Easley Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet for Issues like Obesity and Neurodegenerative Diseases and others

Name: Young Chiropractic
Address: USA

January 25, 2024

Inflammation and pain. Living healthy and eating well. Obesity and neurodegenerative disease. These are some combinations! Young Chiropractic welcomes these daily in our Easley 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 getting clearer…as are indicators both conditions share like inflammation (which also affects back pain sufferers). Such a diet of natural products providing antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could avert 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 which can lead to concerns like neuronal inflammation, brain atrophy and cognitive decline. With obesity affecting nearly 30% of people globally, any connections that can address 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 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: olive oil, avocado oil.) Incorporate fish and seafood twice a week 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.) consists of red wine (in moderation) and water (lots of that!). It also incorporates 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 supporters list multiple benefits: enhanced brain function, longer life, certain types of cancer prevention, heart disease/high blood pressure/”bad” cholesterol decrease, diabetes protection, weight loss/management support, depression prevention, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s avoidance, rheumatoid arthritis and eye health enhancement, improved breathing, improved infertility, healthier babies, and more! (3) Most everyone may benefit from 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 have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier - are important 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 Easley chiropractic patients are often prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, so our back pain patients may also benefit from this kind of low inflammation diet. The Mediterranean Diet allows such an array of natural goods!

CONTACT Young 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 beneficial outcomes possible with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Make your Easley chiropractic appointment today. Eating well is not that hard and is so good for our Easley chiropractic friends, especially those fighting a few extra pounds and/or dealing with neurodegeneration-related issues.

Back to Nutrition Articles