If you are what you eat, what are you based on your last meal? If your answer was full of saturated fat and processed sugars, it may be time to listen to what your body is telling you. Fortunately, physical therapy is more than just recovery after surgery. A physical therapist can help you identify ways to improve your nutrition to help reduce your aches and pains. Curious? Call Total Care Physical Therapy today for more information.
Digging Through the Information
Carbs are brain food. Carbs are bad. Grains are healthy. Avoid grains at all costs. High protein gives you more energy! High protein will kill your liver. With so much information about nutrition bombarding us from every side, it’s no wonder we are confused about what to eat for optimal health. And make no mistake, proper nutrition isn’t about trying a fad to get results, it’s about feeding your body the nutrients it needs to carry you throughout your life. That is why so many people find themselves gaining and losing the same 20 pounds as they cycle through various nutrition programs. Fortunately, great nutrition information is easily available in an unlikely source, a physical therapist.
Food and Inflammation and Pain. (Oh My!)
Physical therapy goes beyond recovering after surgery. A physical therapist is a specialist in total body movement, including how to give the body what it needs to optimize that movement. Most pain is caused by inflammation of the joints, muscles or connective tissues throughout the body. As these tissues swell, they compromise the surrounding nerves. The brain processes this information as pain causing the typical aches and pains throughout the body.
Researchers have found that certain foods help fight the inflammatory response that contributes to aches and pains. Fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids, colorful fruits and vegetables, nuts, and seeds have all been proven to offer relief to people suffering from joint conditions such as arthritis. These foods also boost the immune system, especially in people with autoimmune conditions that may cause pain.
How a Physical Therapist can Help
Remember how a physical therapist is a movement specialist? Their extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology can provide you with vital nutrition information that will help minimize your aches and pains. Even if you are not in physical therapy, a physical therapist is happy to impart this knowledge so you can live a happier, healthier life.
First, they will assess your current eating habits and identify ways you can reduce your consumption of foods that cause inflammation (sugar, processed foods, foods with additives or preservatives) and fill your diet with foods that will naturally fight inflammation. Imagine ditching the anti-inflammatory medication simply by changing what you are eating on a regular basis. Even small changes can add up to big improvement in aches and pains.
Curious whether a physical therapist can help you get your nutrition back on track and fight the aches and pains that are keeping you from living your best life? call our office today to schedule a consultation.
