“Do you have your Lyme pain & inflammation under control ?” I asked in my last blog. Part of the puzzle to get over on pain is to eat food and spice that help your body feel better. Feel good foods, stop triggers and actively reduce Lyme pain & inflammation
If you are experiencing wearing pain, then talk with your health care team and explore solutions. Start to work with what you have direct control over. Minimize inflammation and pain. Take a very good look at what you are drinking and eating.
Get Lyme pain & inflammation under control – Eliminate inflammatory foods.
Check on food allergies. Start with the big 8 allergens. Work with your health care team and id foods that make you feel bad. Chocolate is one for me.
Oh no! The taste is not worth the discomfort.
Sweet tasting foods drive an amazing and immediate positive response in the body and mind. This comes from a time when sweet was a rare but important source of vitamins and antioxidants. The long term effects of too much sweet can be quite different and harmful. We live in a world with too many sugary choices.
Get rid of empty calories, like sugar and other processed foods. What has this stuff got to do with pain? High gylcemic index foods like sugar, grains and processed foods raise blood glucose levels quickly. When blood sugar goes up insulin is released. Insulin spikes are known to be associated with increased inflammation and pain. With the advent of manufactured foods empty sugar calories are everywhere and will not help you with your Lyme pain.
Design your diet to help your health and feel better. Migrate to low inflammation high nutrient density eating. Include bitter astringent, sour and pungent foods and herbs. Eat a fresh seasonal whole food diet with more green vegetables and spice. Bring healthy foods and spice into your food plan at a level you are comfortable with.
Foods that helped me with pain.
Nopal Cactus
Nopal Cactus and Beets contain the highest natural source of betalain compounds. These compounds disrupt cytokine cascades, lower c-reactive protein levels and actively extinguish the fire of pain and inflammation. Ingest Nopal cactus fruit, water, juice or a powder or pill.
Cherries and berries
Cherries and berries are full of antioxidants. I have a sister who loves cherries. She knows she feels better and less pain during cherry season. Tart cherries contain phenols, anthocyanins. These antioxidants may reduce specific types of pain from arthritis and gout.
Ginger 
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory spice. It contains 6 gingerol. This compound disrupts the production of inflammation in your joints. Ginger candy, ginger tea or ginger in cooked foods all help.
Turmeric
Turmeric contains curcumin blocks the production of a number of enzymes that have been implicated in inflammation. Cook with turmeric and add the many health benefits of turmeric to your life.
Living Foods
Living Foods, sauerkraut or pickles contain probiotic organisms that support a more normal inflammation reaction in the gut. Wild fermented sauerkraut has been tested to contain hundreds different species of probiotic organisms. Make your own or buy it to add wonderful sour flavor and health benefits.
Hydration
Drinking enough is critical to normalized inflammation and pain response. Skip sugar laden or artificially sweetened drinks. Water is for hydration. Drink tea for fun. Green tea has polyphenols EGCG and catechins that disrupt inflammatory pathways.
Where do you start?
Tune in, find the foods that make you feel good. Evaluate the effect of foods on your body. Make feeling good as important as yummy taste. Keep your health care team in the loop as you take action to mange Lyme pain & inflammation. Add feel good foods regularly to your meal plan.
What are your favorite feel good foods?
The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment or advice. All the material here is for information purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.
References:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/31/curcumin-relieves-pain-and-inflammation-for-osteoarthritis-patients.aspx
(Katz, Sandor, Wild Fermentation, 2003.)
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/31/curcumin-relieves-pain-and-inflammation-for-osteoarthritis-patients.aspx
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=217133
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3401676/