My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Why Healthy Eating Is Important
Overview
Eating healthy foods can improve your overall health and help prevent and manage some chronic diseases. If you have certain conditions (such as diabetes or food allergies), we recommend that you talk to us about your special dietary needs. But no matter what your health status is, you should try to:
- Eat at least 5 to 9 serving of fruits and vegetables every day.
- Eat a variety of foods throughout the week.
- Limit fat, sugar, and alcohol.
- Limit portion sizes if you are trying to manage your weight.
It is important to have a diet with variety because the nutrients we need are found in many different foods. So, the more variety, the better for you!
Benefits of Healthy Eating
Healthy eating will reduce your risk of:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Breast, colon, and prostate cancers
Healthy eating can also help you manage your weight successfully, have more energy, and feel better now and in the future. Your healthy diet should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein. Choosing wholesome, unprocessed foods will help you feel great and stay as healthy as possible.
Manage Your Condition with Healthy Eating
Though healthy eating is good for everyone, it may be especially important if you have a long-term medical condition, like diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Healthy eating can help you manage your condition now and avoid health complications in the future. To help manage an ongoing condition, it is important to:
- Eat foods that are rich in fiber. Fiber helps reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and many cancers.
- Eat potassium-rich foods. Food with potassium, such as bananas, can counteract the effect of too much sodium (salt) on your blood pressure.
- Limit saturated fats, which are found in meats and cheeses. Instead of meat and cheese, eat healthy plant-based fats (polyunsaturated and mono-unsaturated), found in olive or canola oil, nuts, and seeds. These types of fats benefit your heart and circulatory system.
We can talk about how healthy eating may be a part of your overall treatment plan.
Additional References:
- PDF Link to Making Healthy Choices- Your Food Pyramid
- PDF Link to Healthy Eating: What Does it Mean to You?
- External Link to Track Your Eating and Exercise with Lose It!
- PDF Link to Why Fiber in Your Diet is Important
- PDF Link to Fiber Facts (Spanish)
- PDF Link to Healthy Eating: What Does it Mean to You?
- PDF Link to What Does Healthy Eating Mean to You (Spanish)
Related Health Tools:
Classes and Coaching
- Wellness Coaching Wellness Coaching
Interactive Programs
- Eat healthy with Nourish™ Eat healthy with Nourish™
- Health Coach: S.M.A.R.T. Eating Health Coach: S.M.A.R.T. Eating
Personal Logs and Diaries
- Seven Day Food Diary Seven Day Food Diary
Podcasts
- In The Kitchen With Carole In The Kitchen With Carole
- Nutrition Mini-Series: Breakfast Nutrition Mini-Series: Breakfast
- Nutrition Mini-series: Fruits and Vegetables Nutrition Mini-series: Fruits and Vegetables
Videos
- Healthy Recipes from Dr. Maring Healthy Recipes from Dr. Maring
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.