In today’s fast-paced society, we’re bombarded with various forms of stress that can wreck havoc on our immune systems. Chiropractors are particularly interested in helping their chiropractic patients overcome these stressors in order to maintain a healthy and balanced life. Outside of the chiropractic adjustment, let’s take a look at three nutritional tips that will help chiropractic patients boost their immune system.
Chiropractic patients’ immune systems run their best when subluxations, also known as vertebral misalignments, are corrected. However, a proper diet can’t be ignored. By combining both forces, your immune system is better equipped to ward off many contaminants that try to invade the body through normal day-to-day activity.
Nutritional Tip #1 — Get Your Vitamin D
Vitamin D is known for strengthening bones and teeth by helping the body absorb calcium. People who get too little vitamin D may develop soft, thin, and brittle bones, a condition known as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
But did you know that it is also known to offer sufficient protection against a wide range of illnesses and chronic diseases like cancer? In addition, it improves the body’s natural response to bacterial infections like tuberculosis and helps to increase the production of antimicrobial peptides which are very important in boosting the immunity.
Since each patient’s health situation is different, ask your chiropractor how much vitamin D you need for optimal health.
Nutritional Tip #2 — Get Your Veggies
In culinary terms, vegetables are edible plants or their parts, intended for cooking or eating raw. You can quickly find what foods are in the vegetable group by visiting ChooseMyPlate.gov.
Vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts produce chemicals that are known to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and boost the body’s immune system. One great way to make sure you’re getting all of your vegetables for the day is through juicing or using vegetables in smoothies. If you’re new to juicing, check out this great resource, http://www.thebestofrawfood.com/juicing-vegetables-2.html, on juicing vegetables.
It is important to eat a variety of vegetables every day. If you have a difficult time getting vegetables in your daily diet a whole food supplement could help you bridge the gap in your diet. We recommend Juice Plus.
Nutritional Tip #3 — Avoid/Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Most chiropractic patients are health-conscious. However, new chiropractic patients may be oblivious to the entire concept since our society is geared more toward sickness care instead of true healthcare. Regardless, maintaining a healthy diet is absolutely essential to maintaining a strong immune system. One way to do this is by avoiding or reducing alcohol consumption.
Why? Because research has proven that alcohol can cause immunodeficiencies that, in return, can make you more susceptible to tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia and many other communicable diseases.
In addition, the use of alcohol is linked to cancer. Although many people in our society consume it for recreational purposes, it is important to note that alcohol can deplete you of essentials vitamins and minerals. Therefore, less alcohol consumption translates into a stronger immune system.
If you would like more information, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s website to learn more about alcohol facts and statistics.
To discover more nutritional tips that will help you build a stronger immune system, make sure you talk to your chiropractor. If you’ve never been to one, give us a call at Hope Chiropractic. Dr. Bryan or Dr. Marjorie would love to help guide you toward a more healthy lifestyle through safe and effective chiropractic care!