At the start of the new year, a lot of
people make goals to improve their diet and weight.
You may already know that a poor diet
and a high BMI can increase the risk of developing certain conditions
- like high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. But have
you considered how a poor diet and extra weight can affect your
spinal health?
Learn more about your spinal health and
how a chiropractor can help you find solutions to achieve your goals.
How Does a Poor Diet Affect Your
Spinal Health?
Your spinal bones are made up of water,
collagen, and minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. If
you aren't getting the right nutrients in your diet, then the
vertebrae can lose their strength and prematurely wear down.
If you have a poor diet, you may
experience unnecessary back pain. A lot of people with poor diets eat
a lot of simple sugars and carbs with little nutritional value. Too
much sugar can cause excess inflammation in the body. Excess
inflammation can exacerbate conditions like sciatica or spinal
arthritis.
But choosing the right nutrients for
your spinal health is not enough - you need to get the right
amounts
of nutrients in your diet.
For example, if you decide to cut out a
lot of fat in your diet to lose weight, this action may backfire.
Without the right amount of fats in your diet, it's harder for your
body to absorb vitamin D. Vitamin D is vital for building strong
vertebrae.
Because protein is a key nutrient for
bone health and preventing osteoporosis, some people may try to
overcompensate and consume a lot of it. But if you consume too much
protein, then calcium can be leached from your bones.
In short, a poor diet can cause
inflammation that can cause back pain and premature wear and tear of
your spine. Besides consuming nutrient-rich foods each day, it's
important to get the right portions of essential nutrients.
How Does Extra Weight Affect Your
Spinal Health?
When you carry extra body weight you
can increase your risk of musculoskeletal injuries by 48%.
Discs cushion the vertebrae in your back, but when you have extra
weight, these discs can slip or rupture.
Extra weight can cause nerve
impingement, which can lead to sciatica. In fact, excess weight is
one of the most common causes of sciatic pain; and, since 34%
of the adult population in the U.S. is obese, a lot of people could
be at risk for this condition.
However, for every four pounds of
weight that you lose, you can remove about sixteen pounds of pressure
on your spine.
How Can a Chiropractor Help?
If you want to prevent spinal
conditions and achieve your diet and weight loss goals, seek out a
chiropractor. They can provide the following services.
Nutritional Counseling
A chiropractor can help you develop an
individualized dieting plan so that you get the necessary amounts of
proteins, minerals, and vitamins every day.
Exercise Planning
It's easier to lose weight when you are
accountable to someone. Your chiropractor can check in with you at
your appointments to see how your weight loss is going and to see how
your diet changes are going.
If extra body weight makes exercise too
hard, your chiropractor can provide you with a list of low-impact
activities and stretches.
Spinal Decompressions
During spinal decompression, your
chiropractor will gently stretch the spine. Spinal decompressions
promote the healthy flow of nutrient-rich fluids between discs.
Spinal decompression can help people
with bulging or herniated discs and pinched nerves. Spinal
decompression can relieve any back pain, thus making it easier for
you to resume your exercise goals.
Contact us at Corner
Chiropractic Center
for more information today.
