If you have a chronic pain condition like arthritis, then you may need to take a variety of medications and you also might be asked to undergo some specialty treatments and other types of therapies. Doctors will also work with you to self-treat or self-manage at home and watching your diet is one thing that can assist you. Keep reading to learn about a few different foods that you should avoid and how they can contribute to pain.

Saturated And Trans Fats

If you are someone who likes their greasy and fried food, then you may be causing yourself a great deal of pain and inflammation. And, this is something that happens when you gain weight and increase your body mass index. The fat that accumulates on your body will release a variety of compounds that will increase your discomfort. Many of these compounds work locally and create pain sensations in the nearby joints. Estrogen and prostaglandins are just two examples of these chemical substances. 

To reduce your weight and the inflammation, make sure to stick to unsaturated fats as well as omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. In fact, the omega fatty acids can help to reduce inflammation in your body, so consume fish and also think about taking some supplements. 

Other foods that contain healthy fats include nuts, eggs, olive oil, and avocados. 

Sugar

Sugar is another food item that causes the release of inflammatory compounds into the body. These chemicals are called cytokines and they are released by the immune system. The chemicals are messengers and they can signal the release of other inflammatory chemicals. 

Sugar can also raise the blood sugar and this can lead to inflammation across the body. This is a problem that you may see worsen if you develop diabetes or if you allow your blood sugar to remain at a high level for a long period of time. 

Sugar can be difficult to avoid since it is packed into many of the foods we buy. So, make sure to stay away from processed foods as much as you possibly can and also look at food labels for any ingredient with an ose on the end. These ingredients that include fructose, sucrose, and lactose are all sugars. 

Simple carbohydrates should be minimized as well, because they are broken down into sugar, so look for complex carbohydrate items instead like products that are made from whole grains.

If you want to know more about the diet and how it can contribute to inflammation, speak with a chronic pain service.