That’s how much Americans had spent on pain relief medications and treatments when the Institute of Medicine (IOM) completed its report in 2011. If you factor in lost
productivity, the economic cost of pain rose to more than $560 billion annually.1
That’s a remarkable number. It would take just $18 billion or so to buy all five of the most valuable sports teams in the world – Dallas Cowboys ($4 billion), Real Madrid ($3.65
billion), Barcelona ($3.55 billion), New York Yankees ($3.4 billion), and Manchester United (3.32 billion).2
If you’d like to spend less on pain medications and treatments, you may want to modify your diet. Many people include pain-fighting foods in recipes and meals. Here are a few
researchers have found may help ease discomfort:
• Ginger. EatingWell.com reported ginger does a lot more than settle stomach aches and provide relief for colds. “…ginger is rich in inflammation-fighting compounds, such
as gingerols, which may reduce the aches of osteoarthritis and soothe sore muscles.”3
• Grapes of all colors. The blend of antioxidants in grapes may help with everything from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to cancer and aging. Grapes contain phytonutrients,
including phenols, polyphenols, resveratrol, and carotenoids, and are also a good source of vitamin K, copper, and B vitamins.4, 5
• Coffee. Next time you have a headache, drink a 16-ounce coffee (caffeinated). That should provide the 200 milligrams of caffeine needed to help with headaches – even
migraines!3
• Tart cherries. Whether you eat the fruit or drink the juice, cherries have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as pomegranates, blueberries, acai, and
cranberries.3
• Turmeric. You may want to substitute turmeric for ibuprofen. It may help with arthritis pain and swelling, and may also help treat symptoms of Crohn’s disease, Irritable
Bowel Syndrome, and stomach ulcers.4, 6
If your joints are sore occasionally, you experience muscle tension after a tough workout, or you suffer from chronic pain, adding a few of these items to your diet may help.
Gingerbread: It’s Not Just for Christmas
The first known recipe for gingerbread was Greek and dates back to 2400 BC. Over time, recipes emerged in China and Europe, according to PBS.com. Queen Elizabeth I had the idea
to decorate gingerbread cookies with shapes varying from flowers in the spring to birds in the fall.7 Here is a fall recipe for gingerbread from Allrecipes.com. You can serve it
with a side of cherries, grapes, and other pain-fighting fruits.
Pumpkin Gingerbread8
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2/3 cup water
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, oil, and eggs; beat until smooth. Add water and beat
until well blended. Stir in pumpkin, ginger, allspice cinnamon, and clove. In a medium bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture
and blend just until all ingredients are mixed. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake in a preheated oven until toothpick comes out clean (about 1 hour).
Sources:
1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92521/
2 http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/05/11/the-worlds-most-valuable-soccer-teams-2016/#62054db12d04
3 http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/foods_that_fight_pain?page=2
4 http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2015/03/23/10-foods-that-fight-inflammation
5 http://www.livescience.com/54581-grapes-nutrition.html
6 http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/what-to-eat/11-joint-friendly-foods/slide/8
7 http://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/history-gingerbread/
8 http://allrecipes.com/recipe/23822/pumpkin-gingerbread/print/?recipeType=Recipe&servings=24
This material was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance. Peak Advisor Alliance is not affiliated with the named broker/dealer.