Think outside the pillbox

When something hurts often times our first reaction is to reach for the pill bottle.  Our pain is often caused by inflammation which can be caused by trauma or injury.  But pain and inflammation can also be the result of a poor diet or lack of exercise.  A very common cause of pain is an inflammatory diet filled with processed foods, sugars, trans fats, and refined oils.  Food sensitivities can also cause chronic inflammation and pain. Common food triggers are wheat, gluten and dairy.

Need a little more motivation to make some dietary changes to reduce inflammation in your body?  There is increasingly more evidence to support the theory that cancer, diabetes, depression, heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's all share a common denominator: inflammation.

Rather than living with the pain or reaching for the pain meds, try eliminating processed foods, reducing or eliminating sugar, and experiment with a two-week elimination diet, taking out all gluten and dairy.  As well as eliminating inflammatory foods, consider adding nutrients that have been shown to reduce inflammation.  Turmeric, an Asian spice found in curry powder, has often been called nature's ibuprofen.  It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects equal to hydrocortisone and Motrin without the negative side effects.  Omega-3 fats found in fish oil, blueberries and sweet potatoes have also been shown to reduce inflammation in the body.

Finally, just as is true with every other aspect of your health and well-being, diet alone is not enough.  Exercise, sleep, and stretching all have a positive impact on reducing inflammation.