Family Chiropractic & Wellness is a holistic health practice. This means we consider the whole person — body, mind, spirit, and emotions — in the quest for optimal health and wellness and do so by gaining proper balance in life. That’s why we take the time to get to know each of our patients personally, as well as their health history, lifestyle and typical nutrition. All of these areas are important aspects for achieving optimal health.
Nutrition is often one area forgotten by our patients when trying to reach their chiropractic goals, but just as movement and consistency are vital, so is the area of nutrition. Here are four tips we would recommend:
Consider Your Calcium Intake
Bones need calcium for strength, so making it a priority to consume foods that are rich with it is important. Some of the most calcium-rich foods are dark leafy greens, low-fat cheese, milk, and yogurt. If you experiencing issues concerning your bones or nerves, these foods may be important to introduce into your diet as soon as possible. While it is ideal to aim to ingest all the nutrients you need through natural food and drink, supplements are available to bridge the gap if needed.
Be Mindful of Calories Consumed
If you are in the process of recovering from an injury, healing with occur much quicker when carrying less excess weight. This is especially true if the injury has halted normal physical exercise. Focus on foods that will give you energy (lean cuts of meat, fresh fruits and vegetables) verses weighing you down (breads, sugars, etc.).
Stay Hydrated
In order to promote healing, it is imperative to drink plenty of water every day. From transporting the important nutrients to where they are needed, to flushing harmful toxins out of the body, water provides many benefits for the health of your body. The amount of water a person should drink varies on their weight; the more someone weighs the more water they need to drink. A quick way to determine how much water to drink is to multiply your weight by 2/3. For example, if you weighed 175 pounds you would multiple that by 2/3 and learn you should be drinking about 117 ounces of water every day. Also, activity level needs to factor in as well. You should add 12 ounces of water to your daily total for every 30 minutes that you work out with intensity.
Prioritize Your Protein
Muscle injuries are one of the most common injuries seen during a chiropractic visit. Protein helps build muscle tissue, helping it to heal and renew itself back to its pre-injury state. Consider your daily intake of protein, if it is low it can drastically slow the healing process and hinder your chiropractic results. Lean meats and fish offer the highest amounts of protein, but other vegetarian options are tofu, soy, beans, eggs, milk, and nuts.
Remember, in order to gain balance in your overall health, you need to consider your whole body. Incorporating these nutritional tips into your daily routine can help you get the most out of your chiropractic care.
Call Family Chiropractic & Wellness today for an appointment to discuss a custom action plan to help alleviate your pain and achieve your optimal health goals at 812-373-3376.
