Anti-Inflammatory Foods Could be What’s Missing from a Well-Rounded Treatment Plan

Although they are known for solving problems related to the alignment and physiology of the spine, chiropractors do much more than simply provide adjustments. Each individual patient should receive a personalized treatment plan that covers aspects apart from what occurs in the chiropractic office, including at-home pain relief, stretches, physical therapy, and lifestyle adjustments.

Without all these aspects, a treatment plan may not prove to be successful. At Ideal Spine, we urge chiropractic professionals to understand the importance of incorporating numerous treatment opportunities into their patients’ plans for the best results.

One aspect often overlooked in treatment plans is diet. The food the patient eats could cause inflammatory responses that cause or worsen pain in the neck, back, pelvis, and more. Adding anti-inflammatory foods to a treatment plan could improve sensations of pain, mobility, and comfort during chiropractic treatment.

The role of chronic inflammation in pain

Inflammation is a normal body response that helps mitigate infection and heal damaged tissues. Unfortunately, too much inflammation can change from helpful to harmful. Chronic inflammation has been linked to a variety of health problems in the long term, but it can also cause short-term issues like reduced mobility and pain.

Chiropractic may help alleviate some inflammation and improve the symptoms that occur alongside inflammation. However, this is often not enough, as chronic inflammation can be worsened by many lifestyle factors, including stress, sleep, and diet.

Changing one’s diet from being filled with proinflammatory foods to being filled with anti-inflammatory foods may help mitigate chronic inflammation throughout the body over time. Paired with the more immediate relief potentially provided by chiropractic, nutritional changes may help relieve pain and reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medications.

Top anti-inflammatory foods

Some foods are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Increasing these types of foods in your diet, while simultaneously cutting out foods that increase inflammatory responses like sugar, may help reduce inflammation and, by extension, pain.

• Fatty fish: Fatty fish are some of the best anti-inflammatory foods because they contain a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids. These acids help combat other acids in the body that promote inflammation. Salmon, sardines, and herring are a few examples of anti-inflammatory-rich fish.
• Green tea: Green tea contains an antioxidant compound (also called a catechin) called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG is known to bolster the immune system as well as help reduce inflammation.
• Dark, leafy greens: Dark, leafy vegetables like collards, kale, and spinach contain anti-inflammatory flavonoids and antioxidants, both of which help combat inflammatory responses.
• Turmeric: The popular spice, turmeric, has been shown to contain a variety of healing substances, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, is believed to be the main source of the spice’s health benefits.
• Nuts: Most nuts, as well as seeds, contain omega-3 fatty acids and other anti-inflammatory compounds. Eating a handful of nuts and seeds as a snack each day may reduce inflammation and also have other health benefits.

In addition to adding anti-inflammatory foods to the diet, people suffering from chronic inflammation should also reduce consumption of proinflammatory foods such as red meat, margarine, and refined carbohydrates.

At Ideal Spine, we teach chiropractic professionals how to treat patients holistically, using a combination of Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) techniques and at-home treatments for well-rounded care. Contact us today to learn more about our methods.

Chiropractic BioPhysics® corrective care trained Chiropractors are located throughout the United States and in several international locations. CBP providers have helped thousands of people throughout the world realign their spine back to health, and eliminate a source of chronic back pain, chronic neck pain, chronic headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, and a wide range of other health conditions. If you are serious about your health and the health of your loved ones, contact a CBP trained provider today to see if you qualify for care. The exam and consultation are often FREE. See www.CBPpatient.com for providers in your area.