Yesterday, Dr. Obvious weighed in with a couple of new ‘scientific’ studies that told us a lot of stuff we already knew. Today, the learned newswire brings us a couple of more-useful reports suggesting many chronic pain sufferers may be able to find relief simply by changing their diet…
Whoever coined the marketing slogan, “The heartbreak of Psoriasis” wasn’t kidding…
Switching to a balanced diet may reduce skin, joint inflammation
Switching from the traditional ‘Western’, high-fat, high-sugar diet to something like the Mediterranean diet, that is. Researchers at University of California – Davis (UC Davis) say switching to a more balanced diet restores the gut’s health and suppresses inflammation.
“Earlier studies have shown that Western diet, characterized by its high sugar and fat content, can lead to significant skin inflammation and psoriasis flares,” said Sam T. Hwang, professor and chair of dermatology at UC Davis Health and senior author on the study. “Despite having powerful anti-inflammatory drugs for the skin condition, our study indicates that simple changes in diet may also have significant effects on psoriasis.”
According to an abstract of the study report: “Psoriasis is a stubborn skin condition linked to the body’s immune system. When immune cells mistakenly attack healthy skin cells, they cause skin inflammation and the formation of scales and itchy red patches. […] Up to 30 percent of patients with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis with symptoms such as morning stiffness and fatigue, swollen fingers and toes, pain in joints, and changes to nails.”
‘Western’ high-fat diet can cause chronic pain
Another study, by University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, reveals that switching from the traditional high-fat, high-sugar ‘Western’ diet can also reduce the risk of painful disorders common in people with conditions such as diabetes or obesity.
According to an abstract of the report: “Changes in diet may significantly reduce or even reverse pain from conditions causing either inflammatory pain – such as arthritis, trauma or surgery – or neuropathic pain, such as diabetes. The novel finding could help treat chronic-pain patients by simply altering diet or developing drugs that block release of certain fatty acids in the body.”
The crux of the findings, from a team led by Dr. Jacob Boyd and Dr. Peter M. LoCoco, is that foods high in Omega-6 fatty acids mainly found in foods containing vegetable oils, are closely associated with many types of chronic pain. It’s true that Omega-6 fatty acids have proven benefits. But excess amounts of them, as are often found in processed foods such as salty/fatty snacks, fast foods, cakes, and fatty and cured meats, can trigger pain. But ditching diets high in such foods in favour of diets high in fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains (such as the much-lauded Mediterranean Diet – see photo, top of page) providing more Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce pain significantly.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods such as fish, nuts and seeds.
The study, more than 5 years in the making, has been lauded by Duke University reviewers Dr. Aidan McGinnis and Dr. Ru-Rong Ji who wrote, “This comprehensive and elegant study from Boyd et al. may serve as a foundation for new clinical trials and ultimately provide new avenues for the clinical treatment of neuropathies.”
My take
I like the idea that something as basic – and manageable – as one’s diet can hold the key to the management of chronic pain. Millions of folks around the world suffer (most of them in stoic silence) from chronic pain every day. If the findings of the two learned studies spotlighted in today’s pot can help them reduce their torment, I say Hoo-RAH!
~ Maggie J.