| The nervous system is one of the most complex | | | | in some cases taking care of one can alleviate the |
| systems in the human body and therefore is | | | | others. For instance, simply by losing weight, you |
| susceptible to a number of diseases, conditions and | | | | reduce your overall blood pressure and cholesterol |
| disorders that can range from temporary, minor | | | | levels sometimes to the point of no longer needing |
| glitches to a long lasting and widespread event. | | | | medications. |
| Problems within the nervous system can start from | | | | A good diet plan to help with weight loss and blood |
| something as simple as a vitamin deficiency or | | | | pressure can be the DASH diet plan, recommended |
| something as irreversible as family history and | | | | by the American Heart Association. DASH or, dietary |
| genetics. Knowing the possible diseases, their risk | | | | approaches to stop hypertension focuses on fruits |
| factors and warning signs can be crucial to getting | | | | and vegetables, whole grains and limiting saturated |
| the right kind of treatment as quickly as possible. For | | | | fats and salt. |
| instance, in the case of a stroke, the earlier the | | | | No matter what diet plan you consider, make sure |
| diagnosis, the better! There is a small window of time | | | | that you discuss it with your doctor who can help |
| during which special drugs can be given that can | | | | you decide which one is right for your diagnosis and |
| restore most or even all of the functions to the | | | | will work with your medications. The right diet will |
| stroke victim, without lasting side effects. This | | | | include foods from all of the major food groups with |
| window starts at the onset of symptoms and closes | | | | focus on the three macronutrients: protein, |
| quickly. If the time cannot be established, the drugs | | | | carbohydrates and fats. The right amount of each of |
| are usually not able to be given at all. | | | | these foods is important. The right level of calories is |
| It is estimated that between 4 to 5 % of all | | | | also very important especially if weight loss is the |
| Americans over the age of 65 have some | | | | goal. |
| neurological and intellectual impairment with | | | | Fats - Despite the reputation that fats are all bad for |
| Alzheimer's disease being the cause in about half of | | | | you and diet plans that tried to eliminate them |
| those. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and | | | | entirely from the diet, fats are necessary and should |
| incurable degeneration of the brain and is said to | | | | be included in the healthy diet. Steer clear of |
| affect around 4 million Americans and is the fourth | | | | saturated fats (the fats that are solid at room |
| leading cause of death in the country. It begins with | | | | temperature as well as hydrogenated fats found in |
| short term memory difficulties that extend beyond | | | | processed foods). Healthy fats include the fats found |
| normal forgetfulness. As the disease progresses | | | | in salmon and other cold water fish, nuts, olives and |
| other systems will become affected and eventually | | | | olive oil and avocadoes. Healthy fats should make up |
| the patient will be unable to eat by themselves or to | | | | around 15-20% of the daily calories. |
| walk. The system will start shutting down and | | | | Carbohydrates - Carbohydrates are the primary |
| eventually an organ failure will lead to death. | | | | source of energy in the body and should make up |
| Stroke is considered to be both a nervous system | | | | about 50% of the overall daily calories. Simple |
| disease as well as a disease of the cardiovascular | | | | carbohydrates are the easiest to break down and |
| system. There are several kinds of strokes and they | | | | tend to cause the blood sugar to be elevated too |
| may affect virtually any area of the brain. The | | | | quickly which increases the amount of insulin that is |
| estimate is that at least two million people have been | | | | released and will lead to weight gain. Complex |
| affected by a stroke of some kind which affects | | | | carbohydrates are better choices because they are |
| women twice as often as men. Strokes are the third | | | | slower to digest in the body. Whole grains bread and |
| leading cause of death in the country. | | | | pasta are good examples of complex carbohydrates. |
| Parkinson's disease, which becomes more common | | | | Proteins - Protein comes from both animal and plant |
| with age, is another progressively degenerative | | | | sources and is vital to every cell and function of the |
| disease that is characterized by tremor, rigidity and | | | | body including the immune system and the nervous |
| bent posture. Treatment for Parkinson's disease can | | | | system. In addition to these, certain proteins can be |
| vary as do the symptoms and the rate of | | | | beneficial to the cardiovascular system as well. The |
| progression. In most cases, the main course of action | | | | American Heart Association recommends that the |
| is treating the dopamine deficiency with a drug called | | | | diet include no more than 35% protein, however |
| Levodopa. | | | | there are some conditions that might suggest more |
| Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is used by the | | | | protein. There are other conditions that might |
| body in functions related to movement, attention and | | | | suggest slightly less protein in the diet as well, |
| learning. Dopamine is also responsible for reinforcing | | | | depending on the medications that are used. |
| the effects of the drugs that people tend to abuse. | | | | Because some of the people who have had |
| Dopamine is given to those with Parkinson's, in the | | | | neurological diseases may have problems getting |
| form of L-Dopa which is converted by the neurons | | | | enough nutrition or with absorbing nutrients from the |
| to dopamine. The remaining dopamine centers in the | | | | foods that they do eat, protein supplements might |
| brain are then stimulated to make more, relieving the | | | | be the right answer. Protein supplements which can |
| symptoms. Eventually, this treatment will become less | | | | range from shakes to powders and liquid supplement |
| and less effective and the symptoms will return. | | | | shots, should only be added to the diet with a |
| A Good Diet Plan - The right diet to follow when | | | | doctor's advice and consent. |
| treating nervous system disorders will depend on a | | | | Protein supplements include whey protein, soy |
| number of factors. It must take into account the | | | | protein, egg protein and rice protein. Supplements are |
| actual diagnosis, the risk factors that may have | | | | often prescribed to those with Parkinson's because it |
| caused the disease in the first place and the most | | | | tends to cause muscle wasting, however in those |
| important risk factors that need to be address | | | | who are being treated with Levodopa the right |
| immediately. Factors such as obesity, hypertension | | | | amount of protein must be found because too little |
| and other diseases should be the main focus of a | | | | will allow too much of the medication to go to the |
| healthy diet as well as for the medical treatment. | | | | brain while too much will stop the drug from working |
| These factors can all be related to one another that | | | | correctly at all. |