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Listening to the radio one morning a few years ago, I was delighted to hear that scientists had discovered evidence that drinking red wine in moderation had positive health benefits. Unknowingly, I had been self-medicating for years!
Fast forward a couple of years and an item on the news informed me that new research revealed that drinking any form of alcohol, even in moderation, was a danger to health. Discovering such contradictory advice over products we consume regularly – dairy, potatoes, bananas, eggs, beef, tuna, peanut butter, etc. – is not unusual.
CRPS diet
However, if you suffer from CRPS or other conditions causing chronic pain, the dietary advice has for years remained pretty consistent. And it focuses on controlling inflammation.
The anti-inflammatory diet
Although the role of inflammation in chronic pain is not clearly understood, diets aimed at inhibiting inflammation are widely recommended. There is evidence that some common foodstuffs have anti-inflammatory properties, whereas others maintain or increase inflammation. Indeed, Amazon is awash with books on anti-inflammatory diets.
The Four Fs
The most widely known anti-inflammatory diet is the Four Fs, which excludes foods that aggravate pain, instead recommending those that indirectly reduce pain by helping the inhibitory nerve cells. The Four Fs was introduced in 1993 by Hooshang Hooshmand MD, Professor of Neurology at the Medical College of Virginia, in his book Chronic Pain-Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy: Prevention and Management.
In summary, the foods to avoid are the Five Cs:
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Chocolate
- Cocktails
- Candy
On the other hand, the foods to consume are the Four Fs:
- Fresh Fruit
- Fresh Vegetables
- Fish (baked or grilled)
- Fowl (no skin and baked, roasted or grilled)
However, the Five Cs and the Four Fs are very much catchy over-simplifications, and nothing replaces reading Professor Hooshmand’s entire recommendations. In doing so, you will see that he also lists foods to consume “rarely or sparingly”.
Anecdotally, paying only lip service to the Four Fs will unlikely prove beneficial. But those adhering to it strictly often say it does help. Interestingly, by process of elimination, some people have identified which foods have the most significant effect on their pain, positive or negative, and can tailor their diet accordingly.
Mediterranean diet
If you’re looking for a ready-made diet closely following the tenets of anti-inflammatory eating, consider the Mediterranean diet. It’s high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and healthy oils, so it’s unsurprising that the NHS highly recommend it for good overall health.
Always take medical advice
But caution. Before embarking on any significant changes to your diet, always take medical advice. Following a diet deficient in some respects can cause long-term health problems. Generally, doctors are open to discussing dietary matters and making onward referrals for more specialist advice if needed. A good recent example I encountered was a client referred to a dietician by her pain medicine consultant for more specialist advice on an anti-inflammatory diet.