Drug Free Pain Relief

September 2, 2008 · 46 views · Filed Under General Health

Submit Health Care News Articles to GoldenHealthClub.com

Whether you are an athlete, soldier or office worker, body pain can run you down. You quickly lose motivation to finish your work and not much gets done regardless of how you push yourself.Â

Types of pain from strenuous exercise:

1. Extreme effort and fatigue. This kind of pain is not only intense, but it often leads to injuries.

2. Major injuries. This is a given. Breaks, sprains, cuts, etc. will stop you cold. Prevention and medical help are your best bets.

3. Minor injuries. These are from:

a. Micro tears that can cause problems in the long term if scar tissue is formed.

b. Post-exercise muscle soreness.

4. Special kinds of pain:

a. Back pain. Again, well conditioned, flexible muscles will reduce the incidences of pain.

b. Tension headaches.

Two methods of dealing with muscle pain is through better physical conditioning, which will raise your mental and physical pain threshold. You cannot beat training for improving your pain tolerance and recovery. No short cuts here.

The other natural way to reduce pain is through nutrition.

First, drink enough water. Not coffee, pop, sugared drinks, etc. Water. As boring as it seems, it will make your body function better. Muscles are mostly composed of water. Need I say more?

To get a steady flow of energy, complex carbohydrates like whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits can aid in exercise recovery. The added bonus of complex carbohydrates is their fiber content. Eating too much of processed grains, like white flour leads to a sluggish colon and considerable pain when you visit the throne.

Keep up your intake of vitamins and minerals. Ensuring that you are getting ample amounts of vitamins and minerals will ensure a high level of electrolytes in your body. Anyone who has experienced muscle cramps can appreciate what a lack of electrolytes can lead to. Keep up a good intake of fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Of all of the vitamin supplements, vitamin C remains one of the most potent vitamins for strengthening capillaries and producing collagen (the protein substance of connective tissue). Post -exercise muscle soreness and injury pain can be reduced by Vitamin C intake. Doses vary around 250 mg. 4 times per day, but high dosages cause diarrhea in some people.

Lower your sugar intake. According to former president of the American Medical Athletic Association, Dr. Ronald Lawrence, simple sugars can increase the pain in injuries. The more sugar, the more pain, especially in the case of arthritis. Sugar interferes with calcium’s ability to transmit signals by causing more “touchy” nerves. I can attest to this after having dental surgery. My jaw used to ache within an hour of eating anything sweet.

Avoid certain foods. Watch the hot coffee, tea and spices. Drinking fluids that are too hot or ingesting too many irritants like pickles and hot spices can cause inflammation of the intestinal lining. This causes a drop in the digestive juices and poorer extraction of vitamins and minerals from food. Excess alcohol inhibits the absorption of B vitamins and protein.

Watch yourself for food allergies. Certain foods can cause flare ups in the digestive tract, joints and old injuries. Famed basketball player Kareem Abdu-Jabbar, reportedly had crippling headaches and energy loss until he removed wheat, eggplant, tomatoes, milk and shellfish from his diet. I know a very fit fire fighter who cannot eat gluten. Myself, I have to avoid wheat and milk or my guts churn.

Avoid or minimize foods high in phosphorous (eg. Dairy products). Too much phosphorus will use up the body’s supply of calcium. Calcium is needed to maintain muscle tone and feed your nerves.

Aspirin is the least toxic of painkillers. However, it inhibits the use of protein. (So, that means less muscle, dude!) As mild as aspirin is, use sparingly. Some people develop ulcers and constipation from too much aspirin use.

Massage, saunas and whirl pools. These three things improve circulation for sore muscles and speed recovery. While they might seem like a hassle or unnecessary expense, they help keep you maintain your personal equipment.

Good luck.

More tips Stomach Flattening

Doug Setter holds a Bachelor’s of Human Ecology. He has served as a paratrooper and U.N. Peacekeeper. He has completed 5 full marathons and climbed Mt. Rainier. He has instructed and consulted nutrition, fitness, kick-boxing and outdoor living skills for over 800 people. He is the author of Stomach Flattening and One Less Victim. Degree in Foods and Nutrition. http://www.2ndwindbodyscience.com

Rating: