Greetings from Dr. Craig Hennie

 

As we hit the dog days of summer in East Tennessee, it is a great time to take advantage of all of the outdoor activities that are afforded to us in our area. This month, we have tips for staying healthy, keeping hydrated and why your health often starts with the foods we eat. As always, we look forward to your next visit at Homberg Chiropractic and let us know how we can help you and your health!

Stay hydrated and stay healthy

Staying hydrated is critical when it comes to performing any outdoor activities during the summer months and more importantly, for preventing heat-related illnesses that can come from a lack of proper hydration. It is also critically important to take care of the young and elderly to make sure they are properly hydrated when the temperature climbs.

Here are some tips on how to stay hydrated not just during outdoor activity, but for overall wellness.

1. Have a beverage with every meal and snack.
2. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables tend to have a high water content, which makes them a great option for helping you meet your hydration needs.
3. Don't exclusively rely on thirst. Sometimes thirst is not a reliable measure of hydration because of medications or other health conditions. Keep a water bottle or beverage at your desk, in your car, in your bag or where ever you will be reminded to drink.
4. Choose beverages that fit your activity level and lifestyle. If you are watching your calories, consider choosing a low-calorie beverage or create your own refreshing light beverages.

The American College of Sports Medicine offers excellent recommendations for fluid intake before, during and after physical activity. You can find that information by clicking on this link.

We encourage you to follow these guidelines to keep your body healthy throughout the year, but especially during peak summer temperatures.
 

Eating Healthy

Have you considered how much money you spend on a house, a boat, a car or other luxuries? For the sake of your health, spending more of your budget on healthy, non-pesticide laden foods can help you live a long life so that you can enjoy the fruits of your lifetime labor.

Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, and keeping yourself as healthy as possible– all of which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and using them in a way that works for you. Healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart”—it’s not just what you eat, but how you eat. Your food choices can reduce your risk of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, as well as defend against depression.

Staying healthy with Doc Hennie

Many of us have a tendency to think that if we give a little in one area, we might be able to gain something in another area. While this type of bargaining may work with a career or purchase, it is not the case when it comes to our physical and emotional well-being. In my position, I often talk with clients and friends who think that they can negotitate with their health, but the truth is that you cannot make those types of bargains when it comes to your lifestyle and treatment. People do not normally come to Doctors with small problems, but often they wait until a small problem has turned into a larger issue. Often, our patients try to bargain with their healthy living plans; when I hear "what if I only do this" from patients, often my response is often the same: "We cannot expect the same outcome as if you followed your treatment plan."

I want to encourage you to not let this small problems with your health turn into larger issues. If you are experiencing pain or another physical issue, come visit me and let me assist you in creating a healthly living plan that will help us treat and control these issues now. 

Doc Hennie