Take Charge of Your Health this Winter!

I recently gave a talk at my local business networking group regarding chiropractic care and its effects on your health. My main goal was to empower the listeners to take responsibility for their own health, as we are in  the winter months and “sick season”. You are not at the mercy of the germs floating around us on a daily basis. You decide whether you are going to create a welcome environment for those germs or not. All of us come into contact with viruses and bacteria on a daily basis. Our immune systems have the capabilities to fight them off. However, if you haven’t been taking care of yourself, it will be harder for your immune system to do its job.
Here is a list of ten things that each of us can do that will increase your body’s ability to defend itself and stay healthy through the winter months:

1. Eustachian tube drainage massage - this is great for kiddos especially, keeping their throat and ears clear. Fluid build up can lead to inflammation so clearing excess 
2. Vit C and D - these are anti-inflammatory vitamins, and most of us are deficient in Vit D given the lack of sunlight in Montana during the winter. Vit C is known to help decrease the duration of illnesses and the severity of symptoms.
3. Elderberry, echinacea, zinc, and others - the herbalists at Meadowsweet and Butterfly here in Missoula  have fantastic knowledge on what herbs to specifically use regarding your symptoms
4. Get enough sleep - healing happens when you sleep! Ideally aim for 8 hours. I know this can be difficult for some, but be intentional with a bedtime. You may notice you feel more energy throughout your day when you’re getting adequate sleep!
5. Stay moving - it’s easy in the winter to want to hibernate but getting outside and being active keeps you from feeling sluggish and can increase antibodies to fight off infections.
6. Decrease your sugar intake - this is especially hard around the holidays, but keep in mind that sugar is inflammatory and decreases the ability of your immune system to fight off germs. You get sick when you have an ideal environment for microbes to grow and an increase in sugar intake creates an ideal environment.
7. Stay hydrated! You are 70% water, so ideally you should drink half your body weight in ounces. Drinking enough water keeps the cells in your body healthy and functioning on a micro-level.
8. Eat the rainbow in veggies - veggies are  full of Vit C and essentials nutrients, and have many different health benefits beyond improving immunity.
9. Wash your hands! This is extremely simple and extremely effective in the prevention of illness. The CDC has various statistics regarding how effective it is in preventing the transmission of diseases. 
10. Get adjusted!! A chiropractic adjustment increases brain-body communication, effectively increasing bodily functions, decreasing inflammation, and increasing immunity.

If you have any questions about these tips, feel free to reach out to our office! 

Peace, Love, and Wellness,
Dr. Morgan