Proper Maintenance

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!