Why Chiropractors Care About What You Eat

You went to a chiropractor to get help with pain related to your bones, joints, and muscles. So, why are they offering you information and recommendations regarding dietary supplements and changes to what you eat?

For more than a decade now, chiropractic physicians have been taking a holistic approach in their clients’ treatment programs, and today, it is proving beneficial in accelerating treatment and recovery.

In this post, we share a few of the most prominent reasons why.

Treating Three Systems at Once

As with most injury and illness, often the pain or discomfort we experience outwardly is only a symptom of a root cause. Chiropractors are not only providing immediate relief, but also asking why their clients are experiencing these issues in the first place.

Almost every bodily function is comprised of three primary components – a biomechanical component (which refers to the tendons and ligaments connecting other soft muscle tissue and bone, and how they are all working together) and the circulatory system are the first two. Both of these systems are controlled by the third component – the nervous system.

Your biomechanical functions cannot be restored properly without addressing circulatory function and the overarching nervous system control at the same time. Circulation and nerve functions are proven to be best addressed by nutrition.

As a result, chiropractors who have more than basic nutritional knowledge have the ability to offer more holistic solutions in their practices, and can help their clients make wiser decisions in healing their bodies naturally.

Advanced Chiropractic Education

The premise is “that the body is able to achieve and maintain health through its own natural recuperative powers” when its nervous system is fully and properly functioning, and general good health is maintained.

That includes balanced nutrition, adequate daily amounts of water and clean air, solid rest, and regular exercise. While this isn’t news to anyone, clients are seeking out practitioners with post-graduate certifications centered around nutrition fundamentals, clinical-level nutrition, and individualized nutritional assessment.  Some current programs require as much as 300 hours of nutrition-based study.

Largely, this shift for both chiropractors and clients alike is due to the recognition that the human body doesn’t need a cabinet full of big pharma to feel good.

Diet First, Supplements Next

The consensus forming around the nutritional component of holistic chiropractic care is that “all good health starts with the gut.”

Research has shown a link between a lack of good gut health and a plethora of musculoskeletal issues. Additionally, as much as 70% of our immune cells live there.

One recommendation that lands on nearly everyone’s customized dietary plan, for example, is choosing foods with inflammation-reducing properties.

Inflammation is the body’s first immune-response to most issues, and when addressed, can assist in providing that immediate relief every client seeks. Specific options will depend on the source and location of your inflammation. For instance, your doctor may recommend adding turmeric root to your diet to quell joint inflammation, or an increase in olive oil intake to aid in reducing sciatica or other bodily inflammation.

The most important aspect of these dietary recommendations: food first, supplements next. While supplementation is useful for singular boosts of exact vitamins the body may be lacking, their effectiveness alone pales in comparison to the thousands of biologically active compounds and the natural antioxidants, carotenoids, and flavonoids found in the whole foods we eat.

Changing the diet first is far more effective in assisting the body with natural repair and function.

Ultimately, the answer to this frequently asked question is that your Florida chiropractor is taking a natural and holistic approach to your overall health and well-being. Rest assured that there is thought and education behind those dietary recommendations, and taking them will set you on the road to recovery more quickly than ever before possible!

About the Author:

Dr. Singer has been a practicing chiropractor for more than 20 years, and USA Health & Therapy has been around since 2004. Over the course of his career, Singer has helped tens of thousands of people with all kinds of issues by using a wide variety of treatment strategies. He has extensive knowledge of chiropractic modalities, including Gonstead, Diversified, Thompson Drop Table, and Activator, and in 1997 he earned a special adjunctive Chiropractic Certification in Spinal Trauma (CCST) to better provide care for car crash victims. Dr. Singer is licensed to practice chiropractic medicine in both Florida and New York.