Have Chronic Pain? Avoiding THIS Ingredient Can Help!

Have Chronic Pain? Avoiding THIS Ingredient Can Help!  

In my practice, I provide personalized care to all of my patients. Everyone has a different health status and lifestyle factors. But there are a few constants that are important for everyone.

We all need less sugar.

My Problem-solving System

I really try to help people understand why they need to get off of sugar and what’s in it for them.  During medical school, when we were talking about diseases and illnesses, we were taught to develop a list of potential problems that accompany each ailment. For example, we might list hematological issues and gastrointestinal issues. We would also include medications on the list. A prescription may solve one problem but could create unintended side effects. 

After being in private practice for many years, I decided to also put foods on the list. Like medications, food is a substance coming from the external to the internal that can have either predictable results or unique and isolated results in that one person. And so when a patient is presenting a problem to me, I’m aware that some foods, either short-term consumption or long-term consumption, could contribute to the problem.

Not Sugar-Coating It

When a patient has a complaint, such as chronic pain for example, and they are consuming sugar on a regular basis, this may be a key to solving the problem. When I advise patients to cut their sugar intake, and they are successful in doing so, they report back a number of positive outcomes:

  • If the patient had palpitations, the palpitations are now gone.
  • If they once had muscle spasms, the muscle spasms are now gone.
  • If they struggled with constipation, they are now more regular.
  • If the patient felt like sleeping all the time, their energy level has increased.
  • If they had aching joints, they now have less or no pain.

All these great benefits came from cutting back on sugar consumption – no pills or procedures necessary!

Sack the Sugar
Have a sweet tooth? Try some food swaps and make incremental changes to help you on your journey to sacking the sugar.  Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Avoid processed foods. If it comes in a box, there is most likely a lot of hidden sugar. Move on!
  • Avoid foods labeled as fat-free. The sugar content will probably be much higher to make up for the lack of taste.
  • Eat a piece of fruit instead of a cookie.
  • Eat oatmeal instead of sugary cereals.
  • Try sparkling water instead of a soda or cola.
  • Cook more of your own food so you can control the ingredients.
  • Chew a piece of sugar-free gum to get you through the afternoon slump.

If you need additional nutritional guidance, check out our LifeLong Health program with proven strategies to help you improve your health. Text our office at 325-268-0650 to make an appointment, and we’ll create a plan that works for you.

Watch Dr. Martin Discuss Quitting Sugar  

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