Some interesting thoughts about pain:
Trust Your Gut: 5 Ways to Relieve Aching Joints
By Kelly Lindamood

Trust Your Gut: 5 Ways to Relieve Aching Joints

When it comes to lower back pain, the struggle is real. For more than 10 years, I’ve worked hard to find natural and noninvasive solutions that allow me to reduce discomfort while maintaining an active lifestyle. I’ve seen benefits from physical therapy, acupuncture, yoga, and, most recently, changing my diet. You might be thinking, “What can diet possibly have to do with back pain?” As it turns out, quite a bit.

The Arthritis-Gut Health Connection

Back pain and other aching joints can often be a result of arthritis, one of many autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid and psoriatic are two types of arthritis). Autoimmune diseases occur when our immune system mistakenly attacks our own internal tissues and organs. Conditions range from type 1 diabetes to thyroid disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and psoriasis. It’s estimated that 23.5 million Americans suffer from some type of autoimmune condition. In my case, the aching back was due to arthritis, and I quickly learned that I could control it through — of all things — my gut!

Why Gut Health Is a Promising Frontier For Aching Joints

In recent years, doctors have identified the gut as a major contributor to a wide range of bodily functions. As a result, some of the most exciting and promising advances in personal health are happening in the gut. Trillions of microorganisms live in and on our bodies; these microorganisms comprise our microbiome, the majority of which is found in our gut. This living and active microbiome has been shown to play a role in cognitive processes, emotional health, obesity, and in fighting off disease and sickness — and more. In fact, the list is so long that our microbiome has been referred to as our second genome. And study after study has shown that this community of microorganisms can play a role in relieving autoimmune conditions.

When I first happened upon this information, I was thrilled for two reasons: One, tending to our microbiome is a noninvasive, natural approach to managing aches and pains — especially my back pain. And two, it’s empowering to know there are personal actions we can take to help find relief for autoimmune conditions.

For me, this was like finding that one missing puzzle piece. I had speculated that certain foods would irritate my aching back and cause it to feel more inflamed. Now, it makes sense.

So today when I eat in a way that agrees with my digestion (a.k.a. my microbiome), my back pain is reduced, and on most days even nonexistent. I avoid foods like gluten and sugar that seem to trigger inflammation, and I’ve added things like sauerkraut to my diet that cultivate my microbiome. I’ve taken control of this aching back, and it’s an amazing feeling!

5 Ways to Cultivate Your Microbiome

You can do this, too! While we have a lot more to learn, there’s growing consensus on what constitutes a healthy microbiome and how it affects every part of our body. Try this checklist as a starting point for better health:

Eat your veggies! We’ve all heard that we need to eat more veggies, and now there’s yet another reason: Our garden of microbes loves to feed on these fiber-rich foods. Make sure that every meal includes at least one to two servings of vegetables. Looking for a snack? Reach for those celery and carrot sticks.
Go easy on the antibiotics if you can. It’s not hard to come by a prescription for antibiotics. If you have a sniffle or a sore throat, take antibiotics only when absolutely necessary. Studies have shown they may be detrimental to the microbiome.
Avoid foods that cause bloating and gas pain. Pay attention to what foods cause you digestive stress. Loose bowels, gas, and bloating can be indicators that a certain food doesn’t agree with you (and your microbiome). Common triggers can be dairy products, grains, and legumes. You can test these out by eliminating a particular food for seven days. After seven days, reintroduce the food and pay attention to whether you experience any discomfort. If you do, work to eliminate these foods from your diet.
Choose whole foods over processed. Artificial preservatives used in many processed foods have been shown to adversely affect gut bacteria. These preservatives are often found in foods like ice cream, peanut butter, and salad dressings. Go for whole foods or lightly processed foods that have recognizable ingredients.
Show some love for fermented foods. When it comes to our gut bacteria, diversity is key. Add in fermented foods such as sauerkraut, miso, kefir, and kimchi to enrich your garden. When buying off-the-shelf products, make sure they are unpasteurized so that the bacteria are preserved.
Cultivating your microbiome can be as much fun as tending to an abundant summer garden. Practice these tips and see what works for you; relief from nagging aches and pains can be right around the corner!

Be Well,

Kelly Lindamood for the Remedy Chicks

Illustrations: iStock.com

Last Updated: 8/2/2016

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