Food for Thought: Managing Pain & Inflammation

You hear a lot about leaky gut syndrome, inflammation, and the latest diet cures for repairing the gut, making it difficult to know which way to go.   No gluten, going Paleo, or maybe it’s something unique that works just for you. The gut has a semi-permeable lining which allows micronutrients to cross over to the blood stream to be used for energy and rebuilding. Certain foods, infections, or stress can affect the integrity of the gut, allowing larger particles of food to enter through the lining to the blood stream and revving up your immune system to fight these foreign objects. This can show up as leaky gut syndrome with symptoms of digestive issues (bloating, gas, etc.), food allergies or intolerances, and is now shown as a potential link to autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, thyroid disorders, and celiac disease.    While we do know there is no “magic bullet” for many of the problems we face in healthcare, certain foods contain specific properties that can help with conditions involving pain and/or inflammation.

The first place to start the healing of the gut is to remove certain inflammatory nutrients from the diet and replace with those that have been shown to be less problematic. Information can be conflicting and confusing. Dr. Weil’s anti-inflammatory pyramid is a good place to start and listen to your gut.  

In severe cases it may be beneficial to do an elimination diet before reintroducing foods that are known to be the most allergenic. Our dietitians can help you with that using a step-wise method of elimination and reintroduction.

We will also be providing informational events on this topic this month at Native Sun in Jacksonville Beach! Native Sun is a local grocery store known for natural and organic food products and a commitment to maintaining strong relationships with their farmers and suppliers to ensure quality standards. On Thursday, June 14th, Stacia will be offering a cooking demonstration using foods proven to help combat pain and inflammation. Free samples will be available 11:00am  till 1:00pm, or while they last.

Stacia will also be providing a grocery store tour at Native Sun on Thursday, June 28th, at 3:00pm. She will be discussing different properties of foods and nutrients you might benefit from if you suffer from chronic pain and/or inflammation, as she guides you through various sections of the store! The grocery store tour is free and will run approximately one hour long.

Whether you come to one of our events for general information or you feel you need more specific guidance to help you find relief, we are here to help! Schedule a free consultation today!