Inflammation and pain. Eating
and healthy living. Neurodegenerative
disease and obesity. These are some combinations!
Satterwhite Chiropractic sees these every day in our
Oxford chiropractic practice, explains the
connections, and encourages the exploration of new and
different-to-you approaches to enhance health via nutrition like the
Mediterranean diet to manage 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 indicators 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
bring back 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 impacting nearly
30% of people globally, any connections that can tackle
inflammation and fight obesity like diet and physical activity are hopeful.
(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 trouble-free: fruits, veggies, whole
grains, beans, herbs, spices, nuts, and healthy fats. (Think: olive
oil, avocado oil.) Add in fish and seafood a
couple times a week with dairy, eggs, and poultry on
occasion. Leave the red
meats and sweet goodies for special occasions. The Mediterranean Diet
Pyramid
(Think of it as an updated USDA food pyramid so
many of us remember from our younger years.)
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 multiple benefits: enhanced
brain function, longer life, specific kinds of cancer
prevention, heart disease/high blood pressure/”bad” cholesterol decrease,
diabetes protection, weight loss/management support, depression prevention,
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s prevention, rheumatoid
arthritis and eye health improvement, 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 – especially
the ones that have bioactive compounds that are
able to cross the blood brain barrier - are important as
neuroprotectors. Some such natural products are better known
than others: quercetin (tomato, capers, green tea,
black and red wine), luteolin, Reservatol (nuts, fruits, grapes), apigenin (flavonoids), genistein (isoflavone), Hesperidin
(grapes/citrus), etc. (4) Our Oxford chiropractic patients are manytimes
prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, so our back pain patients
may also feel some relief from this type of low
inflammation diet. The Mediterranean Diet offers so
much variety of natural goods!
CONTACT Satterwhite Chiropractic
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
illustrates the benefits of
The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your Oxford chiropractic
appointment now. Eating well isn’t that hard and
is so good for our Oxford chiropractic friends, especially those carrying
a few extra pounds and/or dealing with neurodegeneration-related
issues.