Your 5 Easy Steps to Better Nutrition

By Sara Butler

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? It also happens to be National Noodle Month, National Celery Month, National Sauce Month, National Frozen Food Month, and National Peanut Month. You’re probably already behind with your culinary celebrations.

As you move through your day free of joint restrictions because of the handy work of your chiropractor, nutrition should be at the forefront of your mind. That’s because nutrition impacts every single thing that happens in your body and, more importantly, nutrition is something you have direct control over in your life. The chiropractors at The Joint believe that smart nutrition habits go hand in hand with chiropractic care, so here are a few rules you should start to live by in celebration of National Nutrition Month and beyond!

Exercise

OK, so this first one isn’t exactly nutrition advice, but it’s important to your overall health and wellness so it deserves a mention: exercise. Yes, you. Exercise.

You may dread the thought of hitting the gym or think that burpees are something done in France to compliment the chef after a delicious meal. No matter where you land when it comes to exercise, you must find something you enjoy doing on a daily basis that gets that body moving. Aim for moderate physical activity for 20 to 30 minutes most days of the week.

Learn to Cook

Sure, eating out with friends and family is fun, but like Forrest Gump says, eating out is a like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. OK -- that’s not a direct quote, but you get the point. When someone else prepares your meals, you have no control over what goes into them. But when you learn to cook, you’re controlling the sugar, fat, and calories that go into what you’re eating. Be like Janet Jackson and take control.

Get Back to Nature

When you’re going to eat something, pause for just a second and ask yourself, “Is this something I would find in nature?” As tasty as those Ho-Ho’s are, there’s no such thing as a Ho-Ho tree (and believe me, I’ve looked). If what you’re getting ready to gobble up was made in a factory, then chances are it’s not good for you.

Be an Outsider

When you go to the grocery store, spend more time on the outside perimeter. You may not realize this, but the outside perimeter of the store has all the perishable and fresh food, while the inside has all the boxed, processed stuff. You don’t have to be a nutrition expert to remember that the good stuff is usually found on the outside aisles.

Don’t Forget the Water

No chiropractic nutrition article would be complete without a reminder to drink enough water each day! Water helps your body to function at its best and will help you to feel better and more energized. Go ahead and have that morning cup of coffee or tea to get you started, but make water your main drink of the day and channel your inner Aquaman … or woman.

No matter how you choose to celebrate nutrition this month, you’ll be fine as long as you remember the basics!

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.