We have a ton of information available about nutrition and it can be overwhelming trying to make sense of it all. Yet what excites me is we’re seeing some major themes emerge in the world of nutrition. While I would never say I “go on a diet”, I enjoy reading diet books. Like, all of them. I love the ridiculous names, like The Drinking Man’s Diet.
There’s a diet book for everyone. Well… almost everyone. Scoliosis doesn’t seem to be a topic many people write for, but my entire perception about type-casting food for conditions, including the scoliotic body, formed out of reading this book: The Scoliosis Treatment Cookbook.
For those of us trying to heal from scoliosis, the inevitable question becomes:
What should I eat?
We’re not alone in that question by any means. Dr. Mark Hyman attempted to answer this very question in a book on what to eat for the general public (and it’s on my ‘to read’ list).
Food is complex in the most beautiful way and so are we. And complex does not mean it needs to be complicated. We are great at making simple things complicated. So… let’s make things a bit easier on ourselves while acknowledging our bio-individuality. The first step in making meaningful change is awareness.
Think about how you’re feeling and what you’re doing. Do you feel bloated? tired? negative? or do you feel energized? inspired? creative? Have you noticed the connection between what you eat and what you are in the mood to do afterward? After lunch, do you want to lay down and take a nap or are you in the mood to go for a walk? And the most important question, if you have scoliosis… are you in pain? (I won’t go into detail now, but keeping a food journal is essential to develop awareness as some reactions can appear 24-72 hours after consumption.)
“Recently, it has been shown that patients are more likely to suffer from musculoskeletal pains and tendinopathy if they also have metabolic syndrome—which is, in part, treated by adopting anti-inflammatory dietary changes.”
(source)
The reason why I say pain is the most important question is because of the relationship between inflammation and pain. We want to strike a balance and prevent overconsumption of foods that trigger inflammation that leads to pain becoming chronic. Research is showing that an anti-inflammatory diet can be used as a treatment option for this pain.
“Eating a pro-inflammatory diet over a long period of time increases one’s risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and pain syndromes. Switching to an anti-inflammatory diet can help reverse some of these conditions and reduce pain and inflammation.” (source)
Across the board, professionals and enthusiasts agree that if you aren’t feeling your best or have a chronic condition, look at your diet and heal the gut.
How I breakdown my food style to prevent overthinking
- Do a (somewhat) seasonal rotation of plant-based foods
- Consume fermented foods (think sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha)
- Heal the gut with soul-soothing bone broth
I also keep in mind some key nutrients that are associated with scoliosis patients. These include:
Manganese – I wrote about the research I found regarding manganese and scoliosis here. Manganese was never on my radar until I read these articles. My favorite source of manganese is maple water. It’s a delightful treat with a hint of sweet. It’s quite refreshing too!
Vitamin D – Oh vitamin D. While there is not a causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency with scoliosis, the connection is one to keep in mind. I take an omega-3 supplement that is fortified with vitamin D3 and get outside for some midday sun when I let Henry out over lunch. (2018 study that talks about vitamin D and scoliosis).
Vitamin K – Vitamin D and Vitamin K play together and are fat-soluble. I like to pair my vitamin D supplement with cooked leafy greens as they are high in vitamin K.
Vitamin C – When I think of collagen in relationship with scoliosis, I also think Vitamin C which is why it makes the list. Vitamin C aids in synthesis of the collagen protein. Good foods sources of vitamin C include oranges, kale, broccoli and strawberries (source). I’ve added a supplement of Vitamin C to my daily routine for an added boost.
If you are on this scoliosis journey like me, or if you are caring for someone with scoliosis, you officially have permission to nourish the temple that is your body with beautiful, vibrant whole foods that will make you glow from the inside out. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say your body is demanding it.
I have to be real about this. Talking about food, nutrition, and the body’s needs is not an easy thing to do on a public platform. We each have individual needs for our unique makeup to support the lifestyle we desire to live. My hope is this post will inspire you to find what your body needs and that you will honor that need. I never want to tell anyone what they should or should not eat, but rather help them learn to listen to the body’s messages through intuitive eating and mindfulness.
Have questions for me? Curious to know more about the vitamins and minerals listed above? Please leave a comment below :)
