Cervical Spondylosis Diet

Role of Diet in Controlling Cervical Spondylosis

Some studies have shown that demineralization of bones and progression of shoulder and neck pain, can be prevented by vegetarian diets because of their low acidity and the high amounts of fiber, minerals, and fiber they contain.

Vitamin, phosphorus, and calcium, along with many other dietary as well as emotional and hormonal factors contribute to the well-being of the musculoskeletal system and are essential components of a cervical spondylosis diet. The fragile balance between these various factors helps to explain how easily things sometimes go wrong. For example, if calcium is deficient, the bones weaken, or an upset in the calcium: phosphorus ratio may lead to bone demineralization. Adequate nutrition is essential to the health of the joints and bones and is also an important part of a cervical spondylosis diet. Non-vegetarian and vegetarian diets both have unique contributions to make in helping to maintain the metabolism of bone minerals.

Non-vegetarian diet

Spicy foods, sour foods, and fried foods all contain sulfur. Meat also contains sulfur, and when it is included in a cervical spondylosis diet, it has the potential to increase the acidity of blood due to its high acid load. When the pH of the blood dramatically changes, demineralization of bones can occur. Research has concluded that vegetarian women who are post-menopausal have higher bone mineral content than non-vegetarian post-menopausal women.

It has also been shown that there is a strong correlation between conditions such as cervical spondylosis and “frozen” shoulder, and the type of diet consumed. The primary dietary factors found to be incriminating in joint diseases include:

• Fried and oily foods,
• Spicy foods,
• Excessive meats,
• Refined foods like sweets and confections,
• Bread and other refined wheat products,

These types of food lead to an excess acid load in the bloodstream and should be avoided in a cervical spondylosis diet. The kidneys cannot adequately filter this acid and inflammation of all joints results, in addition to intervertebral disc deterioration and compression.

When the process of digestion slows, constipation allows toxins to form in the gut. These are absorbed into the bloodstream and raise its acidity, working with the other factors leading to bone demineralization and the development of cervical spondylosis.

An important association between diet and hormones has been found in several studies. Some of the hormones that participate in the maintenance of the musculoskeletal system include:

• estrogen,
• testosterone,
• adrenocortical hormones,
• thyroid,
• growth hormone.

Vegetarian diet

A vegetarian cervical spondylosis diet is naturally rich in fiber. In its raw form, it not only contains a multitude of vitamins and minerals, it also prevents constipation and prevents the pH of the blood from becoming altered by effectively removing toxins from the intestinal tract. The vegetarian cervical spondylosis diet contributes to bone mineralization by providing increased amounts of vitamins and minerals. Bone demineralization due to sulfur-related foods in the non-vegetarian diet has been demonstrated in serial bone mineral density studies using direct photon absorptiometry. Consuming a cervical spondylosis diet of predominantly raw foods seems to have the greatest advantage. Any food, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian, that is fried, spicy or excessively sour has been found to be harmful to joints, cartilage, and bone and should be excluded from a cervical spondylosis diet.

Lacto vegetarianism

Lactovegetarians, believe milk and milk products are an excellent source of calcium and it is included in their diet. It is a misconception that all vegetarians lack calcium in their diets. It is difficult, however, for some people, especially as they age, to digest milk and milk products due to the changes in the gastric acid and enzyme content. This inability to digest dairy products can lead to gastrointestinal distress and also to increased acid in the body. This then leads to increased pain in the joints and exacerbations of arthritis. Whey and cottage cheese are usually more easily digested than other dairy products and are good sources of calcium. Other lactovegetarian sources of calcium to include in a cervical spondylosis diet include:

• Almonds,
• Seeds, especially sesame and sunflower,
• Cheddar Cheese,
• Swiss Cheese,
• Tofu.

Certain factors can prevent your body from absorbing available calcium. These include:

• Foods containing oxalic acid such as spinach, lotus stem, horse gram
• A lack of vitamin D in a cervical spondylosis diet
• A high intake of protein-rich foods such as fish, meats, eggs, and poultry
• Overuse of caffeine, salt, alcohol, and soft drinks containing phosphorus in a cervical spondylosis diet

In addition to physical exercise, diet can be a big help to patients with cervical spondylosis. It’s often helpful on a cervical spondylosis diet to have four to six small meals per day and include a salad or steamed vegetables, raw vegetables, and sprouts with each meal. Whole grains and milk should also be planned in the daily cervical spondylosis diet. The intake of vitamins C and D, in addition to calcium and phosphorus, are necessary for a cervical spondylosis diet. Some people also recommend 2-3 cloves of garlic every morning to the cervical spondylosis diet to decrease symptoms of the disease. In addition to these cervical spondylosis diet tips, here are some basic dietary suggestions for cervical spondylosis:

• Vegetables and fruits: foods rich in vitamins A and C help fight free radicals that cause inflammation. They help decrease swelling and pain in the neck area
• Fish, oils, nuts, seeds: good sources of omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E that help fight inflammation
• Apple, ginger, garlic, turmeric: fight inflammation in a cervical spondylosis diet
• Mono-unsaturated fatty acids: reduce inflammation
• Avoid white potatoes, red meat, spicy foods, coffee: these increase acid load in a cervical spondylosis diet
• Fruit juice: anti-inflammatory
• Vegetable soup: anti-inflammatory
• Replace rice with wheat in a cervical spondylosis diet
• Add more bitter vegetables like a drumstick and bitter gaud to the daily cervical spondylosis diet routine.

You might also like to read:

• Cervical Radiculopathy Exercises,
• Spinal Deformity Surgical Treatment,
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Diet.