Why You Want to Fight Inflammation With These 4 Foods
During the winter months, the cold air and constantly fluctuating temperatures can lead to dampness. This damp air can cause your joints to ache more than usual, and can make old injuries feel like they’re brand new.
Inflammation is a Major Source of Pain
Aside from the damp air, did you know that inflammation in your body is a major source of body aches and pains? Often times, the first line of defense is a trip to the pharmacy to buy over the counter pain relievers. The problem is, they don’t fight the cause of the pain, and can come with some serious side effects. There are natural ways you can fight inflammation, including through daily exercise and making some changes to your diet.
How Inflammation Can Affect Your Body
There are so many things that can cause swelling and inflammation in your body and your joints. Stress, injuries or illness, and exposure to certain toxins are a few. Inflammation can lead to weight gain and obesity, making joint and pain issues worse. Amongst some of the other health issues that can be exacerbated are:
- Joint disorders
- Clogged arteries
- Stomach and digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease
- Increased risk of cancer
- Sleep disturbances
- Respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Gum disease
- Psoriasis
- Premature aging
What you put into your body will make a difference in your level of inflammation. Eating foods such as refined carbohydrates, fried foods, pop, and red meat are all known contributors to inflammation.
4 Foods to Eat to Fight Inflammation
To help reduce the damage done, it’s best to eliminate inflammation causing foods, and add or increase the following foods in your diet.
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Fresh fruits high in antioxidants such as berries, pineapple, apples, and kiwi
- Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel
- Turmeric is a delicious spice that has been used for centuries to fight inflammation
Replacing oils with olive oil, ensuring you are eating whole grains, and keeping added sugars to a minimum will also make a difference in how you feel.
A Holistic Approach
Included in our holistic approach to pain relief, we believe in battling the cause of the pain, not just the symptoms and pain itself. Your complete recovery is paramount in our practice, and dietary changes are a large part of fighting pain.
These small dietary changes (or additions for some) along with adjustments and regular exercise will have you in complete recovery mode.
Hip Flexor Strain
Pain in the hip can be a real…pain in the hip. The cause is often one of a few things, but if you have reached out to us to manage the pain, you have already made the correct first step! This is something we commonly see in the clinic. I’ll share with you what makes up the hip flexors, what can cause pain, and how it is commonly treated.
What Makes Up The Hip Flexors?
The muscles that attach to the front of the hip and are responsible for bringing the knee up towards the chest are the hip flexors. One of the muscles involved originates in the lower spine area and attaches to the thigh bone. The other smaller muscles involved stretch around the same area, wrapping from the front to the back of the hip area. When you have pain, it could be any of the muscles in the area causing it, mainly because they all work together to support the hip in its movement. If you can locate the bony part in front of your pelvis that is just under your belt and move your hand down a few inches; you will be able to press and feel whether your hip flexors are causing your pain. This part of your hip will feel tender.
What is Actually Causing the Pain?
The first thing we do is determine whether your pain is the result of a strain or if it is tight hip flexors. Both of these conditions can cause pain, but a strain will cause discomfort after exertion. This is common in soccer or football players. Strains are more commonly found in athletes who are involved in repetitive motions like long distance runners.
Having very tight hip flexors is also common in athletes, but can also be a problem for those who are sedentary. The person who sits all day at work can suffer pain from tight hip flexors because the lack of everyday use can cause them to become tight and will even shorten the muscles. The lack of motion becomes a problem when you need them to work! It’s very common for tight hip flexors to cause pain in the lower back along with the hips. Additionally, weak abdominal muscles can put stress on the hip flexors, causing pain and tightness.
How Will We Treat Hip Flexor Pain?
Once we determine whether it is a strain we will need to determine how severe it is. A period of rest may be required in more severe cases in order to reduce inflammation. If it is a mild strain, we can commonly use the same method as we do with tight hip flexors. We will adjust the spine and pelvis and work on the hip joint in order to create a dynamic stretch in the hip flexors. We may also use various manual therapy treatments to soften the muscle and break up scar tissue. Once the inflammation has been reduced, we will recommend a program of care to improve mobility and reduce the recurrence of pain.