Dr. Nate: Health Is No Accident!

When we get sick or experience various aches and pains, it’s tempting to look for causes outside ourselves. The most convenient culprits:

Bad luck. Accidents often fall into this category—being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Germs. Blaming a cold or flu on germs overlooks one critical ingredient—being a hospitable host!

Genetics. The new fall guy is "bad genes.” Yet, research shows that gene expression is a reaction to our environment.

Thankfully, we live in a world of cause and effect. Every symptom has a cause. And as tempting as it is to look to outside causes, many health problems are the result of our own choices, beliefs and habits. Sometimes the effects can take decades to appear.

Ill health is not an accident, but the result of your body’s inability to accommodate physical, chemical or emotional stress. Similarly, good health results when your body works the way it was designed to.

What can you do for Chemical Stress? Eat the right foods including healthy, organic and whole foods.  Stay away from toxins in the the food, air, water and the personal care products that we all use on a daily basis. 

Emotional Stress? Work hard to minimize the daily stressors in your life through breathing, meditation, yoga or even a long walk outside to clear your head. Try this: When you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed—STOP—and take three long deep breaths. You might be surprised at how effective this is and how good this can make you feel.

Physical Stress? Start a basic exercise program. Even if it is walking three times a week for 20 minutes. The research is out. Exercise is good for you! Before you start an exercise program, especially with a more aggresive cardiovascular or resistance exericse, make sure your form is right.

By form I mean posture. Here's a simple self-check. Take a look in the mirror. If your head, shoulders or hips tilt to one side or the other, there is a good chance that your spine is off balance. From the side if your head is jutting forward out in front of your body there is a good chance that your spine is out of balance. 

All of these will effect your ability to perform your best. My recommendation: Get checked by someone that specialized in posture and spinal health, nutrition, detoxification and lifestyle stress—a chiropractor.