Plant-Based Diet May Reverse Nerve Damage, Says Influential Doctor

A plant-based diet may alleviate symptoms of nerve damage and help to speed up the healing process, according to one influential California doctor.

Top chiropractic expert, Dr. Randall Winchell, of California’s Winchell Chiropractic & Wellness Center, has responded to a new study from the Academy of Neurology in England which linked a gluten diet with peripheral neuropathy, aka severe nerve damage.

Winchell, chiropractor to many top athletes, noted that in his experience, in addition to non-invasive laser treatment and electrical therapies, a low-meat, plant-based, gluten-free diet can reduce inflammation and eliminate symptoms of nerve damage, such as pain, numbness, and pins and needles.

“I urge anyone suffering from neuropathy to work with a physician whose goal it is to get to the root of the issue and target recovery, not just symptom management,” Winchell said in a statement. He added, “We must first take a deep examination of the potential causes of each patients’ neuropathy symptoms, long before prescribing medications in an attempt to simply dull the pain, without a thorough attempt to remove the cause.”

Over recent months, a plant-based diet has been suggested as a key part of the prevention, or even the reversal, of several diseases.

In March, one study noted that a vegan diet could prevent chronic disease amongst the elderly. “The lower you go with animal protein, the better you do,” said internist David Dunaief, who also noted that dementia, arthritis, and heart disease, amongst other conditions, could at the very least be delayed if people were to follow a plant-based diet.

In April, another study revealed that type-2 diabetes could be effectively managed with a plant-based diet. “A simple program of weekly classes…integrated into a clinical practice and using either a low-fat vegan or portion-controlled eating plan, led to clinical improvements,” researchers concluded.

Furthermore, it’s not just physical ailments that can be treated with a vegan diet, but mental health conditions too. In April, it was reported that symptoms of depression could be reversed if sufferers followed a meat and dairy-free meal plan. In one study, half of the participants were given one-on-one social support and the other half were offered nutritional counseling from a dietician. It was the latter group, who followed a healthy, plant-based diet, who reported happier moods at the end of the study.