Is Your Diet Causing Your Back Pain?

Chances are, back pain will impact you or someone you know at some point in your life. Millions of Americans with low back pain try a variety of therapies to calm the pain, but now what you eat might be part of the equation.

Research presented at the February 2021 Association of Academic Physiatrists digital conference found a link between what people ate and their chances of having low back pain.

Findings suggest that diets that are more anti-inflammatory are better for back pain. A diet which includes whole grains, plenty of fruit and vegetables, which also is similar to the Mediterranean diet. In addition, researchers found that there was a 42% higher chance of back pain with a diet high in meat and processed foods.

So what does this study mean for you? Dr. Julie Saranita shares, "These results suggest the possibility of diet interventions for all patients suffering from chronic pain. What we consume has an impact on the pain experience."

Dr. Paez adds, "When we experience back pain or any pain, we often overlook the power of the food. Research continues to demonstrate that unhealthy diets high in sugar, fast food, refined grain and meat contribute to conditions like heart disease, obesity, inflammation, insulin resistance and overall disease risk."

What you can do:

• Swap beans such as kidney beans, chickpeas or black beans for red meat.
• Add more vegetables to your plate.
• Choose fresh fruit, vegetables or whole grains for snacks.
• Choose fatty fish such as salmon that are high in omega-3 fatty acids which protect against heart disease.
• Incorporate more berries into your diet which are high in fiber, Vitamin C/K and antioxidants.
• Add spices such as turmeric, ginger and cinnamon into your foods, which can reduce inflammation.
• Choose tea such as green tea over soda, which reduces inflammation.