Monday, July 20, 2009

Healing Foods: Your Defense Against Chronic Pain

There is surely a wisdom behind Hippocrates' famous quote, " Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food. " We are, after all, living beings needing sustenance to live. Therefore, it is only logical to find our very own healing from the foods that we eat.

If one will look carefully at the causes of modern-day sickness like cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer, obesity, and even diabetes - all of these are linked in the food we eat. Today's refined and processed foods are bringing all the negative effects it can give our bodies, making people sick, from simple acne to complicated forms of arthritis.

There are healing recipes that are great menu mantra for your body, making you live the healthy life that you truly deserve. What is truly alarming is that people often neglect nutrition as the root cause of all evil, and look for other means to cure their diseases.

Chronic pain sufferers know that it is not a joke to feel cursed with pain that pain relievers can momentarily numb - until the next pain attack, which can be more intense than the recent one. When the muscles are inflamed, the body's pH level is imbalanced. This means that your body has a higher level of acid, which is toxic, and in most cases, causes you to be sick. Trans fats, sugars, refined starches, processed foods, hydrogenated oils, and artificial sweetener can also contribute to your body's oxidation - making you more sick in time.

Many of the foods we eat today are new and our body's inflammation is just a natural response in defending the immune system. If food is the culprit, food can also be the solution. The best part is, we all have easy access to these natural healers:

Dark, Leafy Green Veggies

You must love your greens, especially when they have the same alpha-linolenic acid similar to the anti-inflammatory properties of Omega-3 in fish.

Apples

Eat your apples whole, with the skin, since they contain a natural histamine inhibitor to stop allergies that wreak havoc in your body.

Pineapple

This sweet tropical fruit may be ignored but it contains bromelain, an effective enzyme against pain and swelling. Always go for freshly-cut pineapples.

Flaxseeds, Pumpkin seeds and Walnuts

These nuts contain healthy Omega-3. Choose raw nuts, soak them in water overnight, and dehydrate them for that crunchy treat with your healthy acid intact.

Olives and Olive Oil

Both contain Oleic acid, which are potent anti-inflammatory cures. Just go for the unrefined or extra virgin variety when choosing your olive oil.

Chili

Peppers are not your usual remedy in mind but these red hot contains capsaicin, which is great against COX-2 enzyme, which causes arthritis and many other pains in the body.

Always remember that you can never go wrong with food for your healing - if you are wise with your food choices.Natural and organic will always be good for you.

Eat Moderately and Live Healthy!