Natural Ways to Achieve Less Pain
The CDC estimates the total economic burden of pain prescription opioid misuse in the U.S. is $78.5 billion a year10, including the costs of health care, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement. Some of these prescriptions may be warranted, but proper care of your body, related inflammation, and injuries may reduce your chances of acute pain turning into chronic pain. Not every pain solution is going to work for every person. But if you’re looking for natural ways to be less stressed, here are some that do not involve CBD (though we certainly recommend that too).
INCREASE ACTIVITY
Getting up and moving improves circulation and lymphatic flow which helps to reduce inflammation. Staying active has a number of overall benefits including weight loss. Obesity puts the body under metabolic stress which causes fat cells to become a factor in initiating an inflammatory response. Likewise, chronic inflammation can also trigger hunger signals and slow the metabolism. Eating more and burning fewer calories results in continued weight gain and can also increase insulin resistance.
JUST CHILL
The body essentially recognizes stress emotions as foreign invaders and sends in the inflammatory defense system to take care of the situation. Continually high levels of stress equate to high levels of inflammation. This vicious cycle leads to increased production of free radicals which can cause decreased production of serotonin. People who are less happy tend to have higher stress levels and lower motivation to do all of the other things that reduce inflammation. Identifying and addressing causes of stress could make a big difference in levels of inflammation and pain.
“When getting started I tried numerous different CBD products. Receptra Serious Relief + Turmeric helped me more than any of the others. Stress levels and my arthritis have definitely improved!”
- SHELLIE S.
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ANTIOXIDANT INTAKE
Antioxidants are crucial for inflammation reduction and thus overall health. The body naturally produces antioxidants to assist in the management of free radicals, but sometimes it is not enough. The body is exposed to many toxins on a daily basis.
Food choices can make a big difference. There are a number of foods high in natural antioxidants. Typically, the more vibrant the color, the more antioxidants the food contains. No, this is not the case in the bakery section. Sprinkles and frosting don't count. Check the produce section for bright berries such as blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and more. Spinach and other greens, pomegranates, walnuts, kidney beans, coffee, and even dark chocolate (take it easy on that one) all have high levels of antioxidants.
CBD oil made from pure hemp extract has been patented by the U.S. government as an antioxidant. Supplementation with CBD can provide benefits without side effects or repeated trips to the grocery store
SLEEP WELL
The body needs time to heal from the physical and emotional traumas of the day. This also includes healing muscles and joints from exercise or other exertion. Quality sleep provides this opportunity. Too little sleep is associated with an increase in cytokine inflammatory messengers, sending inflammation responses throughout the body. Getting a normal amount of sleep (typically between 7 and 8 hours) will help the body to achieve a state of balance, called homeostasis. When the body is fatigued, normal functions become compromised and the inflammatory pain cycle continues
MINIMIZE TOXINS
Many of the toxins absorbed by the body are self-induced. Alcohol and tobacco consumption are two major sources of toxins. Food allergies and sensitivities can create a similar toxin response. Breathing polluted air or consuming chemicals in food or water can also introduce toxins into the body. Therefore, being aware of your personal habits and surroundings may help reduce toxins and thus inflammation and pain.