Lifecentury :: Magical Foods that Fight Pain

There are so many wishes we make in a day, among which one is about vanishing our body pains. Well, nutri-science can fulfill your wish; as there are various food items which can lower our body pain. Medical traditions of India, China, Native America, and other cultures around the world have accepted that foods have medicinal value, and now the latest Western medical research also confirms the same.

Nutrients work against pain in four ways. They can reduce damage at the site of injury, cool your body's inflammatory response, provide analgesia on pain nerves themselves, and even work within the brain to reduce pain sensitivity.

Which fruits, vegetables, meat, or fish should you eat? There are no absolute rules, but the results of studies and case histories suggest that the following foods may be helpful:

Red peppers: Red pepper contains pain-relieving salicylates, chemicals that are similar to salicin, the herbal equivalent of aspirin. This herb contains capsaicin, a compound that stimulates the release of the body's natural painkillers, called endorphins.

Curry: A combination of spices that often includes turmeric, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, and so on, curry contains powerful antioxidants that may help relieve inflammation and reduce pain.

Garlic: An ancient treatment for tuberculosis, lung problems, and other diseases, garlic also appears to relieve some forms of arthritis pain. These helpful benefits may be due to the fact that garlic contains sulfur, which has been known for many years to help relieve certain arthritis symptoms.

Broccoli and other cabbage family veggies: They contain sulforaphane, which blocks the enzyme that triggers inflammation and joint pain.

Cherries: Being rich in anthicyanins and salicylates, they have anti-inflammatories similar to aspirin. Tart cherries contain melatonin, another pain reliever.

Fatty Fish: Important source of omega-3 fats-anti-inflammatories may help ease back and neck pain as well as painful joints.

Anchovies: Three-and-a-half ounces of anchovies contain almost a gram and a half of omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids help regulate the prostaglandins, which play a role in inflammation and, hence, pain. However, anchovies are extremely high in sodium, so if sodium-sensitivity or water retention is a problem for you, choose a different kind of fish.

Olive Oil: This oil is a very healthy source of monounsaturated fats and has an ingredient known as oleocanthal, an anti-inflammatory, similar to ibuprofen. Oleocanthal acts very similar to NSAIDS (non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs). A number of raw vegetables have enzymes that help lessen pain. Studies showed that oleocanthal can inhibit the prostaglandins that cause inflammation and pain.

Nuts and Seeds: Additional foods that can ease pain are nuts and seeds. They are a good source of tryptophan, which can reduce the sensitivity associated with pain. Tryptophan can help with depression that may accompany chronic pain sufferers. Almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts are good sources of boron, a mineral that helps keep bones strong and certain arthritis symptoms at bay. Sunflower seeds are among the best sources of phenylalanine, a chemical involved in pain control. Studies suggest that phenylalanine helps reduce pain by inhibiting the breakdown of enkephalins, chemicals involved in pain perception.

Poppy seeds: on the stalks, which have not been slit to produce opium have soporific properties and are used for relieving pain. They can be used beneficially in gripping pains after childbirth, colic and pain in the testicles. Opium is very effective in spasms of bowels, relieving of pain and irritation of the bladder caused by stone. It is beneficial as a liniment for soothing both muscular and neuralgic pains. The liniment can be prepared by mixing 90 centigrams of opium in 15 grams of coconut oil. It even soothes painful piles. In painful teeth cavities, a centigram of opium is put into the hollow of the tooth, but the saliva should not be swallowed. It is highly recommended that professional advice be taken for its safe dosage.

Turmeric: In India, turmeric sits on kitchen shelf of every household. This is prized far more than just a spice for its most amazing anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving powers because of curcumin present in this herb.

Other foods: Good news for chocolate lovers- the flavonoids in dark chocolate are a great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. A small amount of chocolate daily could help. Though coffee comes to mind as the most common source of caffeine, it's also naturally found in tea and chocolate, and it is often added to soft drinks and non-prescription medications like pain-relievers and cold remedies. Caffeine has long been used as a headache remedy. Migraine sufferers may be especially interested in the way caffeine constricts blood vessels. The addictive nature of caffeine related to the way it acts on the blood vessels may cause the worst problems. It may also cause unneeded anxiety, especially if taken in large quantities and without proper food and sleep. As a stimulant, especially combined with sugar, caffeine can pick you up but may also drop you quickly. In other words, if you're stopping for tea, don't forget the crackers! In addition most fruit and vegetables have antioxidants and should be eaten throughout the day. For instance, apples contain boron, a mineral that appears to reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Moreover, when boron was given to people who already have the disease, it helped relieve pain. Cantaloupe or Muskmelon contains large amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, the plant form of vitamin A. These two powerful vitamins help to control the oxidative and free-radical damage that may contribute to arthritis.