Pain Fighting Foods

Chronic pain can really deter you from doing even your routine activities. Anyone who suffers from any kind of chronic pain can surely tell you how difficult it is sometimes to get up from the bed in the morning because back or knee or neck has 'pins' in it.

Medication containing codeine can cause addiction after just three days of use.

So, to avoid reaching for a painkiller next time you experience mild to moderate pain, why not eat a pain-fighting food instead?

When pain strikes, certain foods are equipped with pain-soothing properties, like anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidants and natural pain relievers, which help you battle the pain the natural way.

Take a look at our round-up of the best foods for pain relief lurking in your fridge...

Salmon, Mackerel and Herring: You probably already know that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish are good for your heart because they have anti-inflammatory properties. But you might not have realized that they can also fight inflammation in other parts of your body and therefore help reduce pain.

Whole grains: Whole grains are rich in fiber, therefore filling. Once you have a stomach full, you are not inclined to eat wrong stuff and you manage your weight. Also, whole grains are a good source of magnesium, a mineral that has been shown in animal studies to short-circuit muscle pain. Include ragi, bajra, jowar puffs in your snacks. Have mixed atta for your rotis. You can even soak the grains, even wheat, overnight and have a chatpata snack adding onion, tomato and masala to steamed grains.

Turmeric: Another popular pakistani spice is turmeric. Also a ginger family member, it's powder is used in all vegetables and curries. It contains curcumin that helps nip pain

Ginger: While fresh ginger has been used for centuries to treat everything from colds to upset stomach, the University of Georgia recently found it can also reduce muscle pain after exercise by 25 percent. Ginger is the best pain killer having analgesic properties like the popular ibuprofen. It contains a quartet, gingerols, paradols, shogaols, and zingerone which are active ingredients to reduce pain. Drink ginger tea in monsoons and winter to get relief from that recurring pain.

Olive oil: One anti-inflammatory, pain-busting food to try is olive oil, which may help with long-term relief of pain and inflammation. It is rich in antioxidant polyphenols that help reduce common pain-causing mechanism in the body. Olive oil is also a good substitute for butter, which is high in saturated fat, that erodes bone strength and trigger pain. But use it carefully as it has 120 calories per tablespoon.

Nuts: Almonds, walnuts are great source of omega 3 fatty acids and anti oxidants that help in pain control. Add these nuts to your salad or just munch on a handful as an afternoon snack.

Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries and Blueberries: Are full of vitamin C, an antioxidant with powerful pain-reducing properties, according to research. Some studies suggest vitamin C may help people experience less pain after breaking a bone or having orthopedic surgery.

Greens Tea: An established superfood, has been shown to alleviate this sometimes debilitating disease. "There's a potent compound found in green tea, EGCG, that's been shown to block the production of molecules that can damage cartilage and bone, so it can help to alleviate arthritis pain.