Laser Spine Institute Blog Series: How Can You Help Others in Pain Supporting The Practice Of A Nutritious Meal?

Chronic back pain causes much more harm than just the physical sensation of pain. It can leave you unable to stay active, unmotivated to enjoy life, and even depressed. However, one simple way to not only help you maintain a healthy weight (which can ease the burden on your spine and reduce back pain), but also lift your spirits, is to share the practice of nutritious meals with friends and/or family members.

Maintaining a healthy weight to manage back pain is not always the most fun process. Your pain and other symptoms can make putting a smile on your face and being friendly with others a taxing effort. And, paying close attention to the health value of the foods you eat and taking the time to prepare a nutritious meal can seem like a mountain of a task when back pain makes you feel like you'd rather just eat something quick and then lay down to get some rest.

But, as we continue our series of blog articles about the National Cook Book Month & Better Breakfasts, here's another helpful tip - sharing nutritious meals in the company of family and good friends may be more beneficial than you think. Italians believe that it is unhealthy to eat alone, and there may be some wisdom to that belief which we can apply to our daily lives. Eating together fosters conversations and sharing good memories that may lift your spirits and help you deal with chronic pain, and regular nutritious meals can help you maintain a proper body weight and limit the stress on your spine. In short, a healthy conversation over a healthy meal can lead to a healthy body – and a healthy spine!

In fact, according to William J. James, D.C., executive director of Aspen Back and Body, nutrition and pain may be more connected than you think.

 "Most people with chronic pain would not ordinarily associate the things they eat with the pain they are in," Dr. James says. "We must always remember that, as the saying goes, 'We are what we eat.' We all know that nutrition can have an effect on the body’s ability to fight off disease, but it can also have an effect on the body’s ability to modulate pain and in some cases even cause the pain by itself."

Dr. James goes on to list a few simple steps for designing a healthy diet, that when paired with good company at the dinner table, can lead to good spirits, happiness, and overall well-being. Following these steps will not only keep inflammation and pain down, but also may help to protect your heart and possibly even prevent certain types of cancer:

• Eat as little processed and packaged food as possible.
• Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you can.
• Eat red meat only a few times a week.
• Get most of your fat from Omega 3 sources. These can be found in various fish, flax, supplements, or Omega 3 enriched foods such as oatmeal, peanut butter, breads, etc.
• Avoid fast food at all costs.

Have you been able to ease your back and neck pain by implementing a healthy diet? Has sharing nutritious meals while partaking in good conversation with friends and family made the process easier? If so, be sure to discuss your experiences and share your advice with other members on our Facebook page. Our community of like-minded individuals is a great place to find support for dealing with back pain. Also, be sure to contact Laser Spine Institute today to learn more about our endoscopic procedures that we perform at our nationwide surgery centers. Our minimally invasive, outpatient procedures are safe and effective alternative to open back and neck surgery.