Foods to Avoid for Pain

Pain is a common complaint that varies in intensity, duration and cause. While it may appear as an important signal from your body that it needs care, it can persist regardless of treatment and hinder your mood and ability to function normally. According to a Health United States survey in 2006, one in four Americans experienced day-long pain within the previous month and 1 in 10 had pain outlasting a year. In addition to medical treatment, avoiding certain foods may help improve your symptoms.

Fatty Foods

Avoiding foods that promote weight gain may enhance pain management. In a study published in the "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society" in April 2008, 87 obese adults over age 60 with self-reported osteoarthritis or knee pain consumed a calorie-controlled diet or a non-calorie controlled diet. At the end of six months, participants on the controlled-calorie diet lost more weight and demonstrated fewer symptoms of pain and inflammation than participants in the control group. For potentially similar benefits, try to replace fatty meats, such as organ meats, steak, lamb, pork ribs, ground beef, sausage and luncheon meats with alternatives lower in calories and fat, such as skinless poultry or fish. Replacing high-fat dairy products, such as whole milk, heavy cream and cheeses, with skim or low-fat equivalents, and limiting fried foods, such as potato chips, french fries and bacon, may also help.

Chocolate

Chocolate may also exacerbate pain symptoms. According to physician and author Dr. Neal D. Barnard in "Foods That Fight Pain: Revolutionary New Strategies for Maximum Pain Relief," certain chemicals in chocolate, including theobromine and theophylline, may affect blood flow to your brain and promote inflammation, which then causes pain. These chemicals affect people differently, but both may contribute to inflammation. To make matters worse, a substance in chocolate known as phenylethylamine may provide a subtle amphetamine-like effect that can make it addicting. Milk chocolate also contains significant amounts of saturated fat and added sugar and leaves less room in your diet for foods that may reduce inflammation, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

Refined Carbohydrates

According to registered dietitian Joyce Bauer refined carbohydrates increase production of inflammatory compounds called cytokines in the body and exacerbate symptoms of arthritis. Common sources of refined carbohydrates include enriched white and wheat breads, pasta and cold cereals, instant rice, regular soft drinks, candy, pancake syrup, frosting, frozen desserts and commercially-prepared cookies, pies, cakes and pastries. As a general rule, avoid prepared foods that list enriched grains, flour or forms of sugar, such as cane sugar, corn syrup, maltose or dextrose, as main ingredients.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes, though rich sources of nutrients, may also contribute to pain symptoms. As members of the nightshade family of vegetables, tomatoes contain inflammatory substances known as alkaloids, according to "The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book" by Jessica K. Black. Consuming tomatoes and/or tomato products, such as tomato sauce, tomato juice, diced tomatoes, salsa and ketchup, frequently or in high amounts may trigger or exacerbate inflammation and pain associated with arthritis, autoimmune diseases and asthma.