Inflammation and pain. Eating
and healthy living. Obesity and neurodegenerative disease. These are some combinations!
Vancouver Disc Centers welcomes these every day in our
Vancouver chiropractic practice, describes the
connections, and encourages the exploration of new and
different-to-you approaches to enhance health via nutrition like the
Mediterranean diet to control obesity and neurodegenerative
disease.
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES AND OBESITY
The benefits of a Mediterranean
diet for patients with neurodegenerative diseases are just getting
clearer…as are symptoms they share like
inflammation (which also affects back pain sufferers). Such a
diet of natural products delivering antioxidants, fiber, and
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could prevent cell death and even
restore function to injured neurons. (1) Neurodegenerative
diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s and obesity
are linked to low grade inflammation leading
to issues like neuronal inflammation, brain atrophy and
cognitive decline. With obesity affecting almost
30% of people around the world, any connections that can affect
inflammation and fight obesity like diet and physical activity are encouraging.
(2) We can all appreciate that!
“WHAT CAN I EAT WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET?”
US News & World Report granted the
Mediterranean Diet as the #1 Best Heart-Healthy Diet, Best Diet for Bone
and Joint Health, Best Diet for Diabetes and Best Diet for Healthy Eating in
2024.
Core foods are plain: fruits, veggies, whole
grains, beans, herbs, spices, nuts, and healthy fats. (Think: avocado oil.) Add in fish and seafood a
couple times weekly with dairy, eggs, and poultry occasional. Skip the red meats and sweet goodies except for special occasions. The Mediterranean Diet
Pyramid
(Think of it as an updated USDA food pyramid so
many of us might recall from years ago.)
consists of red wine (in moderation) and water
(lots of it!).
It also includes eating with friends, dancing,
exercising, being physically active!
(3) These are the enjoyable
activies in life!
PRAISE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
Mediterranean diet researchers and advocates
record so many benefits: improved
brain function, longer life, certain types of cancer
prevention, heart disease/high blood pressure/”bad” cholesterol decrease,
diabetes security, weight loss/management support, depression deterence,
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s prevention, rheumatoid
arthritis and eye health enhancement, improved
breathing, improved infertility, healthier babies, and more!
(3) There is something beneficial for
everyone with the Mediterranean diet! Neurodegenerative diseases share
a loss of neuronal structure and function and
progressive dysfunction. Neurodegeneration incorporates many
different pathological processes that natural products – particularly
the ones that have bioactive compounds that are
able to cross the blood brain barrier - are important as
neuroprotectors. Some such natural products are widely recognized
than others: quercetin (green tea, tomato, capers,
black and red wine), luteolin, Reservatol (nuts, fruits, grapes), apigenin (flavonoids), genistein (isoflavone), Hesperidin
(grapes/citrus), etc. (4) Our Vancouver chiropractic patients are often
prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, so our back pain patients
may also feel some relief from this kind of low
inflammation diet. The Mediterranean Diet allows such an array of natural goods!
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox about the role of inflammation in back pain and spine pain
and neck pain on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the beneficial outcomes possible with
The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Vancouver chiropractic
appointment soon. Eating well isn’t that hard and
is so good for our Vancouver chiropractic friends, especially those fighting
a few extra pounds and/or experiencing neurodegeneration-related
issues.