Did you know that most fresh, whole foods have innate healing properties? Did you know that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can actually improve pain, reduce inflammation as well as impact weight? If you suffer from all varieties of chronic painful conditions, including back and neck pain, then it's important that you look closely at your diet.

Processed and refined ingredients, especially carbohydrates found in many packaged foods, are actually very inflammatory. Because they have been stripped of many nutrients and fiber, these foods cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, provoking a surge in insulin and subsequent rapid decline in blood sugar. These initial high blood sugar levels promote inflammatary molecules called cytokines in your body. Eventually your body begins to store fat with each blood sugar surge. And guess what? Fat tissue actually produces the same inflammatory molecules, cytokines, in your body!

However, the vitamins, minerals and large colorful molecules called bioflavenoids, found in many fruits and vegetables, act as powerful antioxidants to neutralize your body's inflammation. In addition, these foods keep your body in the "fat-burning" zone lowering your body fat and minimizing the amount of cytokines or inflammatory molecules produced.

So for pain relief, the old adage "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", is nature's ultimate prescription!

Author's Bio: 

Dr. Pamela Avery is a board-certified anesthesiologist with extra credentials in pain management and integrative therapies. She integrates nutrition, mind body medicine, acupuncture and nutritional supplementation into her practice of medicine.

Dr. Avery has written numerous articles on pain, pain management and pain relief in addition to health and wellness. She has recently authored a complete lifestyle system for people who suffer with chronic pain. It is entitled "Live Pain Free! 6 Steps to a Pain Free Life" and explains the role of genetics, nutrition, supplementation, stress reduction, exercise and restorative sleep in creating optimal health while decreasing chronic pain.

Dr. Avery publishes a free weekly E-zine "Natural Solutions". It is designed to bring the latest information to consumers about natural solutions to common health issues, such as chronic pain, weight management and nutritional supplementation. It can be found along with a free special report, "The Truth about Supplements" and free stress reduction audio, "Laugh Away Stress, Laugh Away Pain". They can all be found at www.the-natural-md.com.