Good Bye 2020 Hello 2021

It’s no secret that 2020 had a bad a rap and everyone is ready to start a New Year, 2021 we welcome you with open arms.  However, there is still a lot of uncertainty with the global pandemic and what the New Year will look like.  One thing for sure is we need good health now more then ever.  Our immune system is our body’s natural defense to disease.   It does this by fighting off foreign cells that cause disease but sometimes it fails and those cells get through.  The weaker the immune system is the more likely this is to occur.  This is why it is so important to protect those with weakened immune systems from other illnesses.  A healthy lifestyle is crucial for a strong immune system.  Since this is key we wanted to share some great ways to keep you and your families immune systems functioning optimally.

• Chiropractic Care
  • Chiropractic adjustments help to take pressure off the nervous system. Since your nervous system controls all aspects of your body if spinal misalignments are placing pressure on it the function is decreased.  When the function decreases your body is more susceptible to illness and disease.  Chiropractic care also gives you the ability to increase exercise, improve sleep and relieve stress, which are all important factors in staying healthy. 
• Exercise
  • Getting your body moving and getting blood flowing can help get rid of toxins, improve your cardio vascular health and lower blood pressure.  All different types of exercise are good but the recommend amount is 75-150 minutes per week.
• Sleep
  • Our body does a lot of healing while we sleep. Rest and recuperation is essential to immune health because it lowers cortisol levels.  Cortisol is the stress hormone, when it is increased it weakens the immune system.  Set a sleep schedule to make sure that you are getting enough adequate sleep each night.  We recommend 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
• Whole Foods & Supplements
  • Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals that nourish our bodies.  While supplementation is not a replacement for whole foods, high quality whole food supplements are the next best option and a great additional support.  If you have questions about supplements or foods that can help boost your immune system our doctors can help you!
• Minimize Stress
  • This one can be tricky but there are many things we can do to combat stress levels.  Meditation, exercise and adrenal support through supplementation are also great options.  Taking time out for the things you enjoy is a great addition to create a good work/ life balance.
• Water intake
  • Hydration is important for many aspects of your life, immune system function is just one.   Water helps flush toxins out of your body and assist in the production of lymph.  Lymph runs through our lymphatic system to pick up and destroy unwanted bacteria.  A good goal for water intake in half your body weight in ounces, example if you weight 150 lbs it is recommended you drink 75 ounces of water a day.  Try carrying a refillable water bottle with you and note how many refills it takes for you to reach your goal.
• Kick the bad habits
  • Smoking, drinking and unhealthy foods will all decrease your immune system function and affect your body negatively. Drink in moderation, cut out smoking (can be done slowly) and skip the drive through lines.  These are great ways to start.

Lets kick off 2021 with a bang and take care of our bodies the best way we know how!

If you have questions about any of the above topics please give our office a call at 636-825-6555 or ask the doctor at your next visit.

Stay tuned for more monthly tips, covering all topics about staying healthy in 2021!

We would like to thank some of the following sites for contributing to our research:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
https://www.umms.org/coronavirus/what-to-know/managing-medical-conditions/healthy-habits/boost-immune-system