Inflammation and pain. Eating
and healthy living. Neurodegenerative
disease and obesity. These are some combos!
Back And Neck Care Center welcomes these every day in our
Severna Park chiropractic practice, explains the
connections, and encourages the exploration of new and
different-to-you approaches to improve health via nutrition like the
Mediterranean diet to control obesity and neurodegenerative
disease.
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES AND OBESITY
The the beneficial aspects of a Mediterranean
diet for patients with neurodegenerative diseases are just getting
clearer…as are indicators both conditions 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 damaged 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 impacting almost
30% of people globally, any connections that can address
inflammation and fight obesity like diet and physical activity are hopeful.
(2) We can all find prasie for 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 simple: 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 a re-organized USDA food pyramid so
many of us might recall from our younger years.)
includes red wine (in moderation) and water
(lots of it!).
It also includes eating with friends, dancing,
exercising, being physically active!
(3) These are the fun
things that make life happy!
PRAISE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
Mediterranean diet researchers and supporters
record multiple benefits: enhanced
brain function, longer life, certain types of cancer
prevention, heart disease/high blood pressure/”bad” cholesterol reduction,
diabetes protection, weight loss/management support, depression prevention,
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s avoidance, rheumatoid
arthritis and eye health enhancement, better
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 has many
different pathological processes that natural products – particularly
the ones that contain bioactive compounds that are
able to cross the blood brain barrier - are important as
neuroprotectors. Some such natural products are widely known
than others: quercetin (green tea, tomato, capers,
black and red wine), luteolin, Reservatol (grapes,
nuts, fruits), apigenin (flavonoids), genistein (isoflavone), Hesperidin
(grapes/citrus), etc. (4) Our Severna Park chiropractic patients are often
prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, so our back pain patients
may also benefit from this type of low
inflammation diet. The Mediterranean Diet allows so
much variety of natural goods!
CONTACT Back And Neck Care Center
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 benefits of
The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Severna Park chiropractic
appointment now. Eating well is not that hard and
is so good for our Severna Park chiropractic friends, especially those carrying
a few extra pounds and/or dealing with neurodegeneration-related
issues.