06 Dec Healthy Eating for Strong Muscles and Bones
Chiropractors recognize that feeling good means taking care of not just your spine, but your whole body. That’s why we encourage our patients at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to take control of their health every day. Here’s one of the essential elements of good musculoskeletal and overall health: good nutrition.
Benefits of a Nutritious Diet
A balanced diet helps prevent and heal pain by building up your immune system, strengthening bones, and reducing inflammation. Unlike using medications and invasive procedures to alleviate pain, a healthy diet has no risks or side effects.
Poor diet is rampant in our culture. It contributes to higher rates of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, osteoporosis, and back pain.
Inflammation in moderation is a normal bodily function, activating white blood cells to help heal injuries or illnesses. When inflammation becomes chronic, it damages connective tissues and raises your risk of disease.
Nutritious foods help you achieve a healthy weight, reducing inflammation and stress on joints.
Food—the Good and the Bad
Cut out: processed foods, such as sugary cereals and fried foods. These contain refined carbohydrates, sugar, and saturated and trans fats that raise inflammation.
Cut back: red meat and starchy natural foods, like white rice and white potatoes, that also promote inflammation.
Eat more:
- Colorful fruits and vegetables, including berries and leafy greens with antioxidants that help repair or prevent tissue damage
- High-quality protein that helps build and preserve bone density, including fish, legumes (such as lentils and kidney beans), chicken, seeds and nuts, dairy products, and eggs
- Vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamins D and K, magnesium, and zinc
- Healthy fats, such as olive oil and omega-3
How Your Healthy Diet Complements Your Chiropractic Care
Nutrition is a central element of the holistic (whole-body) care that chiropractors provide.
A strong musculoskeletal system depends on a well-aligned spine and good overall health. Chiropractic adjustments align your spine to promote good communication between your immune and nervous systems. Eating a balanced diet strengthens your immune system and bones, enhancing your chiropractic treatments and optimizing your body’s performance.
Tips for Building Healthy Eating Habits
Don’t “go on a diet.” Instead, making moderate lifestyle changes allows good long-term habits to take hold.
Phase out sugar and processed foods. Purging sugar from your body modulates blood sugar, reduces cravings for sweets, and makes you feel better.
Write down what you eat. You’ll be more conscious and in control of your food, leading to better decisions. If you’re pressed for time, grab your phone and snap a photo of your meal.
Avoid low-calorie diets. Eating fewer than 1200 calories a day is counter-productive, slowing metabolism, increasing hunger, and causing loss of muscle and bone mass.
After a junk food slip, get back to good food habits the same day. You’ll keep your blood sugar and cravings in check. Don’t wait till the next day (or week!) to keep living your best life.
Contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation
Our team in Broken Arrow is here to support you in your journey to better health. Call us at 918-940-4630.