Nutrition

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) identifies three crucial links between nutrition and pain:

1. Diet directly impacts the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, influencing pain sensations.
2. Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce joint burden, decreasing inflammation.
3. Diet and weight can influence the severity of diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and mental health issues, often associated with chronic pain.

Chronic pain can complicate nutrition in several ways:

• Limited mobility and reduced strength make daily tasks such as shopping, cooking, and meal preparation challenging.
• Mental health issues and frequent isolation among individuals with chronic pain can lead to loss of appetite or irregular eating habits.
• Sleep disorders can also disrupt eating patterns.