Nutrition for pain in the cervical spine

"We are what we eat." Sometimes it seems that this wise expression has not yet been appreciated. In fact, it should be understood literally: after all, it is from food that we receive those "building materials", of which our organism is composed.

First of all, this concerns the bone system, which is its basis, a kind of framework, on the strength of which our health as a whole depends, not to mention such "narrow" problems as pain in the cervical spine. Choosing food for your table, the vast majority of people pay attention to their taste and freshness, forgetting about such an important moment as good. Many do not even think that by changing their diet, they can get rid of the problems associated with diseases of the spine and pain in the cervical spine. Of course, useful does not necessarily mean insipid. There are quite a few products that meet both criteria. But still, if you have pain in the back and cervical spine, and want to seriously improve your physical condition, be prepared for certain limitations. The main enemy of the spine are various preservatives, among which the most dangerous are the salt and sugar. Try to exclude them from your diet as far as possible. An excellent substitute for them can be frozen foods that do not contain any harmful substances. What kind of food prefer for the health of our spine, find out in the article on "Nutrition with pain in the cervical spine."

A good alternative to sugar is natural honey, which also contributes to removing salts of heavy metals and other harmful substances from the body. He is also known for not causing allergies. But in addition to salt with sugar, there are many products that can not be called useful for bones and muscles. These include fried and smoked dishes, as well as rich broths. Contrary to popular belief, eating a meat holodtsa does not help strengthen the bone system, and even vice versa. So be careful with this dish! Among people suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, a special group is made up of vegetarians. The fact is that for effective resistance to stress, the intervertebral discs should be able to rapidly accumulate liquid in it and also give it away quickly, acting as a kind of shock absorber. Protein compounds are responsible for the normal performance of this important function. Various amino acids serve as building material for them, some of which are contained only in products of animal origin (meat, fish, milk, eggs, etc.). Completely refusing them, you put yourself at considerable risk. With great care should be taken to eat various spices and seasonings: horseradish, mustard, pepper act on the musculoskeletal system is no less destructive than sugar and salt. Try to replace them with a special dish, which is prepared on the basis of young shoots of coniferous trees. To prepare it, you should collect light green twigs that appear in the spring, dry for a few days in a dark place and several times pass through a meat grinder until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Then add to it various greenery (parsley, dill, basil, etc.), as well as a little salt. The resultant pasty product can be stored throughout the winter as a conventional preform, filling the top with a layer of vegetable oil, and used as a tasty and healthy sauce.

Another popular, but no less harmful food is black coffee. Its negative impact on the body is associated with the exciting effect, which is due to the presence of caffeine. Of course, many readers are so used to this drink that they no longer represent their lives without it. And yet, try for your own good to gradually give up black coffee in favor of jelly, compote and kvass. So, a perfect substitute is a drink based on chicory, which helps strengthen joints, helps to get rid of their crunch. Instead of black tea, it is recommended to use green, as well as various herbal decoctions. Continuing the conversation about drinks, it is necessary to mention grapefruit juice, which has a unique ability to remove excess fluid from muscles and joints. To do this, it is enough to drink about 100-150 grams of juice 3 times a day (after eating). Freshly squeezed apple juice is also considered a good remedy for sciatica. Necessary for health amino acids can be obtained not only from animal, but also from plant foods. Especially valuable are fresh fruits that are quickly broken down and absorbed into the blood, providing the body with not only energy, but also the necessary material for construction and repair.

If the benefits of fruits are known to everyone and are not questioned, then the vegetables are not so unambiguous. Experts recommend people suffering from back pain and pain in the cervical spine, be sure to eat tomatoes. In addition to the high content of polysaccharides, organic acids and minerals, this vegetable has another important advantage: it contains a substance called "tomato". It can be used in the synthesis of another important element - cortisone, which is actively used to treat arthritis, rheumatism and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system. But the amount of spinach and sorrel in the diet is desirable to limit. Speaking about balanced nutrition, one should not forget about the important role that fat is given in it. Many popular diets seek to completely eliminate this important element from the diet. However, this is a big mistake. Fats are necessary to us as well as vitamins. For the normal functioning of the spine vitamins A and E are especially important, which differ in that the body absorbs them only together with fats. So "avoid" the fat should not: boldly include in your daily diet vegetable oil, especially valuable varieties such as olive, linseed, etc. Because the intervertebral discs are under constant stress, their tissues should be constantly updated. This vital process becomes difficult or even impossible if your food lacks the necessary minerals, in particular potassium, which improves water-salt metabolism and the functioning of muscle tissue.

Calcium is also of great importance for bones. In large quantities, it is found in dairy products, as well as greens. If this mineral does not enter the body in the right amount, this very soon can lead to the emergence of a variety of pathologies - from convulsive seizures to osteoporosis. Thus, adolescents and young men (aged 11 to 24 years) should receive 1.2 grams of calcium per day; middle-aged men, women before menopause and during it - 1 gram. If they take estrogen at the same time, the dose automatically increases (up to 1.5 grams). This rule applies to women during pregnancy and feeding: depending on the age they need 2 grams (up to 19 years) or 1.4 grams (after 19 years) of calcium per day. Even if the calcium has entered the body in the right amount, this does not mean that he was assimilated there. This requires the presence of vitamin D, the daily dose of which by international standards is 400 ME. To provide the body with calcium and vitamin D, it is recommended to drink every day a liter of cow's milk. If this product is poorly absorbed by your body (this often happens in adults), then you should pay attention to fatty fish, eggs and liver.

If you take vitamin D as a finished vitamin preparation, be careful: in case of an overdose, it can cause poisoning. To avoid this, it is better to consult a doctor beforehand. The role of vitamins of group B is also important. Legumes (soy, peas, etc.), meat, liver and some other animal products are an important source of their intake. Vitamin C is used to strengthen the connective tissue from which our ligaments and tendons are composed. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to use exactly those products that are most useful for the spine. The reasons can be different, but the output is always the same - special vitamin-mineral complexes. One should only remember that their appointment should be handled by a doctor. But even the most expensive and effective drug can be useless if you do not give up smoking. Due to the fact that under the influence of nicotine, large and small vessels taper, the necessary nutrients sometimes simply do not reach the bones and muscles. Will be pleasantly pleased and "sweet tooth", as marshmallow, pastille, marmalade and similar confectionery products may well remain in your diet. It is important only to consume them in reasonable quantities, and also to refuse chocolate. An important role is also assigned to various cereals, nuts and dairy products. Eggs can be consumed in any form, but not more than one per day.

Based on the above, you can outline the range of dishes that should take the leading place in the diet of people suffering from back pain and spine. These include vegetable and milk soups with the addition of potatoes and cereals. Meat, fish or poultry dishes should be low-fat, the best way to prepare them is to boil, as well as steaming. For salads, try to use fresh or pickled vegetables, avoiding marinades, pickles, etc. As a snack, it is recommended to have a vinaigrette or vegetable caviar, but it is better to refuse any mushroom dishes. In conclusion, I would like to note that proper nutrition should be given special attention in adolescence and adolescence, when there is an active formation of the musculoskeletal system (usually this process is completed by 18-20 years). It is during this time interval that the appearance of problems with the spine, caused by malnutrition, becomes most probable. Although this does not mean that in adulthood one can eat everything: the more serious the health problems, the more importance should be attached to the compilation of your daily diet. Now we know what to choose food for pain in the cervical spine.