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Reach For Natural Pain Relief In Your Kitchen Cabinet

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Those living with pain, suffering from chronic conditions like arthritis or joint pain, can opt for looking in their kitchen cabinet instead of their medicine cabinet.

Teri Rogacki of Swissvale is just 34, but rheumatoid arthritis and lupus had her in excruciating pain.

When traditional medicine didn't work, Rogacki tried tart cherry juice every day on the recommendation of dietitian Leslie Bonci and it worked.

The key is it has to be tart and you have to drink it every day. Eight ounces of the juice or one tablespoon of the concentrate.

Bonci said this is just one of many food products that can reduce pain. Saffron has been used for centuries. Saffron adds unique flavor to foods, but it can also be taken as a supplement.

Click here to watch Lauren Pastrana's report. 

A new study in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine found that daily saffron supplements were more effective at preventing muscle weakness and pain after strenuous exercise than anti-inflammatory drugs.

Another Asian spice for pain is turmeric.

It's proven to be a potent anti-inflammatory, going back thousands of years, helping not only with pain from arthritis but also protection against cognitive decline, cancer and heart disease.  But to get all those effects, use the spice instead of the pill.

Ginger has been proven to help with muscle soreness that comes on hours after you exercise or exert your body. You need 500 milligrams a day. That's about one inch of ginger root, one-quarter teaspoon of the spice or you can get it in a supplement.

For those who like it hot, there's cayenne pepper. It can be used as a cream you rub on the affected area or eat it as a powder, in cracked pepper or as a liquid in Tobasco sauce.

Last on the list is something you may already be having, caffeine.

Bonci created a "performance shot" the pirates take before each game made of tart cherry juice, pineapple juice, ginger, turmeric and grated orange peel.  It's another way you can get these all-natural pain relievers into your daily diet.

With all of these food products, to see results, you have to be consistent.

Rogacki learned the hard way when her pain returned when she forgot her juice on a vacation.

"You have to be absolutely adamant and persistent with taking this. Just like with any other medication," said Rogacki.

Rogacki's been pain free for three years now and is still taking her tart cherry juice every day.

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