For those on a weight-loss diet, we have some good news. Your diet may be doing more than just helping you lose weight. In fact, your diet can significantly reduce chronic pain.A new study led by the researchers at the University of South Australia found that eating a nutritious diet can help you manage chronic pain. The findings are published in the European Journal of Nutrition.How the right food can help manage chronic pain
To understand the link between diet and chronic pain, the researchers studied 104 Australian adults who were overweight or obese. They found that the participants who improved their diet quality over three months had less joint and muscle pain. These findings challenged the common belief that weight loss is the primary way to reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain. “Chronic musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common and debilitating conditions worldwide. While excess weight is often thought to put stress on joints and drive pain, our study shows that what you eat may independently influence chronic pain,” lead researcher and PhD candidate, UniSA’s Sue Ward, said in a statement. “While weight loss helps many people, this study suggests that improving diet quality itself also eases the severity of people’s pain. This is a very hopeful finding for people living with chronic pain,” Ward added.
During the three-month duration of the study, the participants were on a caloric deficit by 30% (from about 9100 to 5800 kilojoules per day), following the Australian Dietary Guidelines. After this, the researchers noticed that the participants not only improved the quality of their diet (through the consumption of more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats/alternatives) but also reduced their intake of discretionary foods and alcohol.
When they improved their diet quality by 22%, there was a reduction in chronic musculoskeletal pain from 50% to 24%. The participants also reported less pain severity and better pain-related quality of life. Along with this, most participants also shed about seven kilograms of body weight.In those with pain, the researchers found that despite changes in weight, waist circumference, and body fat, improvements in pain severity were directly linked to their improved diet quality.Diet matters
“Eating well isn’t just about long-term disease prevention – it can also have an immediate and tangible impact on how we feel day to day. This study shows that adopting a healthier diet may lead to meaningful reductions in pain which improve overall wellbeing,” co-researcher, UniSA’s Dr Alison Hill, added. Though more research is required on this, this study emphasizes the vital role of nutrition in chronic pain management. Eating the right food can also help in pain management, and it could be beneficial millions, including older adults.
