combat pain and inflammation, making it an important part of pain fighting foods. It is used to reduce swelling, treat ulcers and manage muscle soreness, that might occur when you engage in intense physical activity.
1. Anti-inflammatory Effects:
Bromelain exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting various inflammatory molecules and pathways in the body. By reducing inflammation, bromelain can help alleviate pain associated with conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis, and sports injuries. This makes pineapple a valuable natural remedy for managing inflammatory pain.
2. Reduction of Swelling:
In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, bromelain has been found to reduce swelling by breaking down proteins that contribute to edema (fluid accumulation) at the site of injury or inflammation. By reducing swelling, bromelain can help relieve pain and promote faster healing, particularly in cases of acute injuries or post-operative recovery.
3. Analgesic Effects:
While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, bromelain may also exhibit direct analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. Some research suggests that bromelain may inhibit pain signals in the body or modulate pain perception, providing additional pain relief beyond its anti-inflammatory actions.
5. Turmeric to Reduce Pain
This yellow spice is mostly used by Asians. It contains a compound known as curcumin, which can help to reduce joint pain, stiffness and inflammation, which is associated with arthritis. Here are some of the reasons you can use turmeric as pain fighting food.
1. Curcumin’s Anti-inflammatory Properties:
The active compound in turmeric, curcumin, is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. It works by inhibiting the activity of inflammatory enzymes and molecules in the body, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB). By reducing inflammation, curcumin can help alleviate pain associated with inflammatory conditions like arthritis, tendonitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
2. Pain Modulation:
Curcumin has been found to modulate pain perception by interacting with various pain pathways in the body. It may inhibit pain signals from reaching the brain, effectively reducing the sensation of pain. This mechanism of action makes turmeric beneficial for managing various types of pain, including neuropathic pain, joint pain, and muscular discomfort.
3. Protection of Joint Health:
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties can help preserve joint health and mobility by reducing inflammation and preventing the degradation of cartilage. This makes turmeric particularly beneficial for individuals with arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis, as it can help alleviate pain and stiffness associated with these conditions.
Try these pain fighting foods as part of pain management. However, please consult your physician for advise.
