This Hidden Food Ingredient Makes Your Chronic Health Conditions Worse

This Hidden Food Ingredient Makes Your Chronic Health Conditions Worse!

According to the American Pain Association, chronic pain affects upwards of 50 million Americans. Conditions associated with chronic pain include arthritis, headaches, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, shingles, neuropathy and chronic back pain. Those that suffer with these conditions may agree that chronic pain is tough to control; according to a survey by the American Academy of Pain Medicine, “…treatment with painkilling prescription drugs helps, on average, only about 58% of people with chronic pain.

So if pain medication doesn’t control chronic pain effectively, what else can be done? There are a number of adjunct treatments for chronic pain. Acupuncture has proven effective. Marijuana is used medicinally, especially for patients that have pain associated with nerve disorders. ( for More Click here) Chiropractic care is used for chronic back pain. Supplements should be used with caution; however, fish oil may help with swelling associated with chronic pain conditions. Capsaicin applied topically has proven effective for arthritis and diabetic neuropathy. Glucosamine helps with joint pain associated with osteoarthritis. Stress reduction tactics, such as yoga, relaxation therapy, hypnosis, guided imagery, music therapy, biofeedback and massage are all helpful.

There is an Ayurvedic proverb that states: “When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” The question is – is this true? Research shows that health lies in our gastrointestinal system, or the “gut”. If our gut is unhealthy, we will be unhealthy. A culprit of improper gut health is an overgrowth of yeast. There are a multitude of symptoms associated with poor gut health. Some are associated with chronic pain, such as chronic joint pain and headaches. Other symptoms include fatigue, skin conditions, chronic infections, and dandruff.

That being said, yeast is part of a healthy gut; it is the amount that is the issue. An overgrowth of yeast has been associated with most chronic illnesses. So, what can you do to reduce the yeast in the gut? Reducing yeasty foods is a good place to start. Foods include breads, beer, wine, vinegar, citrus fruits, cheese and bananas. Stop the excess sugar; yeast feeds off of sugar. As a result, the amount of yeast in the gut increases. Certain items can be added to the diet to combat yeast overgrowth. These include acids such as Caprylic acid and Undecylenic acid. Citrus seed extract, often in the form of grapefruit seed extract, has been shown to have antibacterial properties when ingested. Oregano oil and garlic are also beneficial when used in cooking. A probiotic supplement is also helpful; probiotics help the gut absorb nutrients and eliminate waste. Finally, increasing fiber in the diet can help for a number of reasons. Fiber contains prebiotics, which allows healthy bacteria to flourish. Fiber also helps to sweep out any toxins released by dying yeast.

In summary, chronic disease sufferers can do many things to help their symptoms: pain medications, alternative therapies aimed at decreasing pain, and focusing on the diet, specifically by decreasing the yeast in the gut. You can learn more about the causes of chronic pain here. Alternative treatments for chronic pain can be found here. Most importantly, you can find information about yeast overgrowth and treatment here. To find out more about the benefits of citrus seed extracts, click here.