Beware: How Favorite Foods Affect Nerve Pain?

Calgary Neuropathy Association
October 10, 2024

Author/Guest Blogger: Rebecca Janeson

Neurological conditions are a leading cause of illness and disability, affecting three billion people worldwide as of 2021. Foods affect many of these causes. Neuropathy is one of the most common ailments, especially in those living with diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and specific injuries. Without the proper treatment and care, neuropathy symptoms, like numbness, pain, and weakness, can worsen and lead to more disabling conditions. While there is no cure for neuropathy, it can be mitigated to prevent health complications and make daily life easier. Diet is one of the most crucial elements in managing neuropathy. Managing your favorites foods affects nerves from reducing inflammation to controlling blood sugar whether you are diabetic or not. The food you eat may either be amplifying your pain or helping you reduce it. Here’s a look at how some of your favorite foods affect nerve pain and how you can adjust your diet and potentially improve your health and condition.

Some foods affect nerve pain negatively

Highly processed food

Processed foods like potato chips, sweetened drinks, packaged snacks, and fast-food meals can be detrimental to your overall health and impact neuropathy symptoms. They often have additives or preservatives that can affect your well-being and amplify nerve pain. The high salt content in these foods can impede blood flow, as sodium regulates how much fluid your body retains. This can cause swelling, adding pressure to your nerves and increasing pain. It can also contribute to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, which can also affect nerve health. Highly processed foods typically contain trans-fat, which can impair nerve blood flow and damage them over time.

Added Sugars

sugar cubes on table — Sweets can contribute to nerve pain.

Candies, ice cream, cookies, and other sweet treats are delicious indulgences but can contribute to nerve pain. Foods affect nerves with their high sugar content can lead to inflammation, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress, worsening nerve damage. It can also lead to conditions like diabetes, which can cause diabetic neuropathy and worsen existing nerve pain symptoms. Chronically high blood sugar levels can affect nerves, hinder essential nutrients from reaching them, and interfere with their ability to send signals. Again, you don’t have to be diabetic for your nerves to be affected.

Cutting Sugar is number one the CNA’s list of 100 things to relieve nerve pain for a good reason. Too much sugar in the bloodstream can linger for much longer than it should, causing your body to store it until your organs are able to process it.

Gluten

Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are linked to neuropathy, and many who struggle with these conditions feel nerve pain or numbness. Consuming gluten heavy foods affect neuropathy by exacerbating symptoms. These can include foods containing wheat, rye, and barely. Gluten is often present in breads, pasta, cakes, and alcoholic beverages such as beer. We suggest testing yourself by cutting out gluten for two weeks to see if you can feel a difference in your nerves and overall feelings of health.

Some foods affect the nerves positively

Gluten-free foods

Many of your favorite foods may contain gluten, so you may have to avoid them to manage nerve pain. Fortunately, many other alternatives taste delicious without containing ingredients with gluten. Rice is a common gluten-free food; whole-grain brown rice is especially nutritious. It’s also high in fiber, which can help with inflammation. You can easily integrate it into your diet thanks to easy preparation with a rice cooker, which does the hard work for you by boiling grains in a hot pot. Rice cookers can cook rice and prepare many other foods like porridge, soups, vegetables, and even meat. Other options like gluten-free bread, gluten-free pasta, quinoa, and more are great gluten-free alternatives to your favorite foods containing gluten. Be aware, processed gluten-free foods are not necessarily a good option. Many of these foods affect the blood sugar because the are loaded with carbohydrates.

Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are essential for a balanced diet, providing vital nutrients that boost your overall health and help manage nerve pain. Leafy green vegetables contain vitamins that help boost nervous system function. Fruits like apples, pears, and strawberries can be healthy desserts or snack options without the high sugar content. Fruits and vegetables are also incredibly versatile. You can eat some of them as is or add them to meals to boost your intake. You can use devices like slow juicers to turn them into juices, giving you a new way to consume them for a more enjoyable experience. The Hazel Quinn slow juicer is a great example, as it can thoroughly squeeze and liquefy ingredients, reducing time and effort in the kitchen. Recipes can help make vegetables more exciting and flavorful. The viral cucumber salad recipe making rounds on TikTok showcases how simple preparing them can be without compromising taste.

Lean Protein

photo shows different kinds of meat — *Image Source: CNA*

Poultry, fish and tofu are examples of excellent sources of lean proteins. They boast high levels of vitamin B12, which is vital for supporting the nervous system and boosting the health of nerves and blood cells. Lean proteins are crucial for neuropathy management, mitigating nerve pain, and adding variety to your diet to make conscious eating more enjoyable while living with your condition. They do this by: helping to lower the inflammatory state in the body; providing essential amino acids which are used in nerve repair and growth; being low in sugar; and, being used in the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. These neurotransmitters can modulate pain perception.

Fish like tuna, sardines, and mackerel also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory and help relieve nerve pressure. Omega-3s are also the involved in the maintenance and function of cell membranes, including those in the nervous system.