Nutrition

How can Nutrition improve my pain?
Many people do not realize how vitally important nutrition is in pain management.  Because the body is working so much harder to compensate for the stress that pain causes, it needs a good nutritional balance to produce energy and to strengthen tissues. 

Nutrition is also a great way to prevent chronic diseases, and some studies show that it may help in preventing, or reducing the effects of onset of arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, and some forms of MS.

What foods are best for patients suffering from muscle, joint and bone pain, damage, and repair?

MUSCLES

Eggs:
One egg provides more than 6 grams of protein and 78 calories.  Protein is an essential building block of muscle fiber, and is essential for repair.  They also contain A and B vitamins to enhance immunity, nerve response, and vision. It is recommended that a person should eat whole eggs only three times a week, because of high cholesterol content.

Milk:
Good for the obvious reason of building strong bones through calcium, milk also assists in muscle contraction through high magnesium and potassium, which can help in controling nerve function and prevent ionic muscle cramping.

Chicken Breast:
To obtain healthy, lean and strong muscle mass, it only makes sense to eat healthy, lean muscle mass. Grilled boneless, skinless chicken breast, one serving (about 3 oz.) is only 142 calories, and provides close to 27 g of protein, and only 3 grams of fat. It helps retain muscle mass and is a good source of B vitamins, which provide energy and aid in memory.

Fish:
Swordfish, tuna, salmon, and halibut are all rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and will help bodies recover faster from the wear and tear of strenuous exercise and trauma, and also are a great source of immune boosting protection.

JOINTS

Silicon is one of the most important minerals for joint health, as studies have shown that it is vital for maintaining the health and resilience of cartilage and connective tissues, such as tendons.  Silicon levels naturally decline in the body as we get older. This is evident in a person's skin, hair, and teeth, as well as in his or her joints. Cartilage, collagen, and elastin, which make up a large portion of connective tissue, are largely comprised of silicon which, together with vitamin C, helps to retain moisture in the body's tissues

Herbs such as horsetail, nettle, and dandelion are some of the best known sources of natural plant silica, and have anti-inflammatory properties as well. Dandelion is also considered one of the greatest liver remedies, which is notable because, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the health of the liver is said to greatly influence tendons and ligaments. These herbs are generally available in health food stores, and can easily be infused as a tea for consumption. Licorice is another anti-inflammatory herb, and its sweet flavor can be added to any tea in place of sugar, which aggravates inflammation. There are a number of foods which are also good sources of silica, including lettuce, parsnips, buckwheat, millet, oats, brown rice, strawberries, celery, cucumber (especially the peel), apricots, turnips, and carrots.

BONES

Based on Traditional Chiniese Medicine food therapy, homemade soups, with broth made from bones (i.e. beef, chicken, ham), contain valuable nutrients that can easily be absorbed by the human body, to tonify bone strength and aid in osteoporosis.

Eating a healthful diet, with a particular emphasis on calcium, provides the foundation for strong bones. Also remember weight-bearing exercise provides additional benefits for bones.