By Joe Wallace, Chiropractor, Optimize Chiropractic
“A state of optimal physical, mental, and social well-being.” That is how the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health. It’s important to address all three components of health daily. Here are three simple things you can do each day.
Physical Health
Drink water. Plain, old fashioned water. Out of the tap, or a bottle. (Don’t let plastic bottles sit in the sun.) A human body is made up of 37 trillion cells. Each and every cell needs water to survive. Water brings nutrients into, and waste out of, each cell. Every bodily system depends on water to function properly. We cannot be healthy unless every system is functioning optimally. Divide your body weight by two. That’s how many ounces of water you should drink daily.
Mental Health
Meditate. No, you don’t need to take a vow of silence. Start with one minute. Sit (or lay) in silence for one minute each day. Focus on your breathing. Take deep belly breaths in and out. This allows you to clear your mind, relax, and de-stress. Stress causes the body to release cortisol. Cortisol effects the immune system, digestion, reproduction, and growth. And not in a positive way. Prolonged cortisol exposure can lead to increased widespread inflammation. Inflammation can wreak havoc throughout the body, causing many problems. In today’s fast paced world, relaxation is essential for health. Start with one-minute meditation and work your way up.
Social Health
Smile. Spend time with people who make you happy. Or spend time doing activities that make you happy. Or both! When you smile, neurotransmitters are released from your brain. These neurotransmitters are endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. Endorphins make you feel happy and help reduce stress. Serotonin helps regulate mood, digestion, sleep, and memory. Dopamine helps you experience feelings of motivation and satisfaction. Figure out who, or what, makes you happy. And spend more time smiling.
Health is not merely the absence of disease or symptoms. Health is being at your best physically, mentally, and socially. Implement these simple actions into your daily life. You will experience improvement in all three dimensions of health.
Article written by Dr. Joe Wallace, DC
Optimize Chiropractic specializes in family wellness care. We help every member of your family experience optimal physical, mental, and social performance throughout each stage of life. We help infants hit developmental milestones. We help children excel in the classroom and on the sports field. We provide care so people can continue to participate in the activities they love throughout their lifetime. Optimize Chiropractic will be opening its doors in Cornelius in January 2020.
