Recent research studies reveal that some good foods can cure pain. By eating the right food, you can get relief from back pain, knee pain, the pain of exertion, arthritis, knee pain, joint pain, headache pain, and migraine pain. Good foods are natural cures for common ailments, while, at the same time, they contribute to healthy living, energy and growth. It is exciting to read studies with results like these. They show that certain foods are as effective as the common pain medication ibuprofen in relieving pain. People who deal with chronic or occasional pain will be glad to hear how food aleviates a variety of pain. The good foods targeted by pain research are red grapes, ginger, soy, turmeric, cherries, caffeine and fish. These are the beneficial, pain-relieving foods.
Red Grapes Cure and Relieve Pain
Red grapes are helpful in curing and relieving pain. The pain relieving compound in red grapes is resveratrol, a powerful ingredient to block enzymes that contribute to tissue degeneration. In lab experiments, resveratrol protects cartilage against the kind of damage that causes back pain. Other foods rich in resveratrol are blueberries and cranberries and red wine.
Ginger Cures and Relieves Pain
Ginger, the spicy root, is well known as a digestive aid and a cure for nausea and indigestion. Now studies show that ginger extract relieves the soreness of chronic knee pain. With ginger, patients need less pain medication and are more comfortable and more mobile. Other research showed that ginger is effective as a pain cure for general workout and exercise pain.
Soy Cures and Relieves Pain
The nutritional value of soy and soy products like tofu, soy milk, soy burgers and edamame is already well known. But now soy is a proven cure for the knee pain of osteoarthritis. The isoflavones in soy have anti-inflammatory properties which reduce swelling, and thus cure and relieve pain. Patients who ate about 40 grams of soy protein every day for three months were able to cut their pain medication in half. The benefits of soy in cure pain start in a few weeks.
Turmeric Cures and Relieves Pain
Turmeric is the deep orange-yellow spice commonly used in mustard, curries and Indian foods. Studies show now that turmeric calms the pain of rheumatoid arthritis as effectively as the pain medication ibuprofen. It is also effective in protecting joints from the deterioration of arthritis. Turmeric is one of nature’s most powerful healers, and has promise in treating many other diseases like cancer.
Cherries Cure and Relieve Pain
Cherries cure pain because they contain antioxidants called anthocyanins. People in a study who ate 45 Bing cherries daily substantially reduced their inflammation levels, and thus their pain level. Anthocyanins are also found in blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.
Caffeine Cures and Relieves Pain
Caffeine reduces pain, too. That is why many over-the-counter cold and headache medicines contain caffeine. It takes only two cups of coffee to reduce the pain of exercise by almost 50%. Caffeine seems to raise the pain threshold during exercise, which allows longer and more intense exercise.
Fish Cures and Relieves Pain
Here is one more piece of good news about eating fish. The omega-3 fatty acids that are good for the heart and brain also reduce pain and inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches and other autoimmune diseases. Eating fish at two or four meals a week will ensure these benefits. The recommended fish are salmon, Atlantic mackerel, sardines and trout, all high in omega-3 fatty acids to cure and relieve pain. Other fish like halibut, light tuna, snapper and striped bass are also valuable for pain relief. Dietary supplements with omega-3 are also available.