March is National Nutrition Month. This annual awareness event dates back to 1980 when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics decided to turn National Nutrition Week into National Nutrition Month. Every year, there is a different theme, but the overarching mission is to help people learn to eat well. This year’s theme is “Beyond The Table,” and asks you to think past your fork when looking at nutrition.
What are the Effects of Poor Nutrition?
The food we put in our bodies can significantly impact our daily functions.
Everybody needs a supply of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to maintain brain health, muscle mass, and bone density. Proper nutrition is also required to maintain the nervous, digestive, endocrine, cardiovascular, and immune systems. When our nutrition levels drop, we also begin to see a rise in illness and disease. Poor nutrition can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, poor brain function, certain cancers, and osteoporosis.
What is Poor Nutrition?
Poor nutrition is caused by eating the wrong types of food, which do not contain the nutrients our bodies need most. One of the highest contributors to poor nutrition is packaged and fast foods. These easy-to-grab items may meet our taste buds' requirements, but the way these foods are processed and stored often strips them of their nutrients.
Poor nutrition can also be caused by under or overeating. If you are not consuming enough high-quality calories daily, you could be depriving your body of nutrients. On the other hand, overeating, even of the “right” foods, can lead to weight gain and eventually obesity, diabetes, and heart problems.
Making Healthy Choices to Improve Your Everyday Nutrition
If you feel that you lack good nutrition, the good news is that the situation is easy to remedy. The transformation doesn’t happen overnight. If you are used to a life of chips and burgers, it’s unrealistic to think you can instantly break all your bad habits. Adding in better nutrition should be a gradual process, and it can be as simple as opting for carrot sticks instead of chips when you need a crunch. Below are some other helpful tips.
Reduce Your Red Meat Consumption
Eating large amounts of red meat has been linked to higher risks of heart disease, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes. If you’re a meat lover, this doesn’t mean you need to go vegetarian, but rather than eating red meat at every meal, consider adding a “Meatless Monday” to your week and try cutting back where you can.
Choose Nutrient-Rich Ingredients
When selecting ingredients for your everyday meals, consider the nutrients they offer your body. Whenever possible, use fresh ingredients instead of canned or frozen ones. Another easy substitution is by color. If you love baked potatoes, switch things up and go for purple potatoes. Studies show that purple potatoes have a lower glycemic index and a higher nutrient and antioxidant content than white or yellow potatoes.
Taste the Rainbow
Aim to add fruits and veggies in as many colors as possible to your day. Like purple potatoes, purple peas, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, and asparagus often have higher nutrient content than their traditionally colored counterparts. Pile on the leafy greens, and don’t forget the reds and oranges. The more (natural) color you have on your plate, the higher your plate is in nutritional content.
Ditch the Sugar
For many, sugar can become an addiction that’s hard to break. Again, you don’t have to do it all at once. Make small changes, such as swapping ice cream for frozen bananas or a bowl of berry-topped oatmeal instead of a sugary cereal.
How Upper Cervical Care Supports Nutrition
It’s no surprise that digestive health plays a pivotal role in our overall well-being. After all, our digestive system impacts every aspect of our body's functioning, from breaking down food to absorbing nutrients. While diet and lifestyle are easily recognized as key factors in gut health, there's another element you might have overlooked – upper cervical chiropractic care.
Upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on the alignment of the spine's top two vertebrae, the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). These vertebrae house the brainstem, a vital nervous system component that controls various bodily functions, including digestion.
The gut and the brain are intimately linked through a complex network of nerves, hormones, and biochemical signals. This connection, known as the "enteric nervous system," influences digestion, mood, and immune responses. Misalignments in the upper cervical spine can disrupt nerve communication between the brain and the digestive system and interfere with nerve signals that regulate digestion. Upper cervical chiropractic adjustments help restore proper nerve communication, allowing the digestive system to function optimally.
A Healthy Conclusion
Being proactive and addressing health problems early is always best, but it’s never too late to start living a healthier life. If you’re ready to improve your nutrition, gut health, and overall wellness and gain control of your health, contact Atlas Specific Upper Cervical Care today. Click the link below to schedule a free consultation, check out our New Patient Special, stop by our office at 1800 E 3rd Ave #108, or call us at 970 – 259 – 6803.
Notice of Disclaimer:
We are doctors of upper cervical chiropractic, but NOT necessarily YOUR doctors. All content and information on this website are for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice, and reading or interacting with this site does not establish any form of the patient-doctor relationship. Although we strive to provide accurate information, the information presented here is not intended to substitute for professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in your particular area of need before making medical decisions.