Few aspects of health are more important than proper nutrition. Eating the right foods and drinking plenty of water are vital to staying fit, healthy and living longer.
If you’re suffering from back pain or other health problems, a proper diet supplies your body with the building blocks it needs to repair and heal itself.
There are many reasons that nutrition is important for the spine, but one of the most important facts that you should know is that proper nutrition will help you ‘hold’ your Chiropractic treatment longer and keep your your spine stronger.
The explanation for this is simple; your spine is made up of a series of bones called vertebrae and these bones need calcium, magnesium and a number of other minerals and vitamins to stay healthy. These minerals and vitamins are best found in whole foods, like fresh, raw vegetables, lean meats, nuts and legumes and some dairy products. Whole food based supplements can help you round out your nutritional requirements. Eat these foods and your vertebrae will stay healthy and strong. Eat a diet filled with fatty, salty, sugary junk food and over time, your spine (and your health) will suffer.
Water is another critical aspect of proper nutrition and plays a vitally important role in keeping your spine healthy. The inter-vertebral discs of the spine are composed of more than 80% water. These discs act like shock absorbers, taking the stress from accidents, falls, and exercise. If you don’t drink enough water they will slowly shrink and degenerate, causing a range of problems for the spine and for your overall health.
Thinking of the discs like sponges makes it easier to understand why water is so important. Let’s use a kitchen sponge as an example. If you leave the sponge sitting on the kitchen counter for a few days it dries up and become hard and brittle. Soak it in water and in an instant it regains its pliability. The discs are very similar. If they have enough water they will remain pliable and flexible, able to absorb shocks and protect the vertebrae. If not, they will shrink, dry out and become very fragile, like the sponge after a few days on the countertop.
Give your chiropractic treatment a boost
Your spine is supported and held in place by a vast array of muscles, ligaments and tendons and, just like the bones, they need minerals and vitamins to stay healthy and strong. If they’re weak, it won’t take long for your back to go out of alignment following chiropractic treatment. But if they’re strong and healthy your adjustment will ‘hold’ longer and you will get better faster.
Proper nutrition is also important for those of us who carry a little extra weight. Excess weight can put an enormous amount of strain on the spine, especially the final 5 bones of the spine called the lumbar vertebrae. Eating a healthy diet will help you to lose those extra pounds and give your lumbar bones a rest, allowing them to heal.
Just like regular exercise, and healthy sleep patterns, proper nutrition plays a vital role in your overall health and the health of the spine. Avoiding low quality pre-processed foods will help you stay strong and fit. Drinking plenty of pure, filtered water will keep the discs, muscles, ligaments and tendons pliable, flexible and healthy.
Make a commitment to your health and make good nutrition a top priority. You’ll feel better and have more energy and vitality!