NERVE PAIN WHAT WE DIET, WHAT TO EAT? REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING 14 FOODS

Sciatica is a common disease in people who have a habit of sitting for a long time or often lifting heavy objects. Besides medication, diet also plays an important role in improving the effectiveness of treatment. So what do people with sciatica abstain from eating and what to eat to improve pain?

Causes of sciatica pain

Sciatica is pain along the path of the sciatic nerve. Branch position from lower back through hips, buttocks and down to each leg. Most cases of sciatica affect only one side of the body.

Common causes of sciatica include:

Spondylolisthesis : Natural wear and tear of the vertebrae or spine can cause spinal stenosis. This condition usually occurs in people over 60 years of age. This narrowing puts pressure on the sciatic nerve root. This is the source of sciatica pain.
Herniated Disc : Most cases of sciatica are caused by a herniated disc. When the disc is out of position, it will press on the root of the sciatic nerve, causing pain.
Sacroiliitis: This disease causes pain in the buttocks, lower back, even extending down one or both legs.
Spinal Tumors: In rare cases, sciatica is caused by tumors in or along the spinal cord and sciatic nerve. The patient will experience pain when the tumor grows and presses on the bifurcation of the sciatic nerve in the spinal cord.
Pyramidal syndrome (Piriformis): Pyramidal syndrome (pear muscle syndrome) is a condition in which a muscle of the gluteal muscle group swells or contracts, irritates or compresses the sciatic nerve, causing pain.
Trauma or infection: Causes such as myositis, infection, or trauma can cause sciatica.

The common factor that causes sciatica is irritation or pressure on the sciatic nerve. However, in some cases a specific cause may not be identified.

The link between nutrition and sciatica

Maintaining a healthy diet is an important factor in keeping your body functioning at its best. Therefore, for people with sciatica, besides drug treatment, a healthy diet should be paid attention.

There is actually no specific diet for people with sciatica. Nutritionists only encourage patients to add beneficial foods to their daily menu, and at the same time limit foods that make pain worse.

Sciatica should eat what?

The outstanding foods that are often recommended to be added to the daily menu of sciatica patients include:

1. Fragrant

Pineapple has bromelain. This is an anti-inflammatory enzyme that helps relieve sinusitis, sore throat, and arthritis. This enzyme is also successfully applied in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, speeding up tissue repair.

Parsley: Parsley has apigenin. This is a form of flavonoid, an anti-inflammatory compound found in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. This compound is effective in reducing inflammation in people with lupus and arthritis.

2. Celery

Celery has apigenin, a very good anti-inflammatory. Besides, this food is also high in fiber, low in calories, fat and cholesterol. In addition, celery is also a source of vitamins and minerals such as folate, potassium, vitamin B, vitamin A and vitamin C for the body.

3. Onions

Onions have quercetin. This is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound. This food not only enhances the taste of the dish but also effectively reduces inflammation.

4. Broccoli

Broccoli has sulforaphane. This is a substance with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. This food contains few calories and is rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber needed by the body.

5. Grapes

Grapes have anthocyanins These are plant pigments that give red and blue colors to some fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanins have the ability to reduce inflammatory cells, increase anti-inflammatory molecules.

6. Teas

Green tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea ... effective anti-inflammatory support. In particular, white tea and green tea contain the highest content of anti-inflammatory polyphenols.

7. Soybeans

Soybeans have genistein. This compound has anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting the production of molecules that can cause inflammation. This bean has anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic colitis.

8. Green leafy vegetables

Green vegetables such as young spinach, bok choy, kale contain rich amounts of magnesium. This substance helps promote the regeneration of the sciatic nerve, effectively reducing inflammation.

9. Blueberries

Blueberries are rich in the anti-inflammatory phytochemical, anthocyanin. This is the food that sciatica patients should add to the menu every day.

What to eat for sciatica pain?

10. Salty Food

Sciatica patients should reduce salt in their daily meals. WHO has recommended salt intake per day should be less than 5g.

This spice can cause muscle contractions, brittle bones and make pain worse. In addition, the body is also at risk of water retention, weight gain, and increased pressure on inflammatory nerves. Adding a lot of salt not only makes the symptoms of sciatica worse, but also increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, stomach diseases, etc.

12. Greasy food

Greasy dishes appear not only in fast food restaurants but also in daily meals. French fries, fried chicken, pizza… are favorite dishes of many people. However, this is not a healthy food.

The fat and calories in this food group are the reason many people gain weight out of control. Over time, the pressure from the body's weight on the spine increases, which will create great pressure on the spine, causing sciatica. In addition, people who consume too much greasy food will face the risk of fatty liver, atherosclerosis ... very high.

13. High protein food

Red meat (beef, goat…) and seafood are foods with high protein content. They are listed on the "black list" of patients treated for musculoskeletal conditions, especially sciatica. Not only rich in protein, seafood also contains an abundant amount of uric acid. When uric acid accumulates too much in the blood, it will form crystals of urate salt in the synovial membrane of the joints, pressing on the nerves.

In addition, when adding too much red meat and seafood dishes, the abundant protein in these foods will stimulate and promote the formation of bone spurs. This causes sciatica pain to become more severe, causing severe pain for the patient.

Instead of consuming seafood and red meat, patients should add fresh vegetables to the menu every day. These beneficial foods will help reduce inflammation, which is great for the body's recovery process.

14. Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine ... are the leading cause of many problems related to bones and joints such as arthritis, spondylolisthesis, sciatica, gout...

In addition, this group of drinks also interferes with the body's absorption of calcium, and at the same time makes the symptoms of inflammation at the joints worse. Therefore, people with osteoarthritis should avoid using these drinks.

On the other hand, similar to greasy foods, alcoholic beverages cause many health problems such as heart disease, stomach disease, etc. Therefore, even if you are healthy, you should also limit the use of foods. drink this.

Doctor's Note

When eating, sciatica patients should note:

Load calcium and minerals in moderation, avoid adding too much because it can increase the risk of forming ureteral stones, kidney stones and affect calcium levels in the blood, disrupting blood calcium and heart rate.
Make sure to eat enough 4 groups of substances including starch, fat, protein, minerals, vitamins.
Choose foods that ensure food hygiene and safety.
Prioritize boiled, steamed, or grilled without oil, instead of deep-frying.
Add foods that are good for bones and joints in your daily meals.

At the same time, patients need to combine a moderate lifestyle, specifically:

Regularly perform gentle exercises to improve sciatica.
Patients can massage their limbs when they wake up or before going to bed to make the body more comfortable.
Drink plenty of water, at least 2.5 liters per day.
Avoid prolonged stress, instead need to keep the mind relaxed so that the condition is relieved.

Through the article, the patient had the answer to the question of what to eat and what to eat with sciatica . The combination of diet and exercise during treatment is an important factor in improving this uncomfortable condition. However, if many home care measures have been taken but the pain is still not reduced, the patient should quickly go to reputable health departments for examination, early intervention, and prevention of severe progression.