Foods to Avoid for Pain

Sugary and fatty foods can contribute to and even cause pain.

From headaches to achy joints and abdominal discomfort to heartburn, pain can seriously disrupt your normal activities. Eating acidic, fatty or sugary foods can aggravate inflammatory conditions and even cause pain. Manage pain by avoiding foods that tend to cause inflammation.

Tomatoes and Citrus Fruits

Tomatoes and citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit can wreak havoc for those with chronic heartburn. These normally healthy foods relax the lower esophageal sphincter. In turn, this causes stomach acid to rise up into the esophagus, which leads to a painful case of acid reflux.

Fatty Foods

Eating bacon, eggs, junk food and other foods high in saturated fat causes the formation of arachrondic acid, which produces pain-producing agents, such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

Dairy

As many as 60 percent of people are lactose intolerant, meaning that milk products can cause an upset stomach, constipation and diarrhea. Also, cheeses, similar to other fatty foods, that are high in saturated fat can contribute to pain by producing inflammatory substances in the body.

Sugary Foods

Eating an excessive amount of sugary foods, such as soft drinks, candy and breakfast cereal, can lead to obesity and, with it, joint pain and inflammation.

Chocolate

Phenylethylamine, a chemical found in chocolate, can trigger migraines in some people.

Wine

Drinking wine can induce headaches and nausea in some people because it contains the amino acid tyramine, which can cause migraines in some people.

References

• ABC News: 10 Foods That Bring on the Pain
• TheConsciousLife.com: Top 10 Inflammatory Foods to Avoid Like the Plague