How chiropractic can strengthen your immune system this holiday season!
Are you feeling bogged down after the rush of Thanksgiving? Did you overstuff yourself at the multiple celebrations? Did you spend all weekend getting the best deals at all your local stores? Or on the other side, did you spend all day sitting on the couch watching the football games? Did you travel long distances and/or sleep in a bed that wasn’t your own? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, that could be the cause as to why you are feeling a little under the weather.
Our immune systems are the basis of our health, which of course plays a big role when it comes to our overall wellness and happiness. The immune system is the body's defense against infectious organisms and other invaders. Through a process called the immune response, this system attacks invading organisms and substances as they enter the body and work to cause disease. The immune system can be weakened by sources like those alluded to before: stress, lack of sleep, sedentary lifestyle (like watching TV all day), poor diet/overeating, going from hot to cold climates and vice versa (like in and out of stores) and of course traveling (especially on airplanes).
So what can we do to help? Chiropractic focuses on making sure our brain and nervous system are clearly coordinating all bodily systems. There is a strong connection between the nervous system, the immune system and the endocrine system. When these 3 systems are functioning well together they help to keep our bodies resilient and strong. However, when one is hindered, the others have to try to compensate – leading to that bogged down feeling. Here at RFC we analyze the spine for subluxations and give corrective adjustments to reduce the stress on the nervous system, subsequently impacting the immune system in a positive way. One study even showed that individuals under chiropractic care were found to have a 200% greater immune competence than those not under chiropractic care.
In order to stay healthy this holiday season, and make sure you are prepared for some of these hindrances to your immune system that may arise, here are some additional tips you can follow!
- Get adjusted – come see us regularly at RFC to get checked and make sure your nervous system is free of interference
- Wash your hands – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Stay active – find something you enjoy doing and go out and do it
- Drink lots of water – aim for ½ an ounce to an ounce of water for each pound you weigh
- Get a good nights sleep – try going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day and try to turn off all electronic devices at least an hour before bed
- Make healthy food choices – skip the processed and sugary foods, try to shop the outskirts of the grocery store for more fresh options (i.e. vegetables and fruits)
- Take in as much sun as you can – vitamin D can also be supplemented this time of year since we don’t get as many opportunities to be outside if its cold, but this vitamin plays an important role in keeping our immune system functioning at its best
Resources:
Pero R. "Medical Researcher Excited By CBSRF Project Results." The Chiropractic Journal, August 1989; 32.
