Protein protects against a hidden threat that sabotages nerve recovery. It builds muscle and plays a critical part in healing and recovery. Without proper protein intake, patients fall prey to sarcopenia, an insidious condition that wastes the muscles away.
What is Sarcopenia?
Sarcopenia, classified as a disease in 2016, refers to the loss of muscle mass, performance, and strength caused by aging or a sedentary lifestyle. While it primarily targets the muscular system, its effects extend beyond that.
Sarcopenia impacts both the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Muscle Atrophy
When muscles experience atrophy in sarcopenia, the connections between muscle fibers and motor nerves deteriorate, impairing nerve signaling.
Muscle Weakness
As muscle mass declines, individuals experience reduced strength, making walking, climbing stairs, or standing more challenging. Losing strength leads to quicker fatigue, making it harder to sustain physical activities over time.
Losing strength leads people to do less physical activity, which decreases the stimulation of peripheral nerves and the brain. The decreased activities impair neurogenesis (forming new healthy nerves in the brain and peripheral nerves).
Increased Systemic Inflammation
While most doctors usually overlook it, sarcopenia increases systemic inflammation.
We usually consider muscles responsible for movement, but they also release the signaling molecule myokines. These molecules regulate inflammation, metabolism, and brain function.
As muscle mass decreases, the remaining muscle fibers strain under chronic stress, which disrupts the production of myokines and leads to increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
Unlike myokines, cytokines promote inflammation.
Furthermore, the muscle loss in sarcopenia often results in an increase in fat tissue within and around the muscles, which also produces cytokines.
Insulin Resistance
Declining muscle mass can lead to insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism, leading to type 2 diabetes. Up to 70% of both pre-diabetics and diabetics develop peripheral nerve damage.
Furthermore, insulin resistance impairs the brain’s ability to utilize glucose, its primary fuel source, leading to cognitive decline and dementia.
How Does Protein Help with Recovery?
Protein is the best way to combat sarcopenia. It builds muscles and helps with recovery and regeneration throughout the body.
You need sufficient protein for building and repairing tissues, including the nerves. Protein provides essential nutrients to,
- Maintain a strong immune system
- Boost wound healing and recovery
- Transport and store nutrients like oxygen, vitamins, and minerals
The proteins you consume help maintain the structure and integrity of nerve cells, including axons (long fibers that transmit signals) and the myelin sheath (protective coating around axons).
The formation, maintenance, and repair of the myelin sheath, which enhances the speed of nerve signals and insulates nerve fibers, partially depends on specific proteins like myelin basic protein (MBP).
The production of neurotransmitters, the chemicals that transmit signals between nerve cells, also relies on it.
When peripheral nerves are damaged from an injury or conditions like diabetes, the body relies on proteins to repair and regenerate the nerve tissue. The repair is critical for restoring normal nerve function.
The Best Sources of Protein
After discussing the crucial nature of protein intake, we need to discuss where to get it.
Meats
Meats like chicken breast, turkey, and beef are best when they are organic, and the beef is grass-raised or grass-finished (not fed by grains).
The meat provides higher antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Costco now carries a good supply of organic chicken and beef.
Seafood
Seafood also provides abundant protein, but make sure you only consume fish or shellfish low in mercury. I would also avoid farm raised fish.
Eggs
The egg is one of the best protein sources of all time. Dr. Coppola made a YouTube video about its nutritional value.
Why Are Animal-Based Proteins Better?
There are four reasons why animal-based proteins are the best source of protein for healing.
1. Complete Protein Profile
Animal-based proteins provide the complete protein profile, meaning they contain all nine essential amino acids in the proportions the human body needs. The body does not create essential amino acids; they are acquired through diet.
2. Higher Protein Content
Animal products contain a higher protein concentration per serving than plant-based sources.
For example, a four-ounce serving of chicken breast contains 35 grams of protein, and a four-ounce portion of red meat contains approximately 28 grams of protein.
In comparison, one cup serving (8 ounces/ 0.23 kg) of rice and beans (a necessary combination to form a complete protein) only has seven grams of protein.
The disparity is the primary reason vegetarians and vegans struggle to meet the necessary protein requirements for healing. In a later blog, we cover how vegetarians and vegans can meet the threshold in more detail.
3. Higher Bioavailability
Animal proteins have better absorption and digestibility because they’re structurally similar to proteins found in the human body.
4. Nutrient Density
Animal sources, such as dairy, eggs, meat, and fish, provide many other essential nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients play crucial roles in energy production, immune function, and nervous system health.
In particular, vital molecules like creatine and carnosine are only found in animal products, not plant-based foods. These nutrients provide essential support for muscle function and brain health.
Struggling with Neuropathy?
Dr. Coppola and Dr. Monteiro’s dedication to combating neuropathy is deeply personal, stemming from Dr. Monteiro’s experience with her mother’s severe chemo-induced neuropathy. This personal journey fueled their commitment to develop a systematic, drug-free approach to reversing neuropathy.
They founded the San Antonio Neuropathy Center, where they’ve successfully treated over 18,000 patients over the past two decades. Their acclaimed book, “Defeat Neuropathy Now in Spite of Your Doctor,” along with their neuropathy product line, stands as a testament to their expertise and innovative solutions.
Recognized as leading neuropathy specialists in America, Dr. Coppola and Dr. Monteiro offer a beacon of hope for those diagnosed with this challenging condition. If you or a loved one is seeking relief from neuropathy, reach out to us at 844 400-0101 or email us through our contact page – Click here.
Your path to healing can start today.
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