It cannot be denied that chiropractic treatment is one of the most popular alternative medicines today. This treatment helps people with bodily pains concerning the spine, utilizing what is called spine manipulation. This treatment serves to realign a bone or a joint back in place to stop the pain in the affected area.
Chiropractic care has a lot of benefits such as better movement, which are, according to the official site of PhyxMe Physical Therapy and Chiropractic, improved mobility, strengthened muscles, lesser joint declination, improved circulation, better immune system, improved lifestyle, and improved prenatal support (for pregnant women).
While people will always associate chiropractic treatments with spine manipulation and the so-called popping sound it gives off, there is another thing that chiropractors consider that can help their patients fare with better results in the long run: food.
There are chiropractic sessions where the patients are recommended a specific diet depending on their conditions to improve treatment. The following are the variety of nutritional food that chiropractors recommend to patients undergoing chiropractic treatment.
Whole Grains
Some people may be intimidated by this term as it is often associated with calories, but in truth, whole grains are helpful for your musculoskeletal health. Whole grains are grains with parts of the grain kernel still intact. Examples of whole grains are brown rice, buckwheat, and oatmeal.
In particular, these grains are high in fiber, which is an indigestible part that keeps blood sugar in check as it does not break down into glucose. This also means that fibers help reduce weight.
Patients are more likely to recover more from the spine or bodily pains or injuries when the body carries less weight. Hence, weight loss may be encouraged by chiropractors. Fiber also lowers the risk of illnesses, such as heart disease, type II diabetes, and cancer.
Proteins
Protein is an essential nutrient to consume because of its role in the muscular system. It is highly needed as it makes up the tissues in our body. We can gain protein by eating animal products, such as meat and dairy, and are even found in plants such as legumes.
As mentioned above, protein has an essential role in the muscles. This nutrient builds up and repairs tissues, which can heal the concerned area for chiropractic treatment. Meats are often the to-go source for protein.
However, since patients need to reduce weight, the best option for meat proteins are lean meats, as it has less fat and therefore does not increase your cholesterol. For people with a vegetarian or vegan diet, the best options are soy related products like soybean milk and tofu.
Fruits
Fruits are generally defined as the edible product of plants as it matures. There is a wide variety of fruits, so you are sure to see them in different shapes and sizes. They vary in benefits, too.
Since there are many kinds of fruits, there are many health benefits you can get from eating them. It is recommended to eat them raw. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the following are some of the nutrients you can get from eating fruit:
Potassium
Potassium is a mineral that helps with cardiac muscles. Consuming potassium-rich food can help with blood pressure and, of course, breathing. Fruits rich in this mineral include bananas, prunes, and cantaloupes.
Dietary Fiber
As mentioned earlier, fiber is an indigestible food that does not break into glucose. This quality is what helps people reduce the number of calories they have and therefore lose weight. Most fruits naturally have fiber.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the most well-known vitamins. This helps with the repair of tissues in the body and boosts the immune system. This vitamin is often used as a countermeasure against colds and the flu.
It is suggested to eat food with high Vitamin C content as the body cannot produce it. Examples of fruits rich in Vitamin C are citrus fruits, such as oranges and kiwis.
Folic Acid
Folic acid, also known as Folate and Vitamin B9, is a vitamin that helps with the production of cells, particularly red blood cells. Folic acid is popular through food supplements, but a lot of fruits have it. These include citrus fruits, papaya, and avocado.
Vegetables
If fruits are mentioned, so should vegetables. Vegetables refer to any part of the plant that is cooked and eaten. Like fruits, there are many varieties of vegetables as well. They can be classified into different types due to their plant structure, which is the following:
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens refer to vegetables whose leaves are for consumption. This variety of vegetables is usually rich in Vitamin C, beta-carotene (which is another agent that helps in the production of tissues), and Vitamin E (which protects the skin). Examples of leafy greens are lettuce, kale, and spinach.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous Vegetables are those belonging to the mustard family. The name derives from the Latin word Cruciferae, which means cross-bearing, due to the shape of some vegetables’ petals resembling the shape of a cross.
Most cruciferous vegetables are rich in folic acid and Vitamin K, a vitamin that helps with blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding. Examples of cruciferous vegetables are broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
Cucurbit
Cucurbits are vegetables belonging to the gourd family, which has over 900 species. Research is still being conducted on the specific benefits of this group as a whole, specifically on the treatment and prevention of illnesses. Vegetables belonging to this group are cucumber, squash, and zucchini.
Root
Root vegetables refer to produce grown underground and eaten as a vegetable. In other words, the root part of the plant is used for consumption. Since these roots are buried in the ground, they can soak up nutrients from the land.
These vegetables are rich in antioxidants, agents that prevent damage to the cells caused by free radicals, which are unstable cells that can cause illnesses. Roots also have Vitamin C, as well as Vitamin A (a vitamin that helps with vision and immunity) and Vitamin B (which helps with cell metabolism). Examples of root vegetables are potato, carrot, and yam.
Edible Plant Stem
Edible plant stem refers to vegetables whose stems can be eaten. These are rich in vitamins and minerals, the specifics being unique per vegetable.
These vegetables do not necessarily belong to the same family, offering diversity in the vitamins and minerals we can get from them. Eating the stem in some vegetables does not only give nutrition but also lessens food wastes. Some examples are asparagus, celery, and bamboo shoots.
Allium
Allium vegetables are known for their onion or garlic-like scent. Allium means garlic in Greek, but this plant family also has onions, leeks, and other variants. Their health benefits include: lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglyceride, a component of body fat. Examples of alliums are garlic, onions, shallots, leeks, and chives.
Takeaway
Healthy food makes a better body. It is always important to consider what you eat daily to know what’s best for your body. Chiropractic treatments help realign the bones in our body to relieve pain and provide our body with good food that can help with the healing process. It is best to ask and consult your chiropractor for a diet that works best for you.
Author’s bio:
Melissa Bell is a content writer and copywriter who specializes in fitness, lifestyle, and health. She’s known for being a health junkie, and is crazy about yoga, tea, biology, and self-help books.