Your diet plays a crucial role in your health, and that’s especially true for your spine. And while diet alone won’t keep your spine in perfect shape, eating right can make a big difference in the short- and long-term health of your back. In today’s blog, we explain your diet’s role in your spine health and share some tips for helping you develop a diet that’s right for your spine.
Your Diet and Your Spine
Here’s a look at some of the ways what we eat and drink impacts our spine health, for the good and the bad.
- Inflammation – Inflammation is one of the most common underlying causes of pain in a person’s back. Because the spine is so complex and nerves pass through such tight canals, an inflammatory response by your body can impinge key structures and cause pain. The foods we eat can increase or decrease inflammation in our spine. Dark, leafy vegetables, certain fruits, nuts and fish can help to reduce spinal inflammation, while fats and processed foods increase our risk of an inflammatory response. Reaching for healthier options can help control spinal inflammation and decrease your risk of pain.
- Disc Pressure – A healthy diet is key to helping you maintain an ideal body weight, and that’s important for your spine health. Your spine is tasked with dispersing weight and pressure throughout your body, and if you’re heavier, it means that your spine needs to handle more stress. Losing just a few pounds can take a lot of pressure off your spine, so a healthy diet and regular exercise can help to prevent disc breakdown due to regular stress.
- Fluid Intake – Your spine also needs a healthy amount of fluids to work properly. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, as this will help push healthy blood to critical structures. It can also help to prevent problems in your spinal muscles in the form of muscle spasms or strains. Finally, fluids help your spinal discs retain their natural height, which helps stave off problems from disc degeneration.
- Calcium and Vitamin D – Arguably the two most important nutrients to promote healthy spinal development are calcium and Vitamin D. They will ensure you have strong bones that can adequately handle stress. Natural sources of calcium and Vitamin D are best, like you’ll find in yogurt, milk, cheese, leafy green vegetables and fatty fish. Supplements are ok if diet alone is not enough, but really try to get these nutrients from food sources if possible.
If you keep these four tips in mind, we’re confident that your diet can help your spine develop and stay healthy! And for more information about your spine, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.
