Although chiropractors are best known for treating back and neck pain, headaches and issues with the musculoskeletal system, doctors practicing this discipline actually do much more. Since our body structures affect our overall functioning, chiropractors are trained using a more holistic approach than most other specialties; comprehensive chiropractic care includes diet and nutritional counseling, exercise recommendations, and occupational and lifestyle modifications.
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has published several papers on all aspects of chiropractic care, several of which offer dietary and nutrition guidelines. The following are some of the primary recommendation made by the ACA:
1. Eat more raw foods.
The process of canning—and even cooking–foods can remove many valuable nutrients. Fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits are much healthier, as long as you purchase frozen fruits without added sugars.
2. Eat 25-30 grams of fiber each day.
High fiber diets can help prevent colon cancer, heart disease and digestive disorders. Good sources of fiber include beans, popcorn, whole wheat breads and pasta, berries and oatmeal.
3. Consume more organic foods.
In order for a food to be certified organic, farmers must comply with strict regulations regarding how the food is manufacture and processed. For example, they are forbidden from using herbicides and pesticides in plants, growth hormones and antibiotics in animals, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This means that the food you consume is safer and less toxic.
4. Eat more home-cooked food, less restaurant food.
Even restaurant food that seems healthy often is not. The methods of food preparation in restaurants often require excessive amounts of fat and sugar. The only way you can know for certain what you’re putting into your body is to prepare it yourself.
5. Pack your own lunch for work.
This recommendation is more than an extension of the advice offered above (know what you’re eating). In addition to the benefit of knowing what you’re putting into your body, having your own brown bag on hand will ensure that if you get delayed in the office– with no time to grab a bit to eat—you won’t become so hungry that you’ll be forced to eat from the vending machine.
These are just some of the building blocks of good nutrition; your chiropractor can provide diet and nutritional counseling customized for your particular situation.
Lake Pointe Chiropractic and Wellness Center offers care that treats the whole person; your chiropractor is there for preventative wellness care and maintenance for you and your children. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.
