Did you know that the food you eat may be contributing to your back pain? Chronic pain is often linked with chronic inflammation, which can be linked to several different things, including what you eat.

If you have ever asked yourself the question, “Why does my back hurt when I eat?” it’s time to talk to Illinois Back Pain. We can help figure out the different potential causes of back pain, and if a diet is one of them.

Potential Causes of Back Pain

Inflammation, which plays a major role in back pain and also sciatica, can actually be triggered by certain foods.

If you experience any of the following regularly, you may have inflammation caused by food:

  • Joint and muscle stains, aches, and pains
  • Stiffness and swelling
  • Fever and chills
  • Headaches and fatigue
  • Nausea and loss of appetite

Many people suffer from these symptoms without ever realizing that there’s a chance that they can alleviate them. The good news is, that with a few dietary changes, you can help reduce inflammation and make your back pain less severe.

How Food Affects Back Pain

Let’s start with sugar. The issue is not with sugar itself, but rather with how much you consume. A high sugar intake can lead to an increased production of harmful advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which damage the body’s proteins. The body’s immune system attacks these AGEs to protect itself, and the result is inflammation.

Similar to sugar, processed food can have adverse effects on the body. Not only are they usually high in sugar or sugar substitutes like high fructose corn syrup, but they are also high in omega-6 fatty acids and trans fats. Besides triggering inflammation, omega-6 fatty acids have also been associated with arthritis.

This last one might be hard to hear but caffeine and caffeinated beverages can also affect your back health. Consuming too much caffeine can cause stress hormone levels to rise, triggering insulin spikes and eventually leading to inflammation.

Which Food is a Potential Cause of Back Pain?

To keep your back healthy, we’ve put together a list of foods that you should eat in moderation and food that you should eat more of. The foods that we recommend limiting are typically high in one or more of the three ingredients that we’ve mentioned above. Likewise, the foods that we recommend eating more of have little or none of those ingredients.

Beverages

  • Drink in moderation: Soft drinks, sport drinks, alcohol, coffee, and tea
  • Drink more: Water (mineral, filtered, or distilled) or decaffeinated herbal tea

Dairy Products

  • Eat in moderation: Butter, cheese, milk, ice cream, and yogurt
  • Eat more: Dairy substitutes made from almond, coconut, or rice milk

Grains and Starches

  • Eat in moderation: Corn, wheat, rye, barley, and other grains that contain gluten
    Eat more: Potatoes, oats, and rice

Animal Proteins

  • Eat in moderation: Beef, pork, shellfish, eggs, hot dogs, and sausages
    Eat more: Chicken, fish, and turkey

Fruit

  • Eat in moderation: Oranges (they contain a lot of sugar)
    Eat more: All other fruits

Vegetables

  • Eat in moderation: Corn
    Eat more: All other vegetables

Seeds, Nuts, and Legumes

  • Eat in moderation: Peanuts, peanut butter, soybeans, and soy products
    Eat more: Almonds, cashews, pecans, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, walnuts, and all other legumes (except soybeans)

Spices and Sauces

  • Eat in moderation: Ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, and soy sauce
    Eat more: Plain spices, vinegar, and olive oil

Do You Want To Treat Back Pain Without Drugs And Surgery?

Let’s get you back to a healthy, pain-free life. Our team of practiced doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and nurse practitioners use a proven method that has helped over 500,000 patients.

Get started with a free consultation today! Fill out the form below or call us at (833) 215-7894 to schedule your free consultation.

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