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

Name: Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Address: USA

January 25, 2024

Inflammation and pain. Living healthy and eating well. Neurodegenerative disease and obesity. These are some combos! Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC sees these every day in our La Grande chiropractic practice, explains the connections, and urges the exploration of new and different-to-you approaches to improve 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 impacts 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 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 impacting almost 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 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: avocado oil.) Incorporate fish and seafood twice weekly with dairy, eggs, and poultry on occasion. Skip the red meats and sweet goodies except for special occasions. The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid (Think of it as an updated USDA food pyramid so many of us remember from years ago.) includes red wine (in moderation) and water (lots of that!). It also includes eating 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: improved brain function, longer life, certain kinds of cancer prevention, heart disease/high blood pressure/”bad” cholesterol reduction, diabetes protection, weight loss/management support, depression prevention, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s prevention, 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 as well as 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 vital 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 La Grande 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 Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC

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

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

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