We have had a wonderful summer here in the sunny BOP but now we move towards Winter and it’s important that we start to support our immune systems better, to ensure our families remain in tip top health through the winter.
This blog is going to talk about a few ways that we at Eastern Bay Chiropractic ensure our staff and families are functioning and feeling their best through the cooler months.
Anna’s top 5 tips for feeling your best this Winter:
1. Drink plenty of water; As the days get cooler it can be hard to keep your fluid levels up. It is just as important however to be drinking 2+ litres of water each day. If you exercise you want to increase this water intake as sweating means we lose key fluids that allow our organs to clean and regenerate. Did you know as humans we are approx. 70% water?! If you let yourself become dehydrated the important organs that work to keep us alive fall under stress and mean we are more susceptible to illness.
2. Keep regular exercise up; Daylight savings means its cooler and darker in the mornings so getting up for that walk or run in the morning can easily be traded for sleep. It’s important we keep our bodies moving regularly. Breaking up regular sitting time is important – even small breaks from prolonged sitting are good for health. There are lots of studies out there that show even as little as 30mins of walking throughout the day improves mood, wellbeing and adds years to your life. The opposite is true too, extended sitting takes years off your life! So get out there and move your body wherever possible.
3. Support your system with supplements; A few antiviral supplements that are recommended.
Olive Leaf: More and more studies are proving that olive leaf is a powerful medicinal tool. Olive leaf benefits include cardiovascular and immune system support, an increase in energy and promoting healthy blood pressure.
Vit C: We all know how good this one is for fighting off the winter ills.
v Probiotics: Your gut controls your immune system. Scientists now know that approx. 80% of our immune cells our found in our gut! That’s right, so if your gut isn’t preforming at its best, its highly likely that your immune health will be compromised. Talk to your chiropractor as we stock a range of good quality probiotics for kids and adults and can ensure that we get the best formula for your needs.
Vit D: Yes we are lucky in Whakatane to get plenty of sun rays but the form of Vit D that I am talking about is a bit different. The sunshine vitamin is produced by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight. It is also occurring naturally in a few foods -- including some fish, fish liver oils, and egg yolks. It is important to make an effort to get vitamin D. It is nearly impossible to get enough Vitamin D from the sun alone when we are covered up and during winter. Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness can mean you have a vitamin D deficiency. However, for many people, the symptoms are subtle. Yet, even without symptoms, too little vitamin D can pose health risks. Low blood levels of the vitamin have been associated with the complications from cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, severe asthma in children and even cancer. We recommend Metagenics Vitamin D3 1000 IU drops which provides colecalciferol, the most abundant form of vitamin D, in an easy to administer, consistently measured, high-dose liquid. No yucky tastes we promise!
4. Get plenty of rest.. Do your best, it can be hard in our busy world but wherever possible schedule some time for YOU! A cuppa, nice book, warm spot and peace. Or an early night. We need sleep to regenerate. Without it this can heavily effect immune and overall body function.
5. Last but not least – get adjusted. Many people associate chiropractic care as a way to treat back and neck problems. This is true but there are so many other ways that chiropractic care can also help us. Take our immune system for example- studies published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics by Brennan and Triano show that several types of immune system cells increase biological activity after a chiropractic adjustment (for more on that study just click here). When you think about this, it really makes sense as the nervous, immune and endocrine systems are intrinsically linked. Misalignment of the spine can effect the ability of our nervous system to communicate effectively and impair co-ordination of our immune system. Often when we feel sick we try to avoid people and stay in our home as much as we can. However a trip to your chiropractor is highly recommended during these times and may be the boost your body is looking for.
Hopefully with these above tips you too can have a winter free of ills and chills. Share this info with your friends and family to get the best out of your body this winter.
Smiles,
Dr. Anna and the Team at Eastern Bay Chiropractic