What You Eat Can Be What’s Eating You!

Did you know that what you put in your mouth could make your aches and pains worse? In fact, there are many foods that can cause inflammation — and inflammation often results in pain. The solution? Eating a healthier diet can help you feel better!

At the office of The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center, our team of professionals will develop a customized physical therapy program geared to help you reduce pain, restore optimal function and give you back the quality of life you deserve. We’ll also educate you on the nutritional changes you can make to avoid pain and improve your overall health and well-being.

Healthy “power” foods: inflammation reducers

• Go natural: by incorporating fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains and healthy “fats” into your diet.
• Drink enough water: Water cleanses your body by moving toxins out of your system. It also helps reduce pain caused by inflammation.
• Greek yogurt is a good choice and so are foods with natural probiotics. Just by making better food choices can put you on the road to less pain and less need to rely on medications.

Unhealthy “risky” foods: inflammation triggers

• Processed sugars: These release inflammatory messengers that are the gateway to pain. A simple rule of thumb is to avoid any ingredients that end in “ose.” That includes sucrose and fructose.
• Saturated fats: Reduce your intake of full-fat dairy products such as cheese, pasta, red meat and grain-based desserts.
• Trans fats, or trans-fatty acids, are a form of unsaturated fat, which are known to produce inflammation in your body. You’ll find plenty of trans fats in fast foods, snack foods, cookies, donuts and frozen breakfast products. Be sure to read the ingredient labels and avoid those listed with partially hydrogenated oils.
• White flour: Products with white flour contain refined carbohydrates. That includes white rice and white potatoes. Processed carbs increase fats and fuel the production of advanced glycation, which causes inflammation.
• MSG: While you may think mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) is only found in soy sauce and Asian food, it can be found in deli meats, fast foods, salad dressings and prepared soups. MSG is known as a chemical that triggers pathways for chronic inflammation.

Form and function…optimized!

At the office of The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled physical therapy care and patient education. For more information on our office and the many services that we provide, give us a call today.