Cocoa Vinaigrette-Dressed Spinach, Strawberry and Walnut Salad

This is a delicious salad designed to include natural medicinal foods that help with easing chronic back pain which is most often caused by muscle strain (85% of the time). Less common causes include osteoarthritis, disc disease autoimmune disease, and in rare cases back pain may be related to cancer, fractures or infection. Cocoa contains compounds that can help relieve skeletal muscle pain, reduce inflammation and encourages the production of serotonin (the feel good chemical). Spinach is rich in Vitamin K which helps maintain strong joints, potassium which helps lower blood pressure which may become elevated with chronic pain, carotenoids which the body converts into vitamin A and plays a vital role in bone growth and finally, spinach also contains magnesium which can help fight muscle spasms and pain. Strawberries are high in vitamin C which helps repair tissues, reduce inflammation, and increases calcium absorption in the body thus they may help reduce the progression of osteoarthritis, and walnuts contains omega 3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation and fight pain. So in short, eat this recipe and nourish your muscles, spine and mind - all of which are involved with back pain!