Column Dietary Habits That Reduce the Pain from Lumbar Disc Herniation: Anti-Inflammation Strategies and Essential Nutrients 🍎

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11.28.2025

What is Lumbar Disc Herniation?

Intervertebral discs are located between each vertebra. Each disc consists of a gel-like nucleus pulposus in the center, enclosed in the annulus fibrosus, which is rich in collagen.

When cracks form in the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus protrudes outward, this is called lumbar disc herniation.

Major symptoms include:

Sciatic nerve pain, particularly radiating from the buttocks down the back of the thigh, is a common characteristic symptom.

Low back pain

Pain or numbness in the buttocks and legs

The Link Between Disc Herniation and Diet

While diet alone cannot cure disc herniation, adjusting your eating habits can significantly help in reducing symptoms and promoting the overall health of your spine.

Foods That promote Intervertebral Discs and Spine Health

・Collagen

As a type of protein, collagen is a structural component of discs and bones. Sources include chicken, fish, and foods rich in gelatin such as pig’s feet.

・Calcium & Vitamin D

Calcium and Vitamin D are essential for strong bone healt.

Sources (Calcium): Dairy products, leafy green vegetables.
Sources (Vitamin D): Mushrooms, fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines.

・Antioxidants

These substances help reduce reactive oxygen species, aiding in overall health maintenance.

Sources: Green and yellow vegetables, fruits, and green tea.

・Anti-inflammatory Foods

Reducing inflammation can alleviate pain.

Sources: Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel) rich in unsaturated fatty acids, berries and cherries, vegetables (e.g., broccoli), nuts (almonds, walnuts), and seeds (flaxseed, chia seeds).

Foods That are Best Avoided

Foods high in sugar and fat can increase inflammation and aggravate pain.

High-Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates: Foods like sugar and white rice cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, leading to excessive insulin secretion, which can promote inflammation. Recommended alternatives: brown rice, whole-grain bread

High-Fat Foods: Foods high in saturated fatty acids (e.g., fried foods, fatty cuts of meat) can promote inflammation. Recommended alternatives: Unsaturated fatty acids found in fish have the opposite, anti-inflammatory effect; prioritize fish over red meat.

Stimulants: Excessive consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and spices can potentially aggravate inflammation.

Important Dietary Habits To Follow

Maintain a Balanced Diet: Aim for meals that include a good balance of staple foods, main dishes, and side dishes to ensure adequate nutrition without over-consumption.

Chew Thoroughly: Chew your food well (aim for 20 or more chews per bite) to reduce stress on internal organs and stimulate the satiety center, helping prevent overeating and fast eating.

Stay Hydrated: Adequate water intake is vital, as the intervertebral discs rely on water to maintain their elasticity and shock-absorbing properties. Drink water frequently throughout the day.

Our Clinic’s Treatment

While a healthy diet may support symptom relief and prevention, symptomatic disc herniation requires fundamental treatment.

Our clinic offers the Cellgel Method for disc herniation, a procedure designed to repair damaged intervertebral discs.

In this treatment, a special agent is injected into the cracks of the disc; this agent solidifies into a gel, essentially patching the tear and providing a fundamental treatment. The gel acts as a permanent implant within the disc, preserving the disc’s volume.

Click here for more information about the Cellgel Method

We also offer free MRI evaluation for patients who already have lumbar MRI images.
If you have MRI data from another hospital, please feel free to contact us.

Click here for a free MRI Imaging Consultation

If you have been diagnosed with a disc herniation or suffer from back pain, please consider scheduling a consultation.

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