14 Healthy Foods That Fight Pain

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Obie Editorial Team

Can food help alleviate pain?

While there is no single food that can treat pain, a healthy diet can be an important part of your pain-management strategy. Keeping your body in optimal shape by consuming vitamins and minerals found in food can help lessen aches and pains while also strengthening your immune system. Of course, you should first check with your doctor before starting a new health regimen. It's also important to consult with your doctor if you notice an increase in ongoing pain levels.

What foods should you eat?

There are various ways to include nutritious vegetables, fruit, and protein into your diet in order to promote good health and a pain-free body. The Mediterranean diet, for example, is rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthful unsaturated fats. These foods can help build strong bones and muscles, and — in some cases — can even short-circuit pain. A wholesome diet also helps prevent pain-aggravating weight gain and boosts your energy levels and mood so you can cope more comfortably.

Food also helps fertility

The state of your preconception health has a direct correlation to your pregnancy health. By choosing proper nutrition, women and men can help improve their fertility and increase their chances of getting pregnant. In women, diet can increase blood sugar which can also affect insulin levels. This can cause ovulation to become irregular. You are more likely to have irregular ovulation if you suffer from insulin resistance or diabetes. In men, processed, sugary, and fatty foods do not contribute positively to male fertility, while the quality of sperm actually improves from high intake of fish, chicken, fruit, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

Include these foods in your weekly eating plan: