Tailor a diet that will benefit your condition the most.
The benefits of a good diet plan are innumerable. And when it comes to neuropathy, choosing the right diet can be essential. It’s because the food you eat has a profound effect on both your body and mind.
According to research, keeping to a diet free of gluten can prevent nerve pain. In fact, more than half of the people who adhered to a gluten-free diet had less or no pain. While the correlation isn't ultimately confirmed, it's safe to say that the diet affects the symptoms to some extent.
Taking gluten out of your food intake isn't necessary, though. Other dietary concerns can influence your condition. For a start, avoiding food that causes pain flare-ups is obviously beneficial.
Having a diet plan can prove beneficial to you.
However, creating a sound plan will require knowledge about how different food and ingredients affect your body. And with neuropathy, such a diet plan involves restricting food that has a bad influence on nerves. On the other hand, some ingredients promote better flow and regeneration of the nervous system.
With so much to keep in mind, creating a custom diet plan might seem overwhelming. However, it gets easier with the 10 things to know when planning a diet for people with neuropathy. The tips provided below will help you find the best solutions for your nutritional needs.
1. Consider Cutting Carbs
A lower-carb diet could help to decrease neuropathic pain. It’s because constantly high blood sugar levels are a common cause of neuropathy. And since low carb diets can lower blood sugar, it's possible they can alleviate the symptoms to an extent.
Some people suffering from diabetic neuropathy have reported such an effect. Yet, the evidence remains anecdotal.
However, low carb diets also have other benefits. These include fat loss, a drop in triglycerides, and an increase in HDL cholesterol.
With the proven effects on blood sugar levels and the additional benefits, there's no harm in trying this diet. Going for it might turn out to be quite effective since the reports suggest it can indeed help with neuropathic pain.
2. Focus on Natural Food as Much as Possible
Natural ingredients are always the right choice. And fruits and veggies should be a staple of every kitchen.
While whole grains, legumes, and lean protein are some of the top recommended, many diets follow a plan that involves a healthy balance of raw and processed food.
A good guideline is to eat at least as much raw fruits and vegetables as cooked or fried food. Lean meat is a great middle-ground since it has better fat content than fatty meats like pork. Such meat is surprisingly helpful as well. Lower saturated fats can be harmful, so focusing on food that has less or none of them is beneficial.
These ingredients help keep blood sugar under control. And they can also promote the regeneration of the nervous system.
3. Look for the Three Key Nutrients in Your Food
There are three key nutrients that help in neuropathy management. And they mostly contribute to regeneration and alleviating neuropathic pain.
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Vitamin B: When it comes to the B vitamins, B1 and B12 are particularly important. The best sources of B1 are asparagus, peas, Brussels sprouts, and sunflower seeds. Meanwhile, you can get your daily intake of B12 from yogurt and fish. But it's best to use fish like salmon, tuna, or sardines.
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Folate: Folate or folic acid is abundant in fruits and veggies. The best sources among fruits are citruses and bananas. Vegetables rich in folate include asparagus, peas, beans, cucumber, and broccoli.
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Antioxidants: Most fruits and veggies contain plenty of antioxidants. But for maximum efficiency, it's best to eat them raw.
4. Consider a Vegan or Gluten-Free Diet
A vegan diet has plenty of benefits already mentioned here. It's low in fat, based on plant food, and full of healthy nutrients. Vegan diets can also be as tasteful and interesting as traditional ones.
If you're unsure about going vegan, there's no harm in trying it out for a month or two. The results might surprise you.
For some interesting and tasty recipes, research Indian and Pakistani dishes. These countries have a rich tradition of vegan cuisine. After all, the region is known as a hotspot for healthy lifestyle philosophy and practices.
Alternatively, you could try a pescatarian diet - basically a vegan diet with the addition of fish.
We've already mentioned the possible benefits of a gluten-free diet. Keeping your blood sugar levels in check is certainly a plus. Even if it doesn't reduce the pain considerably, which it might, a gluten-free diet is healthy. As with the vegan diet, it's worth trying.
5. Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Alcohol use can have several downsides. With heavy use, alcohol can inhibit nutrient absorption. This can include the absorption of helpful vitamins and other ingredients. Besides that, excessive alcohol intake has a poisoning effect on nerves.
Whether you have neuropathy or want to prevent it, cutting down on alcohol is the right choice. Alcohol abuse can lead to many other health complications outside of neuropathic issues.
Another downside of heavy alcohol use is the effect it can have on your mental state. People with neuropathy can often have problems with balance and walking. And alcohol can further contribute to these issues.
6. Eat More Phytonutrient-Rich Food
Phytonutrients are plant compounds that help in maintaining plant health and fighting off germs. And these benefits transfer to those that consume phytonutrients.
Plant food is a great source of antioxidants. They are also excellent for fighting inflammations and protecting the nervous system, but the benefits don't end there. Phytonutrients are good for your cardiovascular and immune systems. Finally, they help keep a good hormonal balance.
Vegetables are very phytonutrient-rich. The best among them are carrots, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and kale.
7. Know Which Types of Food to Avoid
People with neuropathy should avoid food rich in both sugar and salts. Salts, in particular, cause higher blood pressure. That’s why excessive salt intake isn't recommended for most people.
Processed food is notorious for its salt and sugar content. You should avoid canned food like meat, soups, and even vegetables. Sausages, ham, and bacon also fall into this category. Salty snacks like chips are obviously best avoided.
8. Eat Anti-Inflammatory Food
Food that combat inflammations can also alleviate some of the neuropathic symptoms. In particular, omega-3 fatty acids are among the best anti-inflammatory compounds. And you can get a sufficient amount of those from flaxseed, walnuts, and certain fish. But fatty fish like salmon, tuna, or mackerel is ideal.
Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber and antioxidants. We've already covered the best vegetable sources for antioxidants, but know that these are also a good source of fiber. Additionally, nuts and beans will bring the fiber count up.
Food rich in fiber is beneficial in many ways. It’s because fiber takes a long time to break down. As a result, it will keep you energized for longer.
9. Have Regular Meals
An important part of your diet plan should be to keep your meals regular. You can take between three and six meals a day. However, calorie intake should remain constant. So if you have a habit of snacking, make sure the snacks are nutritious.
Regular meals maintain optimal biorhythm. This can help balance your metabolism, reduce body fat, and keep you energized throughout the day.
10. Beware of Too Much B6
Even if beneficial, too much of any nutrient can be harmful. This goes especially for vitamin B6 because when taken in excess, this vitamin can be toxic to your nerves.
Bear in mind that the recommended daily intake for vitamin B6 is 2mg. However, a slightly higher dose won't be immediately harmful. But if you take more than 200mg of the vitamin regularly, it could become problematic.
A vitamin B6 overdose can cause fatigue, nausea, and difficulties with moving and breathing. And because of the harmful effect on nerves, it can even cause neuropathy.
It’s also worth mentioning that these effects only come with prolonged excessive intake. Once you stop using B6, the symptoms should subside.
The problem in controlling your vitamin B6 intake is that it's a common additive to many packaged food.
As you've seen in a previous tip, it's best to avoid packaged and processed food altogether. If you don't abstain from them, you should test your B6 blood levels before using any B6 supplements.
Develop Healthy Eating Habits for a Better Quality of Life
Your diet is a vital element when it comes to keeping neuropathic symptoms in check. A well-balanced, healthy diet is highly recommended for all, though people with chronic conditions have to take extra care.
Quality supplements can also help in balancing your diet.
Based on natural ingredients, Nervitalize is an excellent addition. It's a supplement that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Best of all, it’s loaded with compounds and ingredients that promote nervous system health.
Once you've chosen a diet plan that suits you best, make sure to complement it with Nervitalize. It will complete the list of the best ingredients in your diet. At the same time, Nervitalize will help you combat neuropathic pain.
There's nothing to lose and everything to gain. Try out your new diet plan in combination with Nervitalize today.
Resources:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5446575/Gluten-free-diet-nearly-eliminate-nerve-pain-some.html
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-low-carb-ketogenic-diets
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/low-carb-diet-and-diabetic-neuropathy-prevention.html
https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/lifestyle/nutrition/
https://www.foundationforpn.org/2018/10/02/healthy-eating-for-peripheral-neuropathy/
https://ntc.lluh.org/blog/6-food-do-s-don-ts-minimize-nerve-pain
https://www.everydayhealth.com/neuropathy/diet-understanding-connection/
https://piedmontpmr.com/foods-great-diabetic-neuropathy/
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/qa/what-foods-should-i-avoid-if-i-have-neuropathy-and-diabetes