Spinal discs are responsible for transmitting messages from the nervous system to the rest of the body and vice versa. The disc is located between two vertebrae in your spine that cushion and protect it. When any part of your spine begins to grow beyond its normal size, it can affect the surrounding nerves, bones and muscles. This issue could be a result of aging or due to an accident or injury but it can be easily treated with right vitamins for spinal discs health diet plan.
There are a wide variety of vitamins for spinal disc health available in the market today. We have reviewed some of the best ones that you can use to treat your condition.
vitamins for spinal discs
Vitamin supplements can be an excellent option for improving overall health and wellness. Vitamins and minerals are essential to our well-being and are used in all of the body’s processes. Vitamins can also be used to treat various conditions and ailments, including those caused by spinal disc disease.
All sorts of people have suffered from either their scoliosis discs, or their bone spurs or arthritis. There is no one correct cure for these health problems, but there are many things that you can do in your lifestyle to improve it. And one of the best ways to do this is by taking supplements.
vitamins for spinal stenosis
There are many different vitamins that we should be consuming every day to help improve our bodies and overall health. One of these vitamins is vitamin C and it has many uses in improving the function of neural tissue, decreasing pain and inflammation, aiding in cognitive function and speeding up the healing process.
Vitamins and Minerals are nutrients in the form of salts or organic compounds that can be taken by mouth. Most vitamins and minerals are organic compounds, with the exception of vitamin C which is an organic acid. Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients for human health. In addition to their role in our diet, some vitamins also play a role in helping to prevent disease.
vitamins for spine health
Supplements can play a significant role in maintaining spine health by assisting the body in building and strengthening the bone and other tissues. Some supplements are known to assist with slowing down or preventing further damage to the spine from a medical condition like osteoarthritis. There are even certain supplements with anti-inflammatory properties that also help individuals better manage back pain due to disease, injury, or surgery.
Understanding Supplements
Supplements can be important to maintaining good health, recovering from surgery or slowing the progression of a medical condition. There are hundreds of supplements available today, offering benefits ranging from promoting general good health to addressing a specific condition like arthritis or bulging spinal disc.
Supplements include:
Vitamins
Minerals
Herbs and botanicals
Enzymes
Amino acids
supplements-for-spine-health
Supplements for spine health contribute to both general health and spine health. There are so many different types of supplements available today; people often have trouble deciding which ones to take. However, scientific research has proven that certain vitamins and minerals can help:
Maintain a healthy and strong spinal column
Promote spinal disc health
Promote healthy joints in the back and hips (and elsewhere)
Reduce pain due to conditions like arthritis
Reduce inflammation
Promote faster recovery from spine surgery
Slow the rate of disease progression
Supplements Recommended for Spine Health
Different supplements can address different spinal conditions. For example, supplements for degenerative disc disease, like a herniated disc, include glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, manganese ascorbate and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). Vitamins frequently recommended for a herniated disc are:
Vitamin C – boosts the immune system and acts as an anti-inflammatory
Vitamin D – promotes the absorption of calcium
Vitamin E – boosts the immune system and reduces pain in muscles
Vitamin K – assists with binding calcium to discs
vitamins-minerals
Essential Nutrients
Each year, World Spine Day is held each year to bring attention to the facts about spinal health and back pain. One of the important points made is that most cases of back pain are not caused by a mechanical issue or disease, like arthritis or a fracture. The only leaves poor spinal health, and spinal health is promoted through a healthy lifestyle and the incorporation of various essential nutrients for spinal health. Herbal supplements and vitamins for spinal health are growing in popularity and use because they can also help control pain due to disease and injury.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
omega 3 fatty acids
Medical research studies have found omega-3 fatty acid supplements for back pain can reduce inflammatory processes and intervertebral disc degeneration. The three primary omega-3 fatty acids. ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is the most important one. The other two are DHA (docosahexaenoic) acid and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). The reason people are told to eat lots of plant oils and fish and seafood is that ALA, EPA, and DHA are obtained mostly through diet, including dietary supplements.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a natural compound that is found in cartilage. The glucosamine supplement is made from glucosamine harvested from shellfish shells or is made in a lab. Research has demonstrated that glucosamine may help strengthen cartilage or slow down the breakdown due to normal aging or disease. This can help to prevent or relieve spinal pain.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a chemical found in humans, animals, and plants. It is often combined with supplements like glucosamine because it can lessen inflammation. MSM may reduce inflammation, and thus pain, from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. There is even research indicating it can help with decreasing joint degeneration or exercise recovery. MSM has real potential to help with spine health because keeping inflammation low is key to preventing spinal problems due to inflammation.
Vitamin D
vitamin d
Vitamin D is one of the important vitamins for spinal health because its role in musculoskeletal health is well documented. Research has shown that people requiring spine surgery due to degenerative diseases of the spine had a serious vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is essential to the health of bone health and the discs in the spine made of collagen. It assists with calcium absorption. Taking vitamin D back pain may also be reduced by improving the health of bone and tissues in the spine.
Vitamin C
Another vitamin for spinal health is Vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential to healthy collagen formation which makes up the spinal discs. It is also essential to the tendon, ligament, and bone health. In fact, vitamin C helps cells form into healthy tissues and serves as an antioxidant that prevents abnormal cell development. It boosts the immune system too. With Vitamin C back pain may be reduced when it is due to spinal disease or prevented by contributing to a healthy backbone and tissues.
Herbal Supplements
Herbal supplements have been used around the world for thousands of years because they offer health properties. Herbal supplements are made from plants which means they are natural, something people are increasingly looking for. The herbal supplements are not drugs, and that appeals to people also. Following are some of the herbal supplements that may contribute to spine health and provide some pain relief due to disease or injury.
Turmeric and Curry
turmeric a spice with power to help control inflammation and manage pain
Turmeric, the main spice in a curry dish, is under intensive research as a spice with incredible power to help control inflammation and manage pain. It can help ease arthritis pain and pain due to a backache.
Bromelain
bromelain derived from the pineapple juice and stem
Bromelain, derived from the pineapple juice and stem, is a mixture of enzymes found in pineapples. Since not enough of the supplement is found in the pineapple, you need to take tablets or capsules to get the potential full benefits. There are numerous studies indicating bromelain may help reduce pain due to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.
Devil’s Claw
Devil’s claw is an herb that is used for back pain and arthritis in the spine, in addition to other conditions. Research and anecdotal feedback have indicated it does reduce low back pain and can reduce the pain due to osteoarthritis.
Whether or not a medical condition exists, various supplements, including vitamins for spine health, either promote the body’s ability to produce certain elements that exist naturally in the body or and/or contribute to easing symptoms, like inflammation. Many of the supplements do double or triple duty.
For example, supplements for spinal disc health like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate can counteract spinal disc degeneration, promote speedier recovery from surgery and contribute to general physical health by reducing inflammation.
Researchers are giving curry supplements more attention today. Turmeric is the main spice in curry and gives it the yellow color. Turmeric contains bioactive curcumin which has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Since turmeric spice is actually made with a combination of spices, the curcumin content is not high. Taking curry supplements or turmeric curcumin supplements will increase the amount of curcumin consumed.
The anti-inflammatory properties of curry supplements make them particularly beneficial for people with arthritis or people who have undergone back surgery. However, the strong antioxidant property is also good for general health, so many people are taking curry supplements on a routine basis.
Taking Care of Joints and Ligaments
It is not just the bones in the spinal column that need attention. Joints and the back structure also have ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues like cartilage. People who have arthritis take vitamins to improve the health of all the soft tissues and to reduce pain.
Using food and nutrients to help the body heal is a common practice, and many studies suggest that this field of medicine – called immunonutrition – can aid in healing.1-4
See Food for Thought: Diet and Nutrition for a Healthy Back
Certain nutrients are essential to the immune system. Without them, the body’s ability to heal and recover is reduced. Nutrients commonly used in immunonutrition recommendations include arginine, glutamine, Omega-3, nucleotides, and antioxidants, which are all found naturally in certain foods as well as in nutritional supplements.
See Healthy Habits After Back Surgery
Research supports that the following five nutrients play an important role in healing from injury, such as a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease, and from back or neck surgery.
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5 Essential Nutrients for Back Pain Healing
These essential nutrients include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Arginine
Arginine is an amino acid the body produces in limited amounts during periods of growth, illness, or injury. Research suggest that taking arginine supplements may increase the body’s ability to fight infections.5,6
See Osteomyelitis, a Spinal Infection
Arginine is found naturally in nuts and seeds, legumes, and meats, particularly turkey meat.
- Glutamine
Like arginine, glutamine is an amino acid the body produces in limited amounts. It is involved in the biological processes that control cell growth and repair. Some clinical studies suggest that glutamine supplementation might help decrease the risk of infections and reduce number of days patients must stay in the hospital after a major surgery or illness.7,8
See Practical Advice for Recovering from Back Surgery
Lists of glutamine-rich foods vary, but research suggests beef, eggs, white rice, tofu, and corn are rich in glutamine.9
In This Article:
Immunonutrition: Healing Nutrients for Back Pain and Spine Surgery
5 Nutrients to Support Healing from Back Pain and Back Surgery
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids naturally reduce the body’s inflammatory response. Inflammation can be necessary during healing, but too much inflammation or chronic inflammation can be destructive. Supplementing with omega-3 is thought to help decrease chronic inflammation. Since inflammation is a common contributor to back pain, it follows that decreased inflammation will likely decrease back pain.
See Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Try for Neck Pain
Omega-3s are found in many foods, including salmon, eggs, walnuts, and flaxseed, as well as leafy green vegetables, like spinach.
- Nucleotides
Every cell in the human body contains molecules called nucleotides, which help make-up and maintain DNA and RNA. DNA and RNA production is necessary for cell repair and regrowth.
When the body is coping with a stressful health event, such as a problem in the lower back or neck, it needs more nucleotides than usual. The body regularly produces and recycles nucleotides in addition to absorbing them through food.
Since all cells contain nucleotides, all natural plant- and animal-based food sources contain nucleotides.
- Antioxidants
Antioxidants help maintain and restore healthy tissues by reducing oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress is associated with chronic inflammation, and inflammation is a common contributor to back pain.
See Causes of Lower Back Pain
Examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Antioxidant-rich foods include leafy greens and other vegetables, fresh and (additive-free) frozen fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
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Immunonutrition Now and in the Future
It is generally agreed that maintaining a healthy, nutrient-rich diet helps maintain health and reduce the risk of infection and disease, and many scientific studies demonstrate the role of specific nutrients in recovering from injury or surgery. However, many of the studies conducted to date are relatively small or have been funded by companies that manufacture nutritional formulas.10,11
Research in immunonutrition is ongoing. Over time, researchers may discover certain combination of nutrients are more effective than others, or that nutrient supplements are only effective for certain patients, such as patients undergoing treatment for a spinal tumor.
See Could My Back Pain Be Spine Cancer?
In the meantime, many doctors may recommend immunonutrition because there is high likelihood of potentially significant benefits and little to no significant risk of side effects.
A herniated disc can wreak havoc on your body. It’s a pain in the butt, the hip, the back and the neck. While natural remedies won’t cure a herniated disc, an article in the December 2017 issue of Journal of Osteoporosis noted that dietary and vitamin supplements can improve bone health, and like every other tissue, healthy bones heal better.Don’t ignore your aching back because you think it’s a symptom of getting older. Leaving a herniated disc untreated increases the pain, eventually damaging the nerve and in rare cases causing permanent damage, says the Mayo Clinic. Plenty of natural remedies for herniated disc are available, so take action and help your body heal.
Try Alternative Treatments
According to an article in the Biores Open Access November 2015 issue, most people’s response to developing a herniated disc is to seek surgery or symptom mitigation. However, neither of these options offers a solution to the problem. The good news is that the body has the ability to heal itself, and that’s where supplements for your herniated disc come in. They won’t cure you, but they can help support the body’s self-healing processes.
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Vitamin D for Herniated Discs
A September 2015 article in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research noted that vitamin D is one of the best supplements for a herniated disc. Vitamin D is effective because, as an article in Trials Journal April 2014 issue reports, your spine has actual vitamin D receptors, which means it’s what your spine craves. In fact, studies on the impacts of vitamin D supplements and spine health have shown a decrease in pain and sensory deficits.
Vitamin D is already essential for your health. An easy way to increase vitamin D in your diet is to eat more fatty fish, dairy products and egg yolks. For vegans, mushrooms are a great source of vitamin D. They’re also packed with other nutrients, such as fiber, protein and potassium, all of which are essential to your health.
Read more: Foods with High Vitamin D
Add Glucosamine to Your Diet
Glucosamine is an important component of the glycosaminoglycans (GAC) that make up your spine’s discs and cartilage, according to an article in the August 2014 Orthopedic Research Society. GACs improve elasticity and flexibility of the spine when hydrated. While hydration won’t necessarily heal a herniated disc, it may prevent further damage.
As the body ages, it falls victim to dehydration, and the spine is no exception. In the Orthopedic Research Society glucosamine study, it was found that dehydration increases the spine’s brittleness and the probability for damage. Glucosamine’s ability to enhance hydration is what makes it beneficial to a herniated disc.
There are lots of foods full of glucosamine that you can add to your diet. One of the most common sources is shellfish, but if you’re looking for a more savory way to get your glucosamine, bone marrow is a great source.
Reduce Inflammation in Your Spine
Not only does glucosamine help hydrate your herniated disc, but it’s also been found to inhibit inflammation production, according to the 2014 Orthopedic Research Society study. Unlike other anti-inflammatories, glucosamine doesn’t have harmful side effects, making it better than NSAIDs.
Stay Hydrated for Spine Health
The lesson of glucosamine is that hydration goes a long way toward spine health. It stops the bones from becoming brittle and increases elasticity. There’s evidence that if hydration reaches a herniated disc, it can be beneficial in healing.
You might think that staying hydrated is all about drinking water, and, in fact, women need about 2.7 liters and men need 3.7 liters of water daily to stay hydrated. But that’s not the only factor in the equation.
Kidney Stone Disease, edited by David A. Schulsinger, explains that fruits and vegetables are an integral part of staying hydrated. Electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium, also help maintain hydration, according to a May 2014 article in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.
Read more: How to Hydrate When Dehydrated
Vitamin C for Herniated Disc
Vitamin C is imperative for bone health, and inadequate levels of vitamin C may lead to scurvy, which causes bone pain. This tells you that vitamin C helps to keep bones healthy and can mitigate pain. But that’s not all that it does.
Vitamin C’s role in spine development and maintenance was explored in a September 2015 Journal of Bone and Mineral Research article. The researchers found that vitamin C deficiency increases the risk of injury, and in severe cases, causes osteoporosis. While vitamin C won’t heal a herniated disc, it strengthens bones and assists the spine in healing. At the very least, it will help protect you from further injury.
Before you start picking out a vitamin C source, make sure you know the right vitamin C dosages for adults.
Vitamin A Improves Calcium Absorption
It turns out that balancing vitamin A can be more complicated than it seems. A deficiency in vitamin A can lead to impaired calcium absorption, according to Harvard Health Publishing. It’s also an essential vitamin for the building blocks of your bones, which means you need vitamin A for healthy bones. Healthy bones heal better, making vitamin A an essential vitamin for encouraging your body’s healing.
While vitamin A toxicity is rare, be sure to review proper dosages and symptoms of too much vitamin A. As always, it’s essential to discuss any new supplements with your doctor before adding them to your regimen.