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

Name: Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers
Address: USA

January 25, 2024

Inflammation and pain. Eating and healthy living. Neurodegenerative disease and obesity. These are some combos! Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers welcomes these daily in our Baton Rouge chiropractic practice, explains the connections, and encourages 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 becoming clearer…as are symptoms they 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 bring back function to damaged neurons. (1) Neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s and obesity are associated with low grade inflammation leading to issues like neuronal inflammation, brain atrophy and cognitive decline. With obesity affecting nearly 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 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 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 our younger years.) consists of red wine (in moderation) and water (lots of it!). It also includes dining with friends, dancing, exercising, being physically active! (3) These are the fun activies that make life happy!

PRAISE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET

Mediterranean diet researchers and advocates list so many benefits: improved brain function, longer life, specific 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 deterrence, rheumatoid arthritis and eye health improvement, better breathing, improved infertility, healthier babies, and more! (3) There is something beneficial for everyone with the Mediterranean diet! Neurodegenerative diseases experience a loss of neuronal structure and function and 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 recognized 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 Baton Rouge chiropractic patients are often prescribed anti-inflammatory meds, 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 Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers

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 Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment soon. Eating well isn’t that hard and is so good for our Baton Rouge chiropractic friends, especially those fighting a few extra pounds and/or experiencing neurodegeneration-related issues.

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