Chiropractic Care & Nutrition Counseling

Most chiropractors offer nutrition counseling as part of a patient's treatment regimen. This is because chiropractic care including nutritional care is a holistic approach that takes into account the overall health of the body, as well as the body's natural ability to heal. What someone eats plays a vital role in both of these issues.

Proper Nutrition Promotes Physical Health & Efficient Healing 

Healthy eating habits play a huge role in preventing and reducing inflammation. It can even alleviate symptoms of autoimmune diseases. By eating a healthy diet and getting adequate exercise, the body performs at its optimal level. A healthy diet, combined with chiropractic care, is often enough to fight off illness and other health problems.

Poor Diet & Chronic Conditions

Many people don't realize the impact that their diet has on their health. There's a tendency to think what you put into your body doesn't affect it, but nothing is further from the truth. Poor diet is one of the driving factors for developing chronic health conditions. The standard American diet can trigger conditions and exacerbate existing health issues. This not only includes mild to severe physical illnesses; it also includes mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety.

Inflammatory Conditions Linked to Poor Dietary Choices

Inflammation plays a vital role in healing. It's an immune response that encourages healing in response to injury or illness. This type of inflammation is acute and dissipates once the issue has been resolved.

However, inflammation can also occur on a chronic basis. When this is the case, it does far more harm than good. It's believed that chronic inflammation plays a role in the development and progression of many serious health concerns, including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, and more.

It is also understood that poor dietary choices contribute to chronic inflammation. A so-called modern diet is one of the most significant contributors to chronic inflammation. It includes things such as:

• Deep fried foods
• Trans fats
• Artificial sweeteners
• Artificial dyes
• Industrial seed oils
• Refined sugar
• Refined carbohydrates
• Fake meat

Each of these foods can trigger an inflammatory response. Considering how many people eat these foods daily, often at every meal, it's no wonder that chronic inflammation is a concern.

Heart Disease Risk Factors Associated with Poor Diet

There are several factors associated with eating a poor diet that increase one's risk of heart disease. For example:

• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Type II diabetes
• Atherosclerosis
• Formation of plaque in the arteries

Gastrointestinal Disorders Linked to Poor Diet

It makes sense that eating a poor diet would cause gastrointestinal disorders. Some of the most common include:

• Bloating
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Food intolerance

Nutritional Counseling & Chiropractic Care for Health Concerns

Chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to treating patients. It includes nutritional counseling to help patients achieve optimal health. Chiropractors work with patients to help them make the connection between the foods they eat and how they feel. They also assist them in designing an eating plan that is ideal for their current health and health goals.

Nutritional counseling is an integral part of a chiropractic care plan. Chiropractors:

• Help patients make healthier lifestyle choices
• Provide evaluation of a patient's current diet
• Provide information about the digestive system
• Inform patients about the risks and benefits of different foods
• Provide dietary advice that enhances chiropractic care

Everyone's nutritional needs are different. Chiropractors take a variety of factors into account when helping a patient with their dietary needs, including:

• Age
• Physical activity
• Height and weight
• Underlying medical conditions
• Health goals

Early on in treatment, patients work with their chiropractors to design an eating plan that is unique to their specific needs. They'll receive general dietary advice, as well as information and guidance specific to their situation. Over time, this eating plan can be adjusted as goals are met and changed.

Many patients find that adding nutritional counseling and dietary changes is one of the keys to pushing their overall healthcare plan to the next level. The foods you eat can enhance the benefits of your chiropractic adjustments. Eliminating certain foods from your diet and adding others impacts your overall health. Many are surprised to experience significant changes in how they feel daily by changing how they eat.

Combating Inflammation with Proper Nutrition & Chiropractic Care

The most powerful tool you have for reducing chronic inflammation is your diet. The foods you eat have a direct impact on your body's inflammatory response and your overall health. Everyone's dietary needs differ. However, certain foods are best to avoid if you want to reduce inflammation. These include:

• Refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and pastries
• Fried foods
• Soda and sugar-sweetened beverages
• Processed meat
• Margarine

What you eat is just as important as what you avoid. Foods that combat inflammation include:

• Tomatoes
• Olive oil
• Nuts, especially walnuts and almonds
• Fatty fish, including salmon
• Fruits, especially berries and citrus
• Green leafy vegetables

Managing Digestive Disorders with Proper Nutrition & Chiropractic Care

Spinal misalignment restricts communication between the organs and the digestive system. Blockages caused by spinal misalignment prevent the body from properly digesting and expelling essential nutrients.

Chiropractic care is effective for resolving digestive issues by correcting misalignments. It also has an impact on inflammation.

Additionally, chiropractors can provide nutritional advice that helps you maintain a healthy digestive system.

Maintaining Healthy Bones, Muscles & Joints with Chiropractic Care and Diet

Chiropractic care and the dietary guidance chiropractors give help you maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints. This improves overall health. The more you know about how your diet affects your musculoskeletal health, the better choices you can make.

A Holistic Approach to Wellness

Chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to wellness. It promotes self-healing and empowers patients to take responsibility for their health. If you're looking for a way to resolve existing health issues and reduce your risk of developing various health concerns, chiropractic care that includes nutrition counseling can help.

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.