#278 How food can improve back pain and daily habits that add up with Dr Rupy Aujla

18th Dec 2024

Welcome to this quarterly review episode with Sakina, science writer & researcher at Doctor’s Kitchen. Every quarter, we pull together insights from recent expert-packed podcasts into one episode - to make it easier to take action.

👉 Tell us what you think & ask questions here.

Today, we dive into pain, which affects so many of us – whether it’s back pain, joint pain, headaches, IBS or chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and endometriosis. Even menstrual pain, often brushed off as “normal”,  can significantly disrupt daily life. This episode is all about giving you tools and ideas to feel better.

 We cover:

• Invisible pain: Why it’s not just in your head and what you can do about it
• Anti-inflammatory foods: Easy swaps to ease pain & what to keep in your kitchen
• Daily wins: How small habits, like a 30-minute walk, can make a big difference
• Beyond willpower: Why healthy eating isn’t just about personal choices and how changes in our food system could make it easier for everyone to eat well

If you want to dive deeper into the full episodes:

• #276 How the immune system, nutrition and mindset affect pain with Prof. Dr Deepak Ravindran
• #271 Why Prescribing Food Could Fix the Healthcare Crisis with Jonathan Pauling

Papers we referenced:

• Chronic pain prevalence: Zimmer et al., Pain. 2022
• Nociplastic pain: Fitzcharles et al., The Lancet. 2021
• Anti-inflammatory diets and pain: Field et al., Pain Medicine. 2021
• WalkBack study: Pocovi et al., The Lancet. 2024