Inflammation is thought to play a role in nearly every ailment of the body. From diabetes to dementia, from arthritis to atherosclerosis, inflammation is a dangerous condition that can trigger health issues from head to toe.
“Let food be thy medicine”
– Hippocrates
Diet plays a key role in triggering or managing inflammation. Strategic dietary choices can heal and prevent inflammation. Food is much more than just calories. Every bite you take can either build up or damage your organs, tissues, blood, and bones. Using the diet as a means of achieving a health outcome is called “functional nutrition.” As chiropractors, we’re trained to look at all of the body’s systems and how they work together. Taking a functional approach to nutrition is another important component of managing and preventing disease for optimal health.
Manage Your Pain with Food
Functional nutrition is a dietary approach that supports whole-body health and wellbeing by focusing on specific foods. Striking a balance of minimizing inflammation-causing foods and eating more inflammation-fighting foods can have dramatic results on your pain levels, joint mobility, and overall feelings of wellness.
Inflammation & Your Diet
There are many known inflammatory triggers in modern diets. These include:
- sugar
- trans fats
- white flour breads and pastas
- alcohol
- processed meats
- fried foods
In addition to these universal inflammation triggers, there may be specific foods that you’re sensitive to. For example, some people have an inflammatory response to eating nightshade vegetables. Working with a nutritionist can help you figure out which foods are harming your body.
Foods to Considering Adding to Your Diet
There are also many delicious fresh foods that soothe and heal inflammation. These include:
- dark leafy greens
- blueberries
- turmeric
- green tea
- oily fish like salmon
- garlic
- and many more…
Benefits of Asking a Functional Nutritionist
Just as working with a chiropractor can help you pinpoint the causes of pain and misalignment in the body, working with a functional nutritionist can help you identify foods that are causing illness and foods that can heal.
Functional nutrition is about creating an optimal dietary balance that helps you feel your best and makes you more resilient in the face of illness and disease.
Sometimes people are hesitant to let go of certain inflammation-causing comfort foods or indulgences. You don’t have to eliminate them entirely, but consider this: have you ever eaten a food that makes you immediately feel sick? Inflammation-causing foods do this but over a longer period of time. When you cut them out you’ll be shocked at how much better your body feels. Eat for wellness long enough and, when you do indulge, you’ll notice it affects your digestion, joints, and overall wellbeing. At that point, it’s not about being on a “diet.” It’s about eating in a way that makes you feel great. That is what our nutrition experts are here to help you achieve. Schedule an appointment with us for a consultation!
