Several years ago, my daughter Natalie developed idiopathic scoliosis which rapidly got worse. I talk about the entire experience in my web series about treating scoliosis. Ultimately, she had to have major scoliosis surgery to correct her 60+ degree curve. The entire ordeal was really frustrating, particularly because doctors say they have no clue what causes idiopathic scoliosis. If any cause is given, it is usually genetics. They say this despite the fact that there is strong evidence that nutritional deficiencies can cause scoliosis (which I talk about in this post about scoliosis and nutrition and does bad diet cause scoliosis).
If you are reading this, then I assume either you have or your child has scoliosis. At this point, dietary changes aren’t likely to improve your scoliosis. However, optimizing your diet can prevent the scoliosis from getting worse (so you don’t end up on the operating table like my daughter!) or help you make the most of scoliosis treatments.
And what is the best diet for scoliosis? It is a paleo style diet with a strong focus on nutrient density – and this is why.
What is Paleo?
Let’s start with what exactly the paleo diet is. You may have heard that the paleo diet requires you to eat like a caveman. I’m not a fan of this description. It generally just leads to arguing with strangers online about dogma. No one has time for that! But I do use the term paleo because it is the closest thing to describe the way my family and I now eat 80% of the time. Other diets similar to paleo are Primal (which includes raw grass-fed dairy) and Weston A. Price (which includes raw, grass-fed dairy as well as sprouted, soaked, and fermented grains). All of these diets fall under the category “ancestral” or “real foods.”
For me, paleo means eating a diet which is closest to what our bodies evolved to eat. It means eating NUTRIENT DENSE foods and not food stuffs. As I talked about in my post Does Bad Diet Cause Scoliosis?, processed foods, sugars, and grains can cause inflammation and mineral depletion, which leads down a slippery slope to weakened muscles and lost bone mass. This is definitely not going to help your scoliosis!
I talk about Paleo more in depth in my eBook Paleo Made Easy. The eBook contains practical information on how to transition your family to paleo, the benefits of going paleo, and has 45+ recipes which are easy to make and family-friendly. You can learn more about it here.
Why Paleo for Scoliosis?
Here are the main reasons why I recommend a paleo style diet for people with scoliosis (actually, I recommend it for everyone but that is another topic for another day… 🙂 )
Optimal Nutrition for Growing Bodies
Scoliosis is riskiest in children who are still growing. Because they are still growing, it means that there is a good chance the scoliosis could get worse over (a very short period of) time. (Source) Dr. Kevin Lau describes scoliosis as a disease which “develops because of your body not being able to keep up with the aging process.” (Source)
It is important to make sure your child gets adequate nutrition during high-growth periods, or the scoliosis can develop or get worse amazingly quickly. To put this in perspective, my daughter Natalie had just a 10 degree curve at the age of 10. By the age of 12, her curve had progressed to 61 degrees! We were not eating a nutrient dense paleo diet at this point!
Eating paleo isn’t about perfection. My family typically eats paleo 80% of the time along with some gluten free grains mostly because we feel and perform the best when eating this way, but we’re by no means perfect nor do I think you need to be. Here’s the thing: by focusing on paleo foods, you are crowding out all those harmful, less-nutritious, pro-inflammatory foods with nutrient dense foods that are needed to support proper spine growth.
Paleo Reduces Inflammation
Sugars, corn syrup, wheat, soy, low-fat dairy, vegetable oils, chemical preservatives and additives… These are the things which make up the Standard American Diet. And these are all also things which cause inflammation in the body. The inflammatory response causes us to release cytokines, which result in bone loss. In fact, inflammation is so bad for your bones that one study found that people with high inflammation markers had a 73% increase in hip fractures, and multiple other studies have linked inflammation to bone loss. Inflammation also weakens the muscles, and weak muscles is a potential cause of scoliosis because the body won’t be able to hold the spine in position and it can buckle. (Source 1, 2, 3)
Paleo is mostly about reducing inflammation so your body can function as it’s meant to. Just eliminating grains and seed oils from your diet can make a huge difference. If you want to take paleo even further, you can focus on eating anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric (I love this turmeric sauce recipe as an easy way to fit it in regularly).
Paleo also focuses on optimizing the Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio. Multiple studies show that too much Omega 6 in relation to Omega 3 causes inflammation, which in turn can lead to serious diseases. Anthropological research shows that our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate Omega 3 and Omega 6 in a 1:1 ratio. Today, most people consume Omega 3 and Omega 6 in a ratio of 1:10 to 1:20! Unless you are eating Alaskan salmon all day, it is probably going to be impossible to get down to a 1:1 ratio. Try shooting for a 1:4 ratio. Some ways you can improve your Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio are:
- Choose grass-fed beef: These have an Omega 3 to 6 ratio of about 1:3, compared to grain-fed beef which has a ratio of about 1:20.
- Swap out vegetable oils (which are incredibly high in Omega 6) for tallow or ghee. Read my posts on how to make tallow and ghee easily at home.
- Eat wild salmon, which is a great source of Omega 3
- Consider taking a supplement, like Fermented Cod Liver Oil (which is also a great source of vitamin K2, which is very important for bone health — you can buy it here) and also a high quality fish oil for Omega (I like this brand). Natalie and I take both of these now and my entire family takes the FCLO.
(Source)
In a nutshell, a paleo template is as close to how humans are supposed to eat. Our bodies were not meant to thrive on bowl after bowl of corn flakes. Just like your family pet probably wouldn’t thrive on nothing but fruit salad. When we’re not eating what we’re built to eat, (surprise, surprise!) we start to fall apart.
Paleo Heals the Gut
You know all those foods I listed above which are found in the typical SAD diet – sugar, corn syrup, additives, wheat… Well, they not only cause inflammation but can cause serious damage to your gut. Your gut stays in a constant state of inflammation, which eventually can cause holes to form. This is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome (read about what is leaky gut syndrome here).
Researchers have only recently discovered the importance of our guts for our overall health, but it is now known as our “second brain.” This is too big of a topic to get into here, but I do want to emphasize how a damaged gut can harm your spine and cause scoliosis.
When your gut is damaged, you won’t be able to absorb nutrients. So, no matter how healthy of a diet you eat, you won’t be getting the nutrients you need to build strong bones and muscles to support spine growth. The scoliosis will get worse!
A paleo style diet removes foods which irritate, inflame and damage the gut (such as wheat, grains, and processed foods). As a next step, paleo also encourages people to consume foods which actually heal the gut. The #1 gut-healer is bone broth, which is a natural source of gelatin (learn how to make bone broth here). It shouldn’t be too surprising to learn that bone broth is good for your bones. In this sense, bone broth or gelatin are the best foods you can consume for scoliosis. My daughter’s experience with scoliosis, and finding out what an amazing superfood gelatin is, is what ultimately led me to write a book about gelatin. It is called The Gelatin Secret and you can learn more about it here.
Have you tried the paleo for scoliosis? How did it work for you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Need more information on scoliosis? Download my eBook Treating Scoliosis for comprehensive information on the causes of scoliosis, how to manage it, and the best treatment options. You can buy it here.
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Thank you Sylvie! I found your article through Pinterest as we are literally jumping into this journeywith our Littlest Lovie at age 12. We already eat a pretty clean diet with very few processed foods, but it’s in all of our best interests to gear up a notch or two! I ordered the supplements, so she will start them as soon as they arrive. I will be documenting our journey and will check back in soon. Blessings to you and yours.
This is horrible advice. Animal product is the number cause for inflammation and bone problems!
Not grass fed free range animals. And if you don’t eat any animals, especially ocean animals you will be nutritionally deficient! Sugars and processed foods are what you really need to worry about.
Stupid question. Will this work for an adult heading into their 50’s? I tried to do this when I was younger got a BUNCH OF FLACK about eating too expensive and I am STILL RECUPERATING FROM THE SITUATION and this truly hurt deeply. The worst part of it was that this happened AT CHURCH OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD. Keep me in prayer.
Glad to find your post. I believe the paleo diet can help. My oldest daughter is 13 and was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 7. She has been braced since then and holding her own. I have been GF for about 5 years and feel so much better. I’ve tried to tell my daughter that a GF diet is beneficial. Last year, I took my daughter to be “allergy sensitivity” tested and low and behold… she is better off GF and should avoid most dairy. Since then, she is primarily GF and dairy free. It has helped tremendously her intestinal area, helped with her anxiety, she has slimed up, losing those extra skin folds caused by the scoliosis and her curve had not gotten worse. We go for xrays every six months to monitor the curve. I keep asking the doctors about research done on scoliosis and nutrition and they kinda look at me strange. Wish they could get on board.
Some food for thought. I have scoliosis as did my dad. Two of my children did as well, a boy and a girl. I was very aware of the scoliosis probability in our family so as soon as I detected the slightest curve in the kids I took them to a specialist. He wouldn’t do anything for them until their curve measured a certain severity. I did some research on my own and decided to begin them on massage therapy…once a week for a half an hour, from 7th grade for both of them until they graduated high school. Within the first several months, their backs began to straighten out. My son played soccer, baseball, basketball, golf and was able to enjoy any physical activity with no pain. My daughter was a dancer, cheerleader, tumbler and too experienced very little pain. Their massage therapist could tell when their backs were tight and a little out of whack, but she was able to work them loose again. It was definitely a huge commitment for me AND them, but one of the best decisions we’ve ever made in our lives. Those two are 27 and 30 now and they are lucky enough to have no back issues whatsoever. So very thankful for that, as MY back is still very curved, of course. Just wanted to pass this along, as it may be helpful for someone else. And by the way….On our follow-up appointments with the back specialist, he could not believe their curvatures had been corrected! He said to continue on with whatever my plan was, because it sure was working.
hi, thank you for sharing your story. What kind of back massage did they get and how old were they when they started?
Re mineralizing my body and focusing on spinal nutrition has made a TREMENDOUS impact on my scoliosis. I also eat very clean (paleo whole 30) and lift weights (with my PT). I take a tablespoon of mineral whey (from goats milk), vital collagen peptides and gelatin every day in addition to my supplements (selenium, magnesium, zinc, methyl B’s) and feel great.
I also highly recommend fully testing your blood, your hormones and your hair (mineral test) to get a comprehensive snap shot of what your levels are.
Through my tests I discovered I have the MTHFR gene defect, and my mineral composition was virtually non exsistent. The best Dr I found for these tests was an “anti aging functional medicine” Dr.
Good Luck to all!
Sylvie! Thank you for this post. I am 31 and had a spinal fusion surgery for my scoliosis when I was 15. It became apparent to me in my 20s that inflammation was playing a role in my overall health. I look forward to learning more about the paleo approach and how I can benefit from it. I’ve gone through periods of vegetarianism after battling with digestive discomfort from meat, but always come back to my dad’s wise words towards life: “everything in moderation, sweetie.” I hope to find a diet that supports the structural, muscular and neurological needs that I feel are unique to individuals with scoliosis. God bless you for sharing with us!
You’re welcome Carlyn! I’m glad it was helpful.
I have scoliosis and I started to have sharp pain on both of my sides and when I went back to the doctor more than one time then my doctor told me that I have scoliosis and that I need to wear a back brace during the day. Sarah ida Mendez I am only 30 years old and it all started before I turned 30 last year. I know that there is nobody else in my family that has scoliosis and I am the only one. Sarah Ida Mendez
Uhm. Animal Products are soo inflammatory. it doens’t matter if they’re organic or grass fed. Terrible stuff for bones. mind you, artery clogging. The best diet for scoliosis or anything in general, is whole food plant-based vegan. That in itself cures all diseases and ailments. I refuse to have to take medication of any kind, THUS, Vegan for me. and a God’s immune system I’ll shall have by not consuming death and chaos.
Watch the new documentary that just came out callled “What the Health” it is an absolute must, otherwise? You’re just gonna wither with the passage of time and get old and decrepit like all the “Normal” people. pfft.
Question what does your daughters diet and exercise program look like after she had surgery? Is she limited in movement and flexibility?
Thank you Sylvie. This is very interesting and gives a lot to reflect on (and change where my life is concerned). Although I certainly don’t agree with the rudeness of some of the posts(at all), I think diet is important depending on the individual’s case. I have had a lot of trouble with inflammation and I’ve found being vegetarian has helped along with sticking to whole foods rather than processed as you have already suggested.
In my case, I am an adult with scoliosis with hereditary high amounts of uric acid plus hypothyroid. It may be why I do better with being vegetarian. My bones in x-rays really show my age they are so worn pitted and lined from years of inflammation. I also suffered from years of IBS something that shatsu and diet have almost fully resolved. Being that the scoliosis is in part caused by one femur being considerably longer than the other, it seems the stress of compensating for this is the main cause of the scoliosis. As a result it seems to me that stress really is the culprit at the bottom of disease whether it be environmental or a deeper inherited stressor on the molecular level(perhaps).
So in other words, in dealing with the symptoms, one person may find some foods helpful while those same foods for another cause stress on the body which in turn trigger the symptoms people experience. I think it’s a matter of people getting to know their bodies and listening to them when they’re stressed whether by certain foods or situations.
I believe, though I don’t have the literature to back it up, that it really is all a matter of digestion if we’re to assume what you’re saying is correct. It goes to show our bodies with any given malady weren’t taking in the right nutrients for any number of reasons; poor digestion because of missing enzymes, low body temp disabling enzymes functioning properly, intolerances impeding absorption, allergies damaging tissues(celiac for example). If digestion doesn’t occur correctly in the first part of the process, not only does the body miss out on the nutrition afforded by the food, but that undigested food goes into the intestines not fit for absorption and in some cases can damage the rather complicated system of the more sophisticated phase of digestion.
So to take the poster Katie’s case as an example, there probably is a genetic factor she inherited, but I wonder if part of what was inherited is something missing in the puzzle necessary for good digestion.
That said, I do think white processed sugars are bad for everyone, it’s just perhaps some don’t notice the stress of sugar on the body until it’s too late.
My heart goes out to you with confronting this with your daughter and I wish you the very best.
Ignore all the negative comments, paleo helped my scoliosis hugely not to mention my depression and weight, great post, the trouble is people are not willing to believe anything in this sad world, thanks again
Adam, Thanks so much for your comment 🙂 Would you mind sharing how paleo helped with your scoliosis? I’m sure others would love to hear if you’re comfortable sharing.
Thanks!
Sylvie
I have a male teen 14 yo Who is not going to eat sardines with bones nor sprouted fermented grains & be reasonable were to u come across raw grain fed dairy . Their must be better solutions Juicing greens disguising the taste. What happened to Fruit not a mention
I’m perplexed!
Availability to accomplish this & the very narrow limits
Carol
No need to be rude, Carol. You’re welcome to comment and ask questions but please be respectful. Fruit is perfectly fine (although I’m not a big fan of fruit juice as I discuss in this post https://hollywoodhomestead.com/is-juice-bad-for-kids/).
If neither you or your teen are willing to make dietary changes, I suggest you look into supplements in pill form.
Best of luck to you both. -Sylvie
No offense but this is serious crap…I have had scoliosis since I was 13 and ate whole grains ,veggies, all all the good stuff and look at me…35 years old and a rod since 13….scoliosis happens…my grandmother had it and so do I….sure eat healthy it helps all of our bodies for the good but honestly it has to do with genetics
Hi Katie,
Genetics certainly play a part- we agree there. I’m curious since you mention whole grains and veggies- were you vegetarian?
Sylvie
Thanks so much Eloise. Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Erin 🙂 I agree- jacked up hormones = no good.
Thanks so much Eloise. Glad it was helpful!
This is another great post. I would also add that scoliosis is the external expression of a neurological and hormonal issue within the body. All of the foods in the S.A.D. grossly affect hormones. As I have battled my scoli throughout the years, have gotten my intestines back on track and fixed my food, I’m still dealing with fluctuating hormones. I’m on many different herbal supplements to balance out my hormones and this is YEARS after I’ve healed my gut and fixed my food. The long and the short of it is that bad food jacks up your hormones. If you mess with hormones there’s a high likelihood you’ll develope scoli if you have the genetic make-up for it or you’ll make your scoli worse.
I’ve been following your blog for years and it’s great to see you write these posts on scoli.
Thanks Erin 🙂 I agree- jacked up hormones = no good.
Wow….I a, so
Wow…I am so glad I came across your gelatin book on Pinterest, which then also took me to the paleo diet which took me to the autoimmune protocol. I have scoliosis from having polio when a teenager…I am now 74. I also have Chrons disease and arthritis. I think I really need to do this. I am planning to start the autoimmune diet and add the gelatin and bone broth for 30 days and see what happens. I have been gluten free and cow dairy free for the last three years but after reading your information, I think I can be better still and I know I eat way too much sugar. Wish me luck and thank you for all your wonderful work.
Thanks so much Eloise. Glad it was helpful!