If you have chronic pain, inflammation only make the pain worse. Did you know that what you eat can be a source of inflammation? Millions of Americans consume the typical Western diet, which consists mostly of pro-inflammatory foods. Such foods not just increase inflammation and pain from inflammation, they also increase your risk of developing other chronic diseases.

Pro-inflammatory foods include sugar, fast foods and fatty meats. These foods only serve to further cause inflammation in the body because they contain unhealthy fats, specifically trans fats and saturated fats. Dairy products like milk and eggs, and meats are important sources of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. However, they should not be consumed in excessive amounts, as they are sources of saturated fats also. These foods also have arachidonic acid, which can increase inflammation if consumed in excess.

The bad fats in foods aren't the only things that can cause inflammation. Chemicals like nitrites do too, and foods that contain such chemicals include processed meats, including hot dogs, cold cuts and sausages.

So what should you eat then? Go with foods that won't promote inflammation such as low fat milk and cheese, as well as lean meat cuts. Try to cut back (or eliminate) on your consumption of high sugar foods like sodas, cakes, candies, sugary cereals and cookies. Diets high in sugar have been found to cause not just inflammation, but also obesity and chronic disease.

Nightshade is a family of vegetables that has been found to affect people with chronic pain, particularly those who have arthritis. While it is essential that we consume adequate servings of vegetables and fruits, there are vegetables that can make pain worse. Tomatoes, potatoes, okra, bell peppers and eggplants all contain solanine, a chemical alkaloid that has been found to trigger pain. See if your pain and inflammation get better if you avoid eating these nightshades for a week or two.

One of the ways you can prevent inflammation is consuming the good fats: the omega-3 essential fatty acids. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flax seeds, cold water oily fish, walnuts, canola oil, hemp, and pumpkin seeds. There are flax oil or fish oil supplements available that you can take daily to reduce inflammation. Olive oil has also been found to help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, as well as reduce pain.

• If you must snack, snack on whole fruits such as nuts, seeds, and cherries, as well as fresh vegetables like carrots and celery.

• Cut back on fatty red meat and eat more fish.

• Avoid deep fried foods; instead of deep frying, it's better to broil, bake or stir fry meals.

• Eat high antioxidant vegetables; these are the green, yellow and orange vegetables.

• Drink lots of water daily (at least 8 glasses), and if you want juices, drink 100% vegetable and fruit juice; herbal tea and green tea are good too.

• Sprinkle a little turmeric to your food when you're cooking; turmeric has curcumin, a compound that has natural inflammatory properties.