Raising a Healthy Family

Good Health is Easy!
Raising a healthy and happy drug-free family in today’s day and age is challenging because of the onslaught of commercials that tell us to use over-the-counter, prescription drugs and other medications for bacterial and viral infections such as colds, flu, sore throat and other childhood illnesses.

Health is easy if you are in tune with the universe and your body. The universe works in specific ways, we are part of this universe, so we work in a specific way. The universe works through natural laws, like gravity, for example. As this applies to our bodies, the body is a self-healing organism, organized by our nervous system which is responsible for our experience and for directing all growth and repair in our body. Balanced interaction with the universe is constructive, healthy, life-sustaining and health promoting. What can we do to be more a part of this universal concept as it pertains to health? The first alternative to the usual recommendations for colds and flu is to not get sick at all. So let’s start there.

We have an active role in maintaining good health throughout our lives. We know that the nervous system controls and coordinates all activities in our body and links our internal world to our external world, so, a normal functioning nervous system is the key to optimum life and health. Since the nervous system is housed inside our body, it is important that our body, posture and spine be checked periodically in order to maintain a healthy nervous system. A doctor of chiropractic takes all that into account when assessing a person’s health.

Let’s take a look at some aspects of our lives and see if there are changes we can make.

Are you getting enough sleep at night?
Rest and sleep allow the nervous system to recuperate from all the daily input which it constantly processes. A firm mattress, combined with the use of feather pillows supports the body unlike soft beds and firm pillows which do not allow for proper spinal alignment. Feather pillows are good because they are moldable. You can roll it up just right for placement under you neck, without pushing your head forward or if you lay on your side, it can help properly keep the head inline with the spine.

Are you eating right?
Our body requires nutrients to fuel growth and healing. The 2005 food pyramid is ideal because it emphasizes more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low fat milk products. Variety is the key. Eat as close to the source as possible, fresh and raw without preservatives, when available. Minimize packaged foods for they have way too many ingredients that do not promote good health. Eat fruits before noon and more veggies afternoon. Eat your biggest meal at lunch, if possible. Take your time and enjoy the meal. Chew your food properly and your body will digest the foods more readily so you will get the nutrition you need to maintain a healthy body. For babies, most of us know that breast feeding is the best source of initial and supplemental nutrition for the first 12-18 months. Introduction of solids should not begin until teething starts at around 6 months. Formula is not a very good substitute for breast milk.

Do you exercise?
Exercise is necessary for the nervous system to rest and recuperate from its daily business of information processing. By way of the nervous system, exercise also stimulates growth, repair and immune function. Strength exercises can be done 1–2 times per week, but aerobic exercise should be done 3-4 days per week. Do things you enjoy and have fun. Don’t forget to exercise your mind by reading, writing, listening to music, enjoying art or other performances.

Are your hands clean?
Wash hands before and after preparing food, going to the bathroom, changing diapers and cleansing wounds. Make sure you rinse your food before you prep them for cooking, especially fruits and vegetables, as well as some cuts of meat and chicken. I’ve never tried to wash a package of ground turkey though!

However, no matter how well informed and well-intentioned we are and given our lifestyles, varied responsibilities and stressors, we do tend to get out of balance. Our resistance fades and we can become susceptible to colds, flu and other illnesses, both physically and mentally.

Steps to take when we get out of balance and become ill.

Get extra rest and sleep. Take naps and go to bed earlier than usual. This is a good time to take a break. Research shows that 90% of our energy is being used for keeping an upright posture and the other 10% is for thinking, healing and growing. Keeping the mental stimuli down will channel that energy into the healing energy that you need. Taking time to meditate rejuvenates the body.

Eat! Grains, legumes, fruit and veggies are good for you. Fruits keep the moisture levels up in your throat and they are soothing, keeping the irritation levels down. Mexican food is good for colds and flu. Studies show that Tabasco sauce actually kills Strep bacteria. When you have a fever, sometimes just ginger ale and saltine crackers are all you can keep down.

Exercise. If you have the energy, work out. Decrease the intensity and duration, but don’t stop. Lymphatic drainage is passive and requires muscular contraction to clear out the waste products from the accumulation of virus and bacteria.

Over-the-counter medications. Try to avoid prescription medications such as antibiotics and pain relievers except in ‘life-threatening’ situations. Research has shown that OTC medications for children are unproven and potentially harmful. Read the ingredients and contraindications.

Medical intervention. Medical intervention is worth the risk for emergencies and crisis management when the limitation of matter is exceeded. Emergencies include broken bones, major cuts, ligamentous, cartilaginous or muscular injuries that require surgery and life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. It is also beneficial for people suffering from birth defects that require surgical correction. In general, medical intervention is warranted for people who are so damaged that they will not positively respond without this intervention. Your medical care should still be coordinated with your chiropractic care and should not be exclusive. Research confirms that chiropractic care offers a wonderful opportunity for drugless, non-surgical healthcare for many conditions.

If these initial recommendations are followed, the risk of disease and injury is remarkably lowered. However, we may have been injured in the past or are getting into the healthcare game later on in life and have already sustained sickness or have ongoing conditions. Children with allergies, asthma, chronic colds, colic, motor vehicle crashes, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, growing and/or back pain all respond well to chiropractic care. In adults, research shows many positive results for back pain, neck pain, headaches, and menstrual disorders.

Even if we do all we can to maintain a positive, healthy lifestyle, we still need some help from time to time. This is where chiropractic care comes into play. Chiropractic care decreases the chances of sustaining these types of injuries and illnesses and that chiropractic care during, if possible, and after such events, should they occur, speeds recovery. Keep in mind that chiropractic care is not a ‘treatment’ for those conditions as such, but chiropractic care can normalize and maintain the nervous system which allows the body to heal itself from illness, naturally!

If you, or anyone you know could benefit from the services of a doctor of chiropractic, then by all means, have them give me, Dr. Vince Overland, D.C. a call at Aspire Wellness Center, located inside the Aspire Fitness Center at 2410 NE Twin Knolls Dr. in Bend, OR at 541-382-3563. I’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have.