Chronic Pain Today

Axis Media Group

09/07/2008

Region : AllIf you’re looking for pain relief you may want to open your kitchen cupboards rather than your medicine cabinet.

Research shows that there is a direct link between the foods we eat and chronic pain. Now a new centre in Glasgow is offering its services to local residents seeking pain relief.

According to Paulo Quadros, founder of the Intlife Pain Management and member of the Scottish Parliament’s cross party group on chronic pain, the foods we eat can directly affect the level of pain we experience.

Quadros said: “We know that for our bodies to work efficiently they mustn’t have too much or too little of anything. This can be applied to our bodies’ pH levels which increase or decrease according to what we eat.

“We all need an ideal pH of 7.4 in order to efficiently combat disease and inflammation. If you’ve ever jammed your finger, scraped your knee or sprained your ankle, you’re probably familiar with inflammation and the pain that comes with it. It’s part of the body’s response to nearly any type of physical injury and there are ways to reduce this inflammation and the pain.”

He added: “Our bodies are more prone to inflammation if acidity levels are particularly high (PH7 or below), however it has nothing to do with how the food tastes – for example lemons, vinegar and oranges are actually alkaline and can help reduce inflammation and pain.”

Sugar is terrible news for those with a sweet tooth – it’s one of the worse foods for inflammation.

Intlife Pain Management runs a full range of conventional and alternative pain relief treatments at its Glasgow City Centre clinic. The centre aims to fill gaps currently existent in the NHS pain management service by taking a logical approach to pain management. Prices range from £68 - £120.

The diet

Quadros says that making good food choices can help control the inflammatory process, strengthen resistance to pain and even reduce the need for medication.

Good foods

• Fresh fruit and vegetables act as a tonic and strengthen the body

• Green vegetables such a broccoli and spinach are especially beneficial. They contain B-complex vitamins (often deficient in people with chronic pain), magnesium (which helps relax smooth muscles and possibly ease stress)

• Berries, red grapes, leafy greens, carrots, pumpkins, tomatoes and peaches all contain phytochemicals which reduce inflammation

• Water-cooked eggs contain fortified with omega-3 fatty acids

• Herring, Mackerel, Salmon, Sardines

• Pumpkin seeds 

• Hot chillies

• Olive oil

• Walnuts.

• Soy

• Turmeric

•  Brazil nuts

•  Potatoes

Bad foods

• Sugar

• Butter

• Corn oil

• Ice-cream

• Whole Milk and other full-fat dairy products

• Lentils

• Liver

• Chicken

• Veal

• Rice

• Peanuts

Notes:

Paulo Quadros is available for interview. Please contact Sabina Kadic. Case studies are available on request. Examples include:• A self-employed bricklayer who was forced out of work due to chronic pain. He was left in severe pain and depression. Misdiagnosed by his GP, sent from pillar to post by NHS specialists. Following treatment he was able to return to work and has had no reoccurring pain.

Images of Paulo and the Intlife centre are available on request. Contact: Sabina Kadic
Phone: 0141 889 68 68
Email: sabina@axismediagroup.co.uk
Website: http://axismediagroup.co.uk