Most people realise that proper nutrition is essential to good health. But what you may not know is that your chiropractor can be a detailed source of nutritional and diet advice. Chiropractors are trained in not only the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system, but they also receive in-depth instruction concerning metabolism, nutrient deficiencies, and many related subjects.
If you have any nutritional or dietary concerns – overweight, vitamin supplementation, sufficient proteins for vegetarians, etc. – don’t hesitate to consult your chiropractor. Additionally, many chiropractors will offer nutritional advice as part of regular patient consultations.
Daily Nutrition
A low-calorie diet is not necessarily the same thing as a healthy diet. Sure, it’s important to avoid taking in excess calories, but you still need to be certain to get enough vitamins, protein, healthy fats, and minerals. You could eat nothing but lettuce – that would definitely be a low-calorie, low-fat diet – but you wouldn’t be getting the protein or complete range of vitamins and minerals necessary for good health.
A healthy diet is a balanced diet. As a nutritional expert, your chiropractor can help construct balanced meals that contain sufficient protein, good fats, vitamins, and minerals. When you adhere to a balanced diet, you’ll find that you’re less subject to pain, aches, and minor infectious illnesses like colds.
Nutrition for Healing
Good nutrition also promotes healing. For example, vitamins A, C, D, and E can all act as antioxidants, reducing inflammation in irritated tissues. Therefore, if you’re injured or in pain, a balanced diet can actually help accelerate the healing process. Once again, your chiropractor is a great source of guidance on the exact type of diet to aide healing.
Supplements
Because of our busy lives, hectic schedules, and modern food availability, it’s not always easy to get all the nutrients we need. Other times, due to certain health conditions, we may need extra amounts of certain nutrients. This is where supplements come in. Concentrated vitamins and minerals can help address deficiencies or speed healing.
While the majority of supplements are safe to take as directed on the packaging, there are some that can be dangerous in large amounts or in combination with certain prescription medications or health conditions. So it’s important to only take nutritional supplements under the recommendation and advice of your physician and chiropractor.