back pain – The CORE Performance Center

If you’ve got back or neck pain, and you’re doing everything right with your physical therapist, acupuncturist and/or chiropractor, and are STILL having problems, you might want to consider how your nutritional status may be a contributing factor.

Did you know that how you eat and what you put into your body can cause inflammation and aggravate your existing neck and back pain (and other illnesses like arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ulcerative colitis, diabetes and coronary artery disease)?

Inflammation can result when the food that you eat goes undigested. These particles become circulating immune complexes (CICs) that are attacked by the immune system of your body. If your body is consistently being bombarded by these foreign invaders, they will eventually end up in the joint tissues and be attacked by antibodies, which leaves the joint tissues painful and inflamed. Other symptoms include fatigue, poor concentration, headache, muscle pain and depression.

You can help your body feel better and less inflamed by using some straightforward and easy strategies. Not only will you reduce the pain and help your body heal, you’ll also help decrease the stress on your immune system.

Here are a few quick and easy tips:

1. Thoroughly chew your food. Make sure you chew your food until it’s liquefied. The mouth is where 30% to 40% of carbohydrate digestion occurs due to food mixing with saliva, so you can see why it’s important to chew your food 30 times. Additionally, chewing your food makes it easier for your digestive system to utilize the nutrients in the food and prevents parasites and bacteria from entering your body and starting a war with your immune system.

2. Stop eating foods that cause inflammation. The primary offenders are sugar (yes, even fruits) and dairy. Other foods that can cause problems include grains, nightshade plants (eggplants, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes); coffee; chocolate; artificial sweeteners; food colorings; additives; saturated fats; corn and safflower oil; and trans-fats in margarine and baked goods. Avoid fast foods and highly processed foods because they contain chemicals that are not recognized by the body; these foods cause the immune system to work overtime.

3. Start making smart food choices. Certain foods can cause an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Eat these anti-inflammatory foods: fish (salmon, trout); legumes; nuts (almonds, walnuts); spices (garlic, ginger, rosemary, turmeric); veggies (cruciferous and dark leafy greens); grape skin; and citrus fruits. Also, try to eat some raw food at every meal. Raw food is not cooked and therefore contains enzymes that help foster digestion (cooking food at 104 degrees destroys enzymes). Make sure that you soak your nuts and dried fruits in water to allow the food to soften and allow for easier digestion. Most importantly, buy organic food whenever possible. Not will you get twice as many nutrients, you do not expose your body to dangerous chemicals that will poison your body.

4. Take a digestive enzyme to help your body fully digest your meal and eliminate circulating immune complexes (CICs).
As you get older, your body does not possess as many enzymes as it used to have. And, there are some people who do not possess sufficient amounts of specific enzymes to digest carbohydrates, proteins and fats. So even though you may be eating a healthy diet, your body will not be obtaining the nutrients it needs; CICs will form and the immune system will begin its attack.

5. Consider taking a systemic enzyme, like protease, to reduce inflammation in your body.
An inflamed area produces swelling, which is a fluid that contains antibodies, white cells and proteins called fibrin. Fibrin is a scar tissue that is part of the natural healing process. However, when there is an excess of fibrin, it restricts the amount of blood flow to the injured area and prevents nutrients from coming in. Excessive fibrin also causes a loss of joint mobility and flexibility.

Protease is a systemic enzyme which circulates throughout the body and processes proteins. Protease is effective for breaking down fibrin, which effectively reduces inflammation, improves blood flow and nutrients to the injured area; and speeds up the body’s natural healing process without the dangerous side effects of prescription drugs.

Note: People with gastritis and/or ulcers should not take protease.

Interested in enzyme therapy? Discover how you can help your back and neck pain by using this natural approach. Learn which enzymes are best for your specific situation by consulting with a BioSET practitioner: http://www.thecoreperformancecenter.com/TCPC/BioSET.html.

The other day, I saw a client who was experiencing major back and buttock pain. This person had trouble walking, severe difficulty sitting, could barely get in and out of the car, getting into bed was excruciating…just about every movement and position was severely painful.

After I got my client feeling much better (one treatment), it turns out that the back was still stiff and the joints were “stuck.” This person most likely had been operating like this for a long, long time.

After querying my client, I discovered that it was the subtle, little things that creeped up and caused the major back pain. Things like driving without a lumbar support; not being aware of proper alignment for simple yoga moves; performing much more sitting than normal—stuff like that. After thinking about it, my client realized that before the pain started there were signs of slight discomfort and stiffness, but they were not significant enough to do anything about.

In general, back and neck pain are rarely a traumatic event. The pain generally creeps up on you, so if you’re aware of the warning signs, you’re much more likely to do something before it becomes an issue.

If you don’t have great health insurance, you’re going to want to read this so you can stay out of the doctor’s office!

Here are some ways to spot the warning signs that neck and/or back pain are coming to visit:
1. You will wake up with morning stiffness. With the proper sleeping position, pillow and mattress support, you should feel refreshed. If you don’t, you might have to investigate why you’re not feeling great.
2. You will have a little, teeny-tiny ache at the base of your neck or lower back. Pain is an indicator like the light in your car that something is wrong. Pay attention to it.
3. You will notice some type of movement deficit. This can manifest as a loss of range of motion when you look up to the ceiling, turning your head, or raising your arm. This is nearly the first warning sign you must heed!
4. You’re less flexible overall. For example, you won’t be able to bring your knees to your chest in yoga class, or it will take a while to get yourself to your “normal” flexibility.

So there you are. I’ve given you subtle secrets to eliminating neck and back pain. If you’re aware and paying attention to how you move and feel, you’re on your way to living a more pain-free life.

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