Nutrition and Wellness

Nutrition, The Nervous System, and The Spine

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Proper nutrition can be difficult for individuals with work, school, and busy schedules to prepare fresh, healthy meals. Healthy food is essential for a healthy nervous system and spine to promote a healthy musculoskeletal system, metabolism, bone strength, tissue growth, and repair. The body requires more nutritional value to heal itself to support damage or injury.

Nervous System and The Spine

The nervous system runs throughout the body like an interstate highway and impacts every bodily function. Disrupting signals can cause a backup, like a massive traffic jam. At that point, no matter how healthy the diet is, the body is unable to process all the food thoroughly to break down all the nutrients. Chiropractic adjustments ensure that blood circulation and nerve energy flow function optimally so that messages sent from the brain and body are transmitted without disruption.

Disrupted Nervous System

The nervous system influences every part of the body, and digestion is no exception. The nervous system tells the body what it needs to do with the food/fuel. When the nervous system is unbalanced and experiencing problems, the nutrients that the body needs don’t get appropriately stored, broken down, or used correctly, leaving the body feeling not full and unsatisfied.

Nutrition Improves Musculoskeletal Health

It is essential to understand that nutrition and musculoskeletal health depend on a healthy nervous system and spine.

  • Food high in protein and calcium increases bone density.
  • Protein and calcium are vital as the body ages.
  • A healthy skeletal structure will ensure and maintain a healthy body.
  • Food is the primary source of nutrients for the body to rebuild and repair torn muscles.

The Relation Between Nutrition And Recovery

Nourishment plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s health and helps in reducing the risk of illness or injuries. There are several links between nutrition and recovery that includes:

Injury Rehabilitation

  • A diet rich in antioxidants like:
  • Berries
  • Apricots
  • Grapes
  • Milk
  • Nuts
  • The body becomes stronger to combat inflammation.

Foods rich in lean protein like:

  • Yogurt
  • Tofu
  • Beef
  • Provide the body with essential building blocks that help repair cellular damage.

Joint Or Back Pain Alleviation

  • Overweight and obesity generate unnecessary load on the spine or joints, resulting in back pain.
  • Reducing weight through proper nutrition filled with proteins and magnesium instead of unhealthy fats and calories will help reduce the strain being put on the musculoskeletal system.

Increased Energy Levels

  • Food high in sugar or preservatives makes the body feel sluggish and tired.
  • As a result, the body is constantly exhausted, fatigued, sleepy, and irritable.
  • Proper nutrition increases energy levels.
  • Maintaining the nervous system and spine’s overall health.

Body Composition


Malnutrition Risks

Malnutrition can be difficult to spot early, but there are various risk factors to recognize. These include:

  • Frailty is a strong predictor of malnutrition.
  • Decreased sense of taste or smell.
  • Constipation.
  • Impaired cognition.
  • Dysphagia – Difficulty swallowing.
  • Medications that affect appetite.
  • Tooth loss.
  • Parkinson’s disease.
  • Depression doubles the risk of malnutrition, especially among men.
References

Bollwein, J et al. “Nutritional status according to the mini nutritional assessment (MNA®) and frailty in community-dwelling older persons: a close relationship.” The journal of nutrition, health & aging vol. 17,4 (2013): 351-6. doi:10.1007/s12603-013-0034-7

Curtis, Elizabeth et al. “Determinants of Muscle and Bone Aging.” Journal of cellular physiology vol. 230,11 (2015): 2618-25. doi:10.1002/jcp.25001

Gentile, Francesco et al. “Diet, Microbiota and Brain Health: Unraveling the Network Intersecting Metabolism and Neurodegeneration.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 21,20 7471. 10 Oct. 2020, doi:10.3390/ijms21207471

Oxland, Thomas R. “Fundamental biomechanics of the spine–What we have learned in the past 25 years and future directions.” Journal of biomechanics vol. 49,6 (2016): 817-832. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.10.035

Pérez Cruz, Elizabeth et al. “Asociación entre desnutrición y depresión en el adulto mayor” [Association between malnutrition and depression in elderly]. Nutricion hospitalaria vol. 29,4 901-6. 1 Apr. 2014, doi:10.3305/nh.2014.29.4.7228

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Nutrition, The Nervous System, and The Spine" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

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Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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