Nutrition and Wellness

Sugar Consumption Thickens Fascia: Sciatica Clinic

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The fascia is important for connecting the musculoskeletal system, stabilizing function, and keeping the body healthy and balanced. Sugar consumption and the abundance of sugar in the body that doesn’t get burned directly negatively affect the fascia, making it lose its elasticity and affecting other connective tissues. Excess sugar in the blood leads to a pathological process called glycation. One effect of glycation is binding sugar molecules to fascial proteins, causing them to thicken and stiffen. The body sees the tangled molecules as foreign bodies initiating an inflammatory response to get rid of them. This can lead to chronic inflammation causing various symptoms. The Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic Team will address soreness, pain, and discomfort associated with fascia problems.

Myofascial Tissue

Myofascia or fascia is a layer of tissue that connects and supports the spine and muscles. It wraps and links internal body parts in bands, fusing them. This ensures the muscles can move freely without experiencing friction with other body parts.

  • Fascia is made of collagen, creating a tough and flexible texture that provides tension and elasticity.
  • Fascia is found around muscles, nerves, blood vessels, blood and cells, organs, and bones.

When the body stays or moves in repetitive patterns, the fascia can memorize certain positions/postures and hold the fascia in a contracted state. For example, sitting at a desk workstation causes the gluteal muscles, tendons, and ligaments to stretch and pull the muscles around them. The gluteal muscles can become restricted without releasing and training the fascia to return to a retracted position, causing tension and myofascial discomfort. When the body is in balance/homeostasis, and the fascia is healthy:

  • The viscoelastic gel flows without restriction in all directions.
  • The collagen fiber network moves freely.
  • Lymph and blood circulation flow correctly.
  • Communication between cells, the nervous system, and all tissues in the body work correctly.

In the event of an injury and activation of the healing process, specific components interact with cells to create the condition for healing and generate inflammation, allowing new cells to easily move and heal the tissue. An obstruction in the circulation increases pressure where the fluid sits stationary, preventing tissue communication. Sometimes the healing process doesn’t stop, and the inflammation response worsens and can become chronic.

Sugar Consumption

Many think of sugar as candy, sweets, chocolates, and desserts. However, all carbohydrates are sugar, and eating too much bread, pasta, grains, fruit, and cereals, contributes to a lot more sugar consumption.

  • Foods believed to be healthy such as wholemeal bread, low-fat alternatives, and granola cereal, have high amounts of sugar.
  • The connective tissues need collagen for the smooth functioning of joints.
  • High blood sugar exacerbates aches and pains and can lead to impaired joint movement and, eventually, arthritis.

Fascia Problems

  • Impaired flow and mobility
  • Fascia that has thickened and hardened impairs gliding ability.
  • The body feels heavy and sluggish.
  • Pain symptoms
  • Edema
  • Poor balance
  • In places where the body has become stiff and numb, the nervous system can’t transmit signals as quickly to control movements.
  • Muscles can constantly twitch or go into convulsions from misinterpreted signals.
  • A tight connective tissue chain can distort the skeleton causing the joints to wear faster.

Chiropractic Myofascial Massage Release

Chiropractic myofascial massage and release provides several benefits to the body’s health and well-being, including:

  • Relieves the overall effects of stress on the body.
  • Relieves soreness and pain.
  • Increases blood and lymph circulation.
  • Improves tissue recovery.
  • Improves joint range of motion.
  • Restores proper-length-tension relationships for dynamic movement.
  • Maintains normal functional muscular length.
  • Improves neuromuscular function.

Nutritional Guidelines Fascial Health


References

Barros-Neto, João Araújo et al. “Selenium and Zinc Status in Chronic Myofascial Pain: Serum and Erythrocyte Concentrations and Food Intake.” PloS one vol. 11,10 e0164302. 18 Oct. 2016, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0164302

Dong, Shoubin, et al. “A three-dimensional collagen-fiber network model of the extracellular matrix for the simulation of the mechanical behaviors and microstructures.” Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering vol. 20,9 (2017): 991-1003. doi:10.1080/10255842.2017.1321113

Mattei, Giorgio et al. “Engineering Gels with Time-Evolving Viscoelasticity.” Materials (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 13,2 438. 16 Jan. 2020, doi:10.3390/ma13020438

Okumus, M et al. “The relationship between serum trace elements, vitamin B12, folic acid and clinical parameters in patients with myofascial pain syndrome.” Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation vol. 23,4 (2010): 187-91. doi:10.3233/BMR-2010-0264

Vlassara, Helen, and Jaime Uribarri. “Advanced glycation end products (AGE) and diabetes: cause, effect, or both?.” Current diabetes reports vol. 14,1 (2014): 453. doi:10.1007/s11892-013-0453-1

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The information herein on "Sugar Consumption Thickens Fascia: Sciatica Clinic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

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Dr. Alex Jimenez

Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.

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