The 5 Pillars of Health in Highlands Ranch

5 Pillars of Health to keep you running at 100% this Flu Season

1. Keep your spine aligned - Chiropractic adjustments keep your nervous system firing on all cylinders. Your immune system is closely intertw
ined with your nervous system down to the cellular level. Every time you see your chiropractor, your immune system gets a much needed boost. Our body's get beaten up every day due to various physical, chemical and emotional stressors. As long as your nervous system gets a regular tune-up, your body and your immune system will be able to stay in check and fight off and bacteria or viruses that you will most likely encounter during this time of year.

2. Sleep - This is the most overlooked aspect of health in America. We all think of diet and exercise when talking about our health, but rarely do we
mention sleep. We need to be getting at least 8 hours of sleep every single night. This is the time where your body gets to heal and rejuvenate itself. Make this a priority and your level of health will sky rocket. Stay away from TV, computers and cell phones 2 hours before bedtime and you will be able to fall asleep and stay asleep much better.

3. Your GUT - Your micro-biome or gut holds the key to your overall health. If you have the right types of bacteria lining your gut, your immune system will function at a much higher degree. The good bacteria called probiotics are constantly getting wiped out of our system due to our lifestyles. Some of the biggest threats to these good bacteria are antibiotics, cleaning products, sugar consumption, eating meat/protein that has been given antibiotics and other medications. We need to quit being so clean and understand that not all bacteria is bad bacteria. You can replenish your good bacteria by taking a probiotic supplement, drinking kombucha tea and eating more fermented foods. The human micro-biome has been studied extensively during the past few years and we now have a good understanding on how important it is to human health.

4. Diet & Nutrition - This one is a no brainer. We must eat a diet that supports your health and the health of your immune system. Bad diets will actually wipe out your immune health and make it very hard for you to stay healthy. The human diet must consist of good fats, healthy proteins, an array of vegetables and a little fruit. The types of foods you should try to stay away from our sugars and carbohydrates. Sugars tend to wear down your immune health making you more prone to sickness and disease. This step seems to be the hardest for most people because sugar is very, very addicting. You must go cold turkey, like any other addiction, and ditch the sugar once and for all. You will see a dramatic decrease in your weight and a dramatic increase in your energy levels.

5. Friends & Family - Another often overlooked pillar to health is your social network. Whether it is friends, family members or coworkers, studies have shown that those with a strong sense of community often live longer and have less sick days in their lifetime. It is vitally important that you have a strong social network. Years ago, the big family dinners were very common. In this fast paced day and age we live in now, dinner is usually on the run or in your car. We must take a step back and think about what is really important in your life. Your family and friends should be at the top of your list. Start sharing dinner, talking, communicating and enjoying each other's company. Too many of us get home from work and just watch TV the remainder of the night. Life is short; enjoy the company of those you love.

Follow these simple 5 strategies and feel your best this Flu season. Don't believe all the media hype, the human body was not meant to get sick. If you treat your body the way it wants to be treated you will not get sick.