West Des Moines Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet for Issues like Obesity and Neurodegenerative Diseases and others

January 25, 2024

Inflammation and pain. Living healthy and eating well. Neurodegenerative disease and obesity. These are some combinations! Executive Chiropractic of Iowa sees these every day in our West Des Moines chiropractic practice, describes 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 indicators both conditions share like inflammation (which also affects back pain sufferers). Such a diet of natural products delivering antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could avert cell death and even restore function to injured neurons. (1) Neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s and obesity are associated with low grade inflammation leading to concerns like neuronal inflammation, brain atrophy and cognitive decline. With obesity affecting nearly 30% of people globally, 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 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 trouble-free: fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, herbs, spices, nuts, and healthy fats. (Think: avocado oil.) Add in fish and seafood a couple times weekly 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 remember 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 advocates list multiple 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 prevention, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s deterrence, rheumatoid arthritis and eye health improvement, better breathing, improved infertility, healthier babies, and more! (3) Most everyone may benefit from the Mediterranean diet! Neurodegenerative diseases experience a loss of neuronal structure and function in addition to progressive dysfunction. Neurodegeneration involves many different pathological processes that natural products – especially 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 better recognized than others: quercetin (green tea, tomato, capers, black and red wine), luteolin, Reservatol (grapes, nuts, fruits), apigenin (flavonoids), genistein (isoflavone), Hesperidin (grapes/citrus), etc. (4) Our West Des Moines chiropractic patients are manytimes prescribed anti-inflammatory meds, so our back pain patients may also benefit from this type of low inflammation diet. The Mediterranean Diet offers so much variety of natural goods!

CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa

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.

Make your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment today. Eating well isn’t that hard and is so good for our West Des Moines chiropractic friends, especially those carrying a few extra pounds and/or dealing with neurodegeneration-related issues.

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