Groton 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. Obesity and neurodegenerative disease. These are some combinations! Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office sees these every day in our Groton chiropractic practice, describes the connections, and urges the exploration of new and different-to-you ways 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 providing antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could avert 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 linked to low grade inflammation leading to concerns 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 hopeful. (2) We can all find prasie for 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 twice a week with dairy, eggs, and poultry occasional. 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.) includes red wine (in moderation) and water (lots of that!). It also incorporates 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 multiple benefits: enhanced brain function, longer life, certain types of cancer prevention, heart disease/high blood pressure/”bad” cholesterol decrease, diabetes security, weight loss/management support, depression deterence, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s avoidance, rheumatoid arthritis and eye health enhancement, 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 have bioactive compounds that have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier - are vital as neuroprotectors. Some such natural products are widely recognized than others: quercetin (green tea, tomato, capers, black and red wine), luteolin, Reservatol (nuts, fruits, grapes), apigenin (flavonoids), genistein (isoflavone), Hesperidin (grapes/citrus), etc. (4) Our Groton chiropractic patients are often prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, 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 Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office

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

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