True health requires a series of well-planned steps.
Health is a journey
We’ve all heard the saying “It’s not the destination but the journey.” We could say the same when it comes to health. Health is a journey that requires us to make a series of well-planned steps. The steps, or choices, that we make every day build on each other and lead us to optimal wellness. Wise decisions lead us down a path to wellness while bad choices lead us in the reverse direction, toward poor health. For most of us this journey is a very winding road.
Everyone wants to be healthy, however common misconceptions about what that means often stand in our way. Are you falling into any of these common traps on your road to wellness?
Nutrition: We drastically cut calories to lose 10 pounds before a big event without any thought to the eating habits that made us overweight in the first place. Proper nutrition is necessary for a strong and healthy body. Food is our body’s fuel and eating right affects how our body functions today and into the future. While the popularity of fad diets and conflicting messages in the battle of fat versus carbs can make proper nutrition confusing, every nutritionist would agree that it’s best to fuel our bodies with low-fat proteins and a wide variety of complex carbohydrates in the form of fruits and vegetables. Processed foods and refined sugars and grains are not healthy choices.
Exercise: All too often our exercise routine consists of running errands, wading through long to-do lists, balancing family commitments, and lifting the remote toward the television. Our body’s need for stretching and aerobic activity must be a priority. As with any important appointment, schedule time for physical fitness. A short workout of 15-20 minutes is a great way to get started towards your goal of a healthier you. Work up to 30-45 minutes a day once you’ve established a routine. Go easy on yourself and set realistic goals--you don’t want to set yourself up to fail. And make sure your fitness routine is balanced with outside activities. Fresh air and sunshine will improve your attitude and energy levels.
Nerve System Health: Regular chiropractic adjustments are an important part of your family’s wellness plan. Every system of the body relies on a properly functioning nerve system. If the nerve system is experiencing interference, your body is not able to function properly which can lead to pain and symptoms. Waiting to have your adjustment when you are feeling pain is a mistake! We can’t always feel when our body is not functioning correctly and that’s why it’s important to have a regular chiropractic wellness program. This will help your body maintain proper function and continually heal and strive toward health by eliminating interference caused by misalignments in the spine (subluxation). With proper function you can experience lowered stress levels, increased energy, a stronger immune system, and better overall performance.