With spring upon us and summer looming, yard care is likely on
your to-do list. Let’s say you go and
buy a lawn mower, put gas in it and start cutting. It works great! The yard looks nice and tidy and the new
mower runs like a dream. The end of the
season comes and you are ecstatic when mowing season is over because you now
have a few more hours to do other things so you put the mower up. The next mowing season rolls around and the
mower just doesn’t seem to work as well.
It doesn’t cut well, it makes terrible noises, and it is a pain to
start. You take it to the repair shop
and say, “it happened all of a sudden; I didn’t do anything different this
season than last season, and why is this just now a problem?” Some questions that might follow: “Did you change the oil? Did you put new gas in it (it will go
bad)? Have the blades been sharpened? Did you leave it out in the weather?” In other words, was the proper maintenance
done on that lawn mower?
A body is the same way.
I often hear the same exact phrases, “But I didn’t do anything
different”, “It happened all of a sudden”, and “Why is it just now a
problem?” The analogy above is a nice
illustration that most people can relate to.
Our bodies need regular maintenance to keep us running properly, too.
Regular body maintenance includes:
·
Putting REAL FOOD in your body that your body
runs well on (HINT: not everyone runs
well on all the ‘good’ foods out there!)
·
Drinking CLEAN WATER. Filtering city water is recommended because
of chemical treatments to ensure that our water is not contaminated with
organisms. Just like removing the
packaging from your lettuce, remove the chemicals before drinking!
·
Getting MOVING.
You don’t even have to use the “E” word!
Find something you enjoy doing: biking, walking, swimming, dancing. You were made to move DAILY!
·
FRESH AIR.
Get outside more. We have been
told to stay out of the sun so much that we have epidemic levels of Vitamin D
deficiencies in the U.S. We need
sunshine for healthy bodies. Avoid
getting burned by using cotton clothing, hats, and don’t rely so much chemical sunscreens
(these block the rays you need for Vitamin D formation). Eating real foods will also give you natural
protection from burns. If still
concerned, some nutritional supplements can also help.
·
ADJUSTMENTS.
A well-adjusted spine allows for a well-functioning nervous system and your
nervous system controls everything else!
·
NUTRITION ASSESSMENTS. Your nutrition needs change over time. Our need for certain minerals increases with
stress and a Nutrition Response Testing analysis can help you find what your
body is craving for good health.
·
REST.
Your body needs time to rest and recover. Set aside an average of 8 hours for
sleep. You may need more. Don’t forget to take care of your spiritual
health as well!
