Chronic pain impacts more than one-third of the US population, and while pain pills may reduce suffering, they do not treat the root of the cause AND they come with a handful of nasty side effects.

We know that when the spine is out of alignment, the body cannot function as it should, and so it signals that something is wrong through pain. Through chiropractic care and healthy lifestyle choices, chronic pain can easily become a distant memory!

What we fuel our body with is incredibly important to our overall wellness, so we want you to check out these 5 healing foods that will help your body fight pain naturally:

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1. Cherries: Cherries contain compounds called anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants that block inflammation and inhibit pain enzymes — just like some over-the-counter medications. One study showed that people who ate a bowl of cherries for breakfast reduced a major marker of inflammation by 25%, while another study proved that runners who drank 12 ounces of tart cherry juice twice daily for 7 days experienced less muscle pain.

2. Ginger: This root is great for easing upset stomachs, migraine relief, arthritis pain, and muscle aches. Its anti-inflammatory properties are a great, natural way to get relief. Add ginger to your diet through Asian inspired dishes, smoothies, juice, tea, etc. It’s got great flavor and even better results!

3. Fish: Eating fish low in mercury and high in omega-3 fatty acids helps relieve back pain. How? In a healthy back, blood vessels at the edge of spinal discs transport critical nutrients to those disks. Omega-3s help improve blood flow and decrease inflammation!

4. Coffee: The caffeine in coffee actually helps reduce pain by narrowing the dilated blood vessels that develop with headaches. It also reduces pain-promoting compounds and amplifies the effects of other pain relievers. Just remember to drink coffee in moderation so that you don’t experience withdrawals when you miss your cup of joe!

5. Mint: The menthol in peppermint helps prevent muscle spasms and can also help relieve headaches. In fact, botanist James A. Duke, PhD and author of The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods, recommends brewing mint tea for any type of pain –top it off with a squeeze of lemon, and you’ll extract as many pain reducing chemicals as possible from the plants.