Chronic pain is a persistent and debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While pain interventions are available, many individuals struggle without any treatment.

Recent research from the University of South Australia indicates that a healthy diet can alleviate the severity of chronic pain, providing an easy and accessible method for sufferers to manage their condition more effectively.

Researchers investigating the links between body fat, diet, and pain discovered that a higher intake of foods aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines was significantly associated with lower body pain levels, particularly among women.

Significantly, these findings were not influenced by a person’s weight, indicating that a healthy diet can help alleviate chronic pain, regardless of body composition.

Approximately 30% of the global population experiences chronic pain.

Women experience higher rates of chronic pain, as do those who are overweight or obese.

UniSA PhD researcher Sue Ward states that the study demonstrates how modifiable factors, such as diet, can help manage and alleviate chronic pain.

“It’s common knowledge that eating well is good for your health and wellbeing. But knowing that simple changes to your diet could offset chronic pain could be life-changing,” Ward says.

“In our study, higher consumption of core foods – your vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meats, dairy and alternatives – was related to less pain, regardless of body weight.

Being overweight or obese is a known risk factor for chronic pain.

Understanding that food choices and diet quality enhance health and reduce pain is invaluable.

Notably, the findings suggest that diet quality affects pain differently in men and women.

“Women with better diets, had lower pain levels and better physical function. But this effect was much weaker for men,” Ward says.

“The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the healthier core food groups may be what reduces pain, but we can’t yet determine whether poorer diet quality leads to more pain, or if pain leads to eating a poorer quality diet.

“A healthy, nutritious diet brings multiple health, wellbeing, and pain management benefits. And while personalised pain management strategies should be adopted, a healthy diet is an accessible, affordable, and effective way to manage and even reduce pain.”