With all of the parties coming up this holiday season, it can be harder to eat healthy. If you also have consistent back pain, some foods and ingredients can make it worse. Here are some trigger foods to stay away from or consume in moderation.

4 Foods That Can Make Back Pain Worse

1. Sugar

Chronic inflammation is the cause of many people’s back pain. If you have chronic inflammation, you might notice fatigue, insomnia, constipation, or a general body ache. Sugar is one of the foods that can make your inflammation worse. 

However, this doesn’t apply to foods with natural sugars like fruit, but instead to added sugar. Added sugars are also more likely to cause you to gain weight, which makes back pain worse.

Cutting back on sugar could decrease your chronic pain or even eliminate it, especially in conjunction with chiropractic care. Avoid or reduce your consumption of foods with exceptional amounts of added sugar, including candy, cakes, cookies, ice cream, and sweetened beverages.

2. Red Meat

Red meat contains a sugar called Neu5GC that increases any inflammation in your body. Foods like burgers, hot dogs, sausages, and bacon can make your back pain worse. If possible, reduce the amount of these items you eat during meals to see if there’s a difference, along with receiving regular chiropractic care.

3. Preservatives

Preservatives are added to foods to increase their shelf life. Unfortunately, they can trigger an immune response, which will increase the inflammation in your back. Check food labels to see if they contain carboxyl, parabens, cellulose, benzoic acid, or potassium sorbate. Although it can be difficult to cut down on these preservatives when you’re eating food at a party, try to cut down on them in your daily life to see whether your back pain decreases.

4. Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids. Although these aren’t bad on their own, back pain can result when there are more omega-6 fatty acids in your body than omega-3 acids, which are contained in fish, nuts, and plant oils. If you need to use vegetable oil for a dish, only use a little. A better alternative is to use olive oil, which is much healthier since it can sometimes contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

If you’re struggling with back pain, visit Mid Rivers Chiropractic, located in Saint Peters, MO. This practice has over 30 years of chiropractic experience and can help diagnose the source of your pain. They provide sustainable, non-invasive treatments that will help you get your life back to normal. Visit their website or call (636) 279-1400 to schedule an appointment today.