3 Ways to Start a Better Diet

There are many things that chiropractic treatments can offer. But it isn’t enough to simply come to your appointments.

Successful treatment takes time, and it’s a process. But so, too, are the lifestyle changes that go along with optimizing your health and wellness.

One aspect of your health and wellness that is critical to your body’s function is diet. How you eat has an enormous impact on your body.

The Secret to Better Chiropractic Care: Food is Fuel

With cars, nicer ones often require higher octane gas. This is because the engines run in such a way that they need their fuel to be cleaner and more pure.

The same is true of your body. Put low quality fuel in, your body will not function as well. Put in higher quality fuel, and you will find more energy, lose weight, and your immune system will be at its best.

The question is, what kind of fuel do you want powering your body?

Getting Diet Under Control is Tough

There are millions of Americans every year who try to improve their diet. But unfortunately, 90% of these diets fail. There are a wide variety of reasons that this happens.

When dealing with nutrition, you’re messing with some strong evolutionary processes in the brain that go wild for things like sugar which are present in most processed foods. Furthermore, the nutrient density — or how many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are in the food you eat — of processed foods is almost nonexistent.

So how can you get better results from your diet? Here are some changes that you can use that will get you started on the right path.

1. Start With Small Steps

If you try to do too much, it can really set you back. A lot of people try huge, dramatic moments where they try to throw away everything that’s bad for you and only have healthy options. Whereas this is an extreme example, it’s important to mention.

The truth is that in order to change your diet, it’s going to require alterations that will stick long term. If it doesn’t work in the long run, then it won’t end up doing you any good.

So starting with smaller changes is usually the best way to go for long-term effectiveness. Whatever strategies you try, make this one a part of your plan. Don’t try to do too much.

And always remember that if you slip or mess up, it isn’t the end of the world. Be kind to yourself, and accept that you’re trying to do something bold and difficult, and do better next time.

2. Try to Eat as Many Whole Foods as Possible

For this, you’re thinking most of the foods on the outer edges of the grocery store. Fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, and your lean proteins.

You should try to avoid processed foods. There are many definitions of processed foods, but to keep it simple, if it’s shelf-stable, meaning it has a long life in your pantry, it likely isn’t the best choice. The exception here is for your spices, oils, and vinegars. But chips, crackers, cookies, and everything else you find in the middle aisles of the grocery store should be avoided.

If you focus first on changing the choices you have available, this is a great way to start a habit that will serve you well. This doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorites at the drop of a hat. But remember that when you make decisions about food, you’re making decisions about your health and well-being also.

3. Drink Plenty of Water Throughout the Day

People often confuse being dehydrated with being hungry. Our bodies know that there is a large chunk of water in most of the food we eat from day to day.

But the truth is that drinking plenty of water in between meals will actually help you to feel full longer. Hydration is also an essential component to the optimal function of your body.

Conventional wisdom says you need eight glasses of water per day at eight ounces of water for a total of 64 ounces of water per day. This is a good rule of thumb, but some people need a lot more.

This is determined by your age, gender, and level of physical activity. More water is always going to be the better choice, and it’s a great way to cut out sugary drinks that have a negative effect on your system.

Starting is What Your Chiropractor Cares About

We know this is a process and a journey. Remember to be kind with yourself. You will likely slip up with your plan, and that’s ok. What’s important is simply that you start trying and don’t quit.

You will likely go through many different attempts as you find what works successfully for you. And, as always, our chiropractors are here to ensure that you have the resources of knowledge and insight to help you out along the way.

If you have any questions about how you can start eating better and supercharging your immune system, or how a chiropractor can help you and your family find better health and wellness, then please call us or fill out the form below today!