Nutrition & Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that makes it difficult for the nerves to carry messages to the brain. It is frequently accompanied by numbness, tingling, burning sensations and spasms, primarily in the hands and feet. Diabetes is a foremost cause of neuropathy.

Treatments

• There is no known cure for neuropathy, but certain vitamins, particularly vitamin B complex, folic acid and vitamin E, can slow nerve damage.

Prevention

• The best way to prevent neuropathy is to maintain a healthy blood glucose range between 80 and 120 mg/dL because high blood sugar levels damage the nervous system.

Considerations

• No vitamin has been more closely linked to treating neuropathy than vitamin B12. It can be found in clams, trout, salmon, liver, beef, poultry, eggs, milk and fortified cereals.

Combinations

• Researchers at the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences discovered that vitamins B1 and B6 work well together in treating neuropathy. Foods that contain both vitamins include pork, wheat germ, liver, peanuts and cashews.

Portions

• Eat several small meals throughout the day to regulate your blood glucose level. Small amounts of citrus fruits, avocados, mangos, sunflower seeds, bananas and garbanzo beans are effective in treating neuropathy.

Expert Insight

• Doctors at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children suggest spicing up meals with red chili pepper, which contains capsaicin, a key ingredient in several topical ointments used to treat peripheral neuropathy.