Can changing your diet really help manage chronic pain? Here’s what the research says
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Chronic pain can be a constant struggle, affecting countless aspects of life.
While finding effective treatments is often challenging, new insights are always emerging.
Read on to uncover what recent research suggests about managing chronic pain and how it could change the way we approach it.
Chronic pain is a condition that can disrupt lives, affecting everything from sleep and mood to work and social interactions.
It’s an issue that many locals face, with one in five over the age of 45 experiencing chronic pain, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Finding effective ways to manage this pain is often challenging, but a recent study from the University of South Australia pointed to a surprising yet accessible solution: diet.
The research, published in the Nutrition Research journal in October, found a clear link between eating foods within the Australian Dietary Guidelines and reduced levels of body pain, particularly among women.
The findings suggested that a well-balanced diet could be an easy and practical method for sufferers to manage their chronic pain.
Sue Ward, a PhD researcher at UniSA, shared her enthusiasm for the findings: ‘Knowing that simple changes to your diet could offset chronic pain, could be life-changing’.
The study noted that while the impact was significant for women, the effect on men was less pronounced. Women are statistically more likely to live with chronic pain, with 70 per cent of sufferers being female.
The research also highlighted that being overweight or obese is a well-established risk factor for chronic pain.
The AIHW pointed out that higher body mass index (BMI) often correlates with increased joint and back pain due to added pressure on these areas.
Obesity is also connected to other types of pain, including fibromyalgia, headaches, and abdominal pain.
Ward explained that despite these connections, higher consumption of core foods—such as vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meats, and dairy—was associated with less pain, irrespective of body weight.
This finding offered hope that even those with a higher BMI could benefit from dietary changes.
The exact mechanisms behind how diet influences pain remain unclear, but Ward suggested that anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in core foods might play a significant role.
She noted, ‘It’s possible that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the healthier core food groups is what reduces pain, but we can’t yet determine whether poorer diet quality leads to more pain, or if pain leads to eating a poorer quality diet.’
Ward added that changes in diet could be effectively integrated into pain management plans alongside other treatments.
‘A healthy, nutritious diet brings multiple benefits for health, wellbeing, and pain management. And while personalised pain management strategies should be adopted, a healthy diet is an accessible, affordable, and effective way to manage and even reduce pain.,’ she shared.
The University of South Australia's study offers hope for those looking to ease chronic pain. Although more research is needed to fully understand the link, a balanced diet seems to be a promising, affordable way to improve the quality of life for chronic pain sufferers.
What are your thoughts on using diet to manage pain? Have you tried any dietary changes that helped? Share your experiences in the comments below.
While finding effective treatments is often challenging, new insights are always emerging.
Read on to uncover what recent research suggests about managing chronic pain and how it could change the way we approach it.
Chronic pain is a condition that can disrupt lives, affecting everything from sleep and mood to work and social interactions.
It’s an issue that many locals face, with one in five over the age of 45 experiencing chronic pain, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Chronic pain impacts one in five Aussies over 45, affecting sleep, mood, work, and social life. Image source: Getty/Kindel Media
Finding effective ways to manage this pain is often challenging, but a recent study from the University of South Australia pointed to a surprising yet accessible solution: diet.
The research, published in the Nutrition Research journal in October, found a clear link between eating foods within the Australian Dietary Guidelines and reduced levels of body pain, particularly among women.
The findings suggested that a well-balanced diet could be an easy and practical method for sufferers to manage their chronic pain.
Sue Ward, a PhD researcher at UniSA, shared her enthusiasm for the findings: ‘Knowing that simple changes to your diet could offset chronic pain, could be life-changing’.
The study noted that while the impact was significant for women, the effect on men was less pronounced. Women are statistically more likely to live with chronic pain, with 70 per cent of sufferers being female.
The research also highlighted that being overweight or obese is a well-established risk factor for chronic pain.
The AIHW pointed out that higher body mass index (BMI) often correlates with increased joint and back pain due to added pressure on these areas.
Obesity is also connected to other types of pain, including fibromyalgia, headaches, and abdominal pain.
Ward explained that despite these connections, higher consumption of core foods—such as vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meats, and dairy—was associated with less pain, irrespective of body weight.
This finding offered hope that even those with a higher BMI could benefit from dietary changes.
The exact mechanisms behind how diet influences pain remain unclear, but Ward suggested that anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in core foods might play a significant role.
She noted, ‘It’s possible that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the healthier core food groups is what reduces pain, but we can’t yet determine whether poorer diet quality leads to more pain, or if pain leads to eating a poorer quality diet.’
Ward added that changes in diet could be effectively integrated into pain management plans alongside other treatments.
‘A healthy, nutritious diet brings multiple benefits for health, wellbeing, and pain management. And while personalised pain management strategies should be adopted, a healthy diet is an accessible, affordable, and effective way to manage and even reduce pain.,’ she shared.
The University of South Australia's study offers hope for those looking to ease chronic pain. Although more research is needed to fully understand the link, a balanced diet seems to be a promising, affordable way to improve the quality of life for chronic pain sufferers.
What are your thoughts on using diet to manage pain? Have you tried any dietary changes that helped? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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