Essential Nutrients to Alleviate Neuropathic Pain in Your Diet Today
- Julian Simpson
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 16
Currently, 1 in 5 people wake up each day with chronic pain. That’s a staggering number! Neuropathic pain affects 1 in 10 people. It’s a persistent or intermittent pain that can feel like a constant buzz or prickling sensation.
Understanding Neuropathic Pain
What’s the difference between pain and nociception? It’s crucial to know! Pain is a subjective experience. It’s how we perceive discomfort. On the other hand, nociception refers to the neuronal mechanisms that encode harmful stimuli. Neuropathic pain doesn’t stem from nociceptors. Instead, it arises from damage to the somatosensory nervous system.
The mechanisms behind neuropathic pain are complex. They involve immune responses, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
The Role of Inflammation
Inflammation plays a significant role in pain transmission. It’s a process linked to pain, triggering the release of inflammatory proteins. One key player is cytokines. These small proteins are vital mediators for inflammation and pain resolution. Tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) is the most important pro-inflammatory cytokine. Other cytokines, like interleukin-1β (IL-1β), also contribute to this process.
This is where chiropractic care comes into play! Several blogs by Dr. Julian discuss how chiropractic adjustments can alter cytokine levels.
Nutrition for Pain Management
What should you eat to help manage your pain? It’s essential to include flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids in your diet. These compounds exhibit a range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects.
Embrace an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Consider adopting an anti-inflammatory diet! Remove foods with high glycemic indices, such as refined wheat products and sugars. Also, eliminate common intolerances like cow’s milk. Avoid hydrogenated oils that can negatively impact cardiovascular health.
Supplements to Consider
Research suggests several supplements may help. A daily dosage could include:
100 mg of coenzyme Q10
200 mg of n-acetylcysteine
150 mg of mixed tocopherols
100 mg of DL alpha-lipoic acid
60 mg of green tea extract
5.5 mg of zinc
100 μg of selenium
Have You Tried Strawberries?
Let’s talk about strawberries! Participants in a study consumed 50 g of freeze-dried strawberry powder reconstituted in water twice daily for 12 weeks. This amount is equivalent to about 500 g of fresh strawberries. The results? Significant decreases in constant, intermittent, and total knee pain scores! Who knew strawberries could be so powerful?
Melatonin for Pain Relief
Have you considered melatonin for pain relief? Studies show it can help with various conditions:
Multiple Sclerosis: Improved postural stability and walking performance, enhanced sleep, and reduced pain severity.
Migraines: Reduction in frequency without side effects.
The Connection Between Nutrition and Pain Relief
Nutrition plays a vital role in managing neuropathic pain. By focusing on anti-inflammatory foods and supplements, you can support your body’s healing processes.
For more information about how we can help YOU with your muscle pain and improve your underlying dysfunction so the problem doesn’t come back, please call Health Wise Chiropractic at 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Melton/Strathtulloh today!
We are also really proud to offer our patients an app for their mobile devices! With access to your rehab exercises and our health tip blogs featuring over 600 articles, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips.
Online Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic has moved online! We offer our online program - STAND CORRECTED - to help you through the day.
We have over 30 programs covering different health conditions. Each program includes:
Information about the conditions
Things to do and things to avoid
Nutrition advice
All the stretches you need to help
Conclusion
Managing neuropathic pain is a journey, but you don’t have to do it alone! With the right nutrition, chiropractic care, and support, you can take control of your health. Let’s work together towards a pain-free life!
Cominelli G, Sulas F, Pinto D, Rinaldi F, Favero G, Rezzani R. Neuro-Nutritional Approach to Neuropathic Pain Management: A Critical Review. Nutrients. 2025 Apr 29;17(9):1502. doi: 10.3390/nu17091502. PMID: 40362812; PMCID: PMC12073121.
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