Inflammation and pain. Eating
and healthy living. Obesity and neurodegenerative disease. These are some combinations!
Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries welcomes these daily in our
Manchester chiropractic practice, describes the
connections, and urges the exploration of new and
different-to-you ways to enhance 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 symptoms they share like
inflammation (which also impacts 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 which can lead
to concerns 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 find prasie for that!
“WHAT CAN I EAT WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET?”
US News & World Report ranked 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.) Incorporate 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 remember from years ago.)
consists of red wine (in moderation) and water
(lots of that!).
It also includes dining with friends, dancing,
exercising, being physically active!
(3) These are the enjoyable
activies that make life happy!
PRAISE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
Mediterranean diet researchers and supporters
record multiple benefits: enhanced
brain function, longer life, specific kinds of cancer
prevention, heart disease/high blood pressure/”bad” cholesterol reduction,
diabetes security, weight loss/management support, depression prevention,
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s prevention, 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 in addition to
progressive dysfunction. Neurodegeneration incorporates many
different pathological processes that natural products – especially
the ones that have bioactive compounds that are
able to cross the blood brain barrier - are vital as
neuroprotectors. Some such natural products are better known
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 Manchester chiropractic patients are manytimes
prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, so our back pain patients
may also feel some relief from this type of low
inflammation diet. The Mediterranean Diet offers such an array of natural goods!
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
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.
Schedule your Manchester chiropractic
appointment now. Eating well isn’t that hard and
is so good for our Manchester chiropractic friends, especially those fighting
a few extra pounds and/or experiencing neurodegeneration-related
issues.