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Let Proper Nutrition Fight Off that Persistent Back Pain

By Ann Butenas May 25, 2010 - 6:13am
 
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We all know that what we eat has a lot of bearing on how we look, feel, and function. Sometimes even just drinking a cup of water in the afternoon will erase that mid-day feeling of fatigue. If back problems plague you, however, then learn to maintain a balanced diet, consuming the right amount and variety of vitamins and nutrients. You just might notice it will soon reduce your back pain and discomfort as it nourishes your bones, muscles, discs, and other spinal structures.

So, where do you start? Well, I don’t recommend heading off to your local fast-food joint. Despite the fact that my 105-year-old grandma has thrived off of a steady diet of salt-laden foods, fries, hamburgers, bacon, and chocolate shakes for years, she still remains a medical enigma. I believe she has a stomach of steel and a bone structure of solid iron. For us mere mortals, however, there is a better, more proven way to incorporate the necessary vitamins and minerals into our diets to help stave off certain physical ailments, like the ever-popular and rather persistent back pain.

Vitamin A is a great antioxidant that helps the immune system to fight off disease. It is also good for your back because it aids in repairing tissue and in forming bone. If you want to get a healthy dose of vitamin A, then enjoy it in beef, calf, or chicken liver, milk, butter, cheese, and eggs.

You can also amp up the back pain fighting reserves in your diet by eating fresh fruits, such as apricots, nectarines, and cantaloupe. Orange and green vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach, are also good sources of vitamin A.

You also need some vitamin B12, which is necessary for healthy bone marrow. It also allows your body and spine to grow and function normally. You can find vitamin B12 in meat products, such as liver, fish, red meat, and poultry. Dairy products, including milk, eggs and cheese, are also excellent sources of this vitamin. Be sure to include some leafy green veggies, like spinach and broccoli, in your diet as well.

In order to allow your body to develop collagen, you need the popular vitamin C in your diet.

 
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We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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