Inflammation and pain. Eating
and healthy living. Neurodegenerative
disease and obesity. These are some combos!
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre sees these daily in our
Toronto chiropractic practice, explains 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 benefits of a Mediterranean
diet for patients with neurodegenerative diseases are just becoming
clearer…as are indicators both conditions share like
inflammation (which also impacts back pain sufferers). Such a
diet of natural products providing 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 globally, any connections that can affect
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 simple: fruits, veggies, whole
grains, beans, herbs, spices, nuts, and healthy fats. (Think: olive
oil, avocado oil.) Incorporate fish and seafood twice 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 a re-organized USDA food pyramid so
many of us might recall from our younger years.)
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 fun
activies in life!
PRAISE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
Mediterranean diet researchers and advocates
list so many benefits: improved
brain function, longer life, certain types of cancer
prevention, heart disease/high blood pressure/”bad” cholesterol decrease,
diabetes protection, weight loss/management support, depression deterence,
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s deterrence, 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 as well as
progressive dysfunction. Neurodegeneration has 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 widely 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 Toronto chiropractic patients are manytimes
prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, so our back pain patients
may also feel some relief from this kind of low
inflammation diet. The Mediterranean Diet offers such an array of natural goods!
CONTACT Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
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.
Make your Toronto chiropractic
appointment soon. Eating well is not that hard and
is so good for our Toronto chiropractic friends, especially those fighting
a few extra pounds and/or experiencing neurodegeneration-related
issues.