Diet & Nutrition for Scoliosis

Scoliosis is characterized by a front-to-back or side-to-side curvature of your spine. It also results in uneven shoulders and uneven hips. Scoliosis can occur during childhood and seems to run in families, but the precise causes of the condition are not known. If scoliosis is left untreated, it can lead to arthritic conditions in your spine and breathing difficulties later in life. Females are at higher risk for developing scoliosis. Surgery might be required to treat the condition. Proper nutrition is imperative for people with scoliosis in order to promote healthy bone growth.

Vitamin D

• Vitamin D is especially important for people with scoliosis. Your body uses vitamin D to maintain healthy levels of phosphorus and calcium, and to encourage proper absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D is also important for bone growth; a deficiency of this vitamin can lead to metabolic disorders and the development of rickets and soft bones. Food sources for vitamin D include cod liver oil, mackerel, tuna, sardines, salmon, herring, eggs, milk and cereals that are vitamin D-fortified. Children 1 to 18 require 5 micrograms of vitamin D daily for optimal health. Adults 19 to 50 require 5 micrograms of vitamin D a day, and anyone over 50 requires 15 micrograms of vitamin D daily.

Vitamin E

• Your body needs Vitamin E to help build strong, healthy muscle tissue, and to diminish muscular weakness. People with scoliosis need vitamin E to build stronger muscles to support their already compromised spine. Vitamin E also has antioxidants that protect against cellular damage. Food sources for vitamin E include liver, eggs, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, mayonnaise, corn oil, olive oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil, dark-green vegetables such as kale, spinach, beet greens, collard greens, mustard greens and turnip greens, sweet potatoes, asparagus, yams and avocados. Children 1 to 3 require 9 International Units (IU) of vitamin E daily. Children 4 to 8 need 10.5 IU each day. Children 9 to 13 need 16.5 IU daily and teenagers 14 to 18 need 22.5 IU of vitamin E every day. Adults over 18 require 22.5 IU daily; pregnant women require 22.5 IU daily, and breast-feeding women require 28.5 IU of this vitamin each day for optimal health.

Calcium

• Your body needs calcium to build healthy bones and teeth. Ninety-nine percent of all the calcium in your body is found in your bones. Calcium is important: Your muscles, heart, nerves, and other organs require it to funtion at peak performance. A deficiency of calcium can lead to osteoporosis, a degenerative bone condition. A combination of calcium and vitamin D can prevent bone loss in women after menopause and in older men.

  Food sources for calcium include parmesan, Romano, gruyere, cheddar, American. mozzarella and feta cheese, low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, tofu, blackstrap molasses, brewer's yeast, bok choy, Brazil nuts, cabbage, broccoli, dried figs, kelp, dark leafy greens, oysters, canned salmon and sardines. Children 1 to 3 require 500 milligrams of calcium daily; children 4 to 8 need 800 milligrams of calcium; and teenagers need 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day. Adults over 19 need 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day, and adults over 51 need 1,200 milligrams every day.