DIET
“You are what you eat”. I’ve heard this saying about six million times in my life and I am guilty of saying it myself. The reason? It’s SO TRUE. We live in a country and society where so many different foods are marketed as healthy, when in reality, there are so many hidden ingredients and additives that wreak havoc on our bodies.
I grew up in a household with zero food rules and we could literally eat whatever we wanted whenever we wanted. We had the best (and most unhealthy) snacks, drinks, you name it. I follow a woman on instagram who exposes many different food brands and products for the hidden or unknown ingredients that are horrible for our bodies. I kid you not, I ate at least 95% of the products she discusses growing up.
When I hit teenage years, I developed the WORST acne - the cystic, painful, impossible to get rid of type. I went to so many different dermatologists and specialists and tried every single topical medication and oral antibiotic, Accutane twice - nothing worked. I was also so lazy, lacked motivation to be active and felt lethargic and fatigued regularly (not normal for a teenager btw). Being that age, I lacked inner self awareness, so never made the correlation between my diet and how my body was responding. The good news is, after college a lightbulb went off in my head after continuously suffering from acne and lethargy. Maybe it was my diet?
After hours of research, I started eliminating foods that I ate regularly which were known to be inflammatory. I ate a strict anti-inflammatory diet for two months and noticed miraculous changes - my skin completely cleared up, I had more energy, my brain felt more clear. I felt like I was functioning at a higher level. After two months, I started reintroducing some of the foods to see if my body was able to handle certain items without changing how I felt. I realized after months of experimentation that the foods that made me feel the way I felt for years were eggs, gluten, and dairy. I have maintained a diet without these foods (I do dabble with these on occasion) for over 10 years. What is wild is I notice a difference in how I feel even if I have a little of each - I feel foggy and icky for 24-48 hours after consumption.
To come full circle, I use my experience with inflammatory foods in my practice. So many people I see are suffering from pain and also eat a non-restrictive diet. If you are experiencing pain (or even if you aren’t), try eliminating foods that are known to be inflammatory (list below). Not only do these foods play a role in how our digestive system functions and feels, but it has an effect on the way our entire body feels and operates.
When our body is injured or in pain, there is inflammation at the injury site. When we eat inflammatory foods, it increases inflammation around the pain site and also in our whole body. When our entire body is inflamed, we have less resources to give to the injury site as our body is working to fight global inflammation. It is also working harder to fight off the additional inflammation around an injury. This fight additionally may weaken our immune system, causing our bodies to be more prone to other injuries or illness.
So, the moral of the story, if you are in pain, have an injury, or are just feeling a little bit off - try adjusting your diet to see how it changes how your feel. Also, keep in mind that it is all in moderation. Maybe find alternatives that work better for you with foods that you frequently eat. Most importantly, don’t deprive yourself completely of things you love.
Foods that May Cause Inflammation
Sugar: Highly processed sugars, including sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup
Refined carbohydrates: Foods like white bread, pastries, cakes, cookies
Trans fats: Found in partially hydrogenated oils often used in processed foods, margarine, and fried foods, trans fats
Processed and fried foods: Foods that are heavily processed and fried (donuts, fried chicken, french fries, etc.)
Red meat: Processed and fatty cuts (lean cuts of red meat, however, can be part of a healthy diet)
Processed meat: Items like sausages, hot dogs, and deli meats
Dairy products: Milk, cheese, ice cream, cream for coffee
Excessive alcohol consumption
Artificial additives and preservatives: Certain additives and preservatives found in processed foods, such as artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers, and colorings
Any questions? Feel free to reach out to our office via phone or text: (310) 880-9663. Happy healing!
Disclaimer: The information provided on this chiropractic blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided by this blog is solely at your own risk.