5 Foods That Fight Pain

On the Internet and around the water cooler, you're likely to hear stories claiming that eating a certain food or eliminating one kind of food from your diet can change your quality of life. Except in rare cases of food allergy or intolerance, there's no concrete evidence that a simple change in diet can, say, banish chronic pain for good.

Researchers have found, however, that eating particular foods can help ease pain and that in some people, certain foods may exacerbate it.

Clearly, a balanced and healthy diet full of lots of fruits and vegetables and light on animal fat (and trans fat) can help anyone live a longer, healthier life.

But if you're struggling with persistent pain, you might just be able to take your discomfort down a notch or two by experimenting with your diet.

Foods that fight pain

When it comes to fighting pain, some of the first things doctors suggest are foods to combat swelling and inflammation. Arthritis, by definition, is inflammation in one or more joints. With that in mind, the following foods, in particular, have been shown to help combat inflammation:

Tart cherries.

In addition to containing powerful cancer-fighting antioxidants, tart cherries contain cyanidin, a compound that's been found to be better at reducing inflammation than aspirin. According to a report in the Clinical Journal of Pain, anecdotal evidence shows that eating tart cherries may relieve the pain of gout and arthritis.

Omega-3s.

These fatty acids found in fish oil have been shown to reduce not only cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, but also inflammation.

Numerous studies have shown that increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids is particularly effective at lessening pain among people with rheumatoid arthritis and enabling them to decrease their use of non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like ibuprofen).

Experts at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, however, warn against taking omega-3 fatty acids in the form of gelatin supplements, since safe and practical doses of fish oils for arthritis sufferers have yet to be determined.

Also, omega-3 supplements may interfere with blood clotting, so people taking aspirin or other NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen) or blood thinners (such as warfarin) should not take omega-3 supplements due to the increased risk of stroke or excessive bleeding.

The John Hopkins center suggests that the consumption of fish rich in omega-3s such as salmon, herring, and mackerel is a better alternative, but even healthy people should not consume more than 3 grams daily (through either diet or supplement).

Soy.

High-protein soybeans are also packed with isoflavones, powerful compounds that have been shown to slow down both inflammation and oxidation.

One study, published in the journal Phytomedicine found that study participants who ate 40 grams of soy protein a day experienced more relief from osteoarthritis symptoms than participants consuming 40 grams of milk-derived protein.

However, the beneficial effects, such as increased range of motion and improved quality of life, were found mostly among the men studied.

In any case, talk with your doctor before adding soy supplements to your diet because some safety questions are still unanswered.

RELATED: 4 Foods That Fight Knee Pain

Turmeric.

Curcumin -- the active chemical in turmeric -- has been used to help prevent ailments for generations in Asian countries, and recent studies show that it helps fight both inflammation and cancer. Spices have been used for thousands of years to enhance food but also to improve health. A review of multiple studies found that curcumin was effective against osteoarthritis pain.

Sugar.

One household staple, sugar, has also been shown to combat pain in a slightly different way, by triggering the release of opiates in the brain. That might explain why doctors hand out so many lollipops. Studies have found that sweet drinks can relieve pain in both babies and adults. Baby boys may even stop crying during circumcision if they have something sweet to drink.

Following a healthy diet may not erase pain, but you're still bound to feel better, aches and all.