Peripheral neuropathic pain results when your peripheral nerves (nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord) get damaged. It can cause numbness, weakness, and pain in peripheries like the hands and feet. Besides medications and therapies like Sanexas therapy, a nutrient-rich diet that nourishes your nervous system can help with neuropathic pain.
An Anti-Inflammatory Diet Can Relieve Neuropathic Pain – Here Is How
Whether it’s through medication or diet, anti-inflammatories relieve neuropathic pain. Before you can understand why an anti-inflammatory diet is helpful to relieve neuropathic pain, it is important to understand inflammation and its link to neuropathic pain in the first place.
Inflammation is a protective response of the body and is a critical part of numerous body’s metabolic activities; excess chronic inflammation plays a great role in the development of neuropathic pain perception. Inflammation, however, causes pain. Temporary pain can be endured or relieved with medication. Chronic inflammation can be relieved through lifestyle changes, such as diet.
An anti-inflammatory diet can ease neuropathic pain and prevent its progression. An anti-inflammatory diet reduces the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF, IL-6, and IL-2 and elevates the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist, IL-4, IL-10, IL-11, and IL-13. It is also important to note that anti-inflammatory foods contain antioxidants that help remove free radicals that damage your skin and increase inflammation from the body.
What Anti-Inflammatory Foods Can Relieve Neuropathic Pain?
The following is a list of anti-inflammatory foods you can incorporate into your diet for anti-inflammatory benefits.
Fruits and Veggies Containing Polyphenols
Polyphenols (compounds that act as antioxidants and play an anti-inflammatory role) are a good thing to add to your diet. Leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, broccoli, and cabbage that are rich in vitamin K and polyphenols can reduce inflammation and ease neuropathic pain. Fruits like cherries, raspberries, and blackberries attain their color from polyphenols and are rich in them. Not only do fruits like grapes and berries prevent nerve damage, but they also facilitate the healing of damaged nerves.
Herbs and Spices
Many herbs and spices add antioxidants to your food. Turmeric, ginger, garlic, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, green tea, and rosemary can keep inflammation at bay and ease inflammatory neuropathy.
Omega-3 Containing Rich Foods
One of the metabolites of omega-3, resolvin, is responsible for resolving inflammation and healing damaged nerves. Omega-3 present in fish oil has been found to restore damaged nerves. Other foods such as chia seeds, flax seeds, cod, tuna, salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel are also rich sources of omega-3.
Nuts and Legumes
Fats in nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews, and sunflower seeds can reduce inflammation and fight neuropathic pain. Magnesium in legumes such as fava beans, lima beans, pinto beans, and lentils can restore nerve function and aid in nerve regeneration. These legumes are high in fiber and loaded with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Neuropathy Treatment Center in Jacksonville and Melbourne, FL
If you suffer from neuropathic pain, don’t hesitate to contact our highly qualified healthcare professionals here at NIVA Health. Our providers have helped thousands of neuropathy patients manage and treat their pain through state-of-the-art treatments and lifestyle changes.
To find out more about our Neuropathy Program or to arrange a consultation with one of our providers, call our clinic near you or use our online form to request a consultation.
