I’m sure you’ve heard before that walnuts are great brain food. But have you ever stopped and noticed that a walnut actually looks like a brain? Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. We are going to break down some amazing foods that are actually beneficial for the body part that they look like.
- Carrots and Your Eyes - Carrots are high in vitamin A, a nutrient essential for proper vision. Eating carrots will provide you with the small amount of vitamin A needed for good vision. Vitamin A can also be found in milk, cheese, egg yolks and liver.
- Walnuts and Your Brain - The human brain needs high-quality fats, like omega-3s, to function properly. Walnuts are loaded with omega-3s, which make them the ultimate "brain food.”
- Grapes and Your Lungs - The hydrating power of grapes is very high, this increases the moisture present in the lungs and reduces congestion and the frequency of asthmatic events.
- Ginger and Your Stomach - Ginger is regarded as an excellent carminative (a substance which promotes the elimination of intestinal gas) and intestinal spasmolytic (a substance which relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract). Ginger is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Kidney Beans and Your Kidneys - Kidney beans provide many of the nutritional qualities that promote kidney health. Kidney beans contain phosphorus, potassium, protein and magnesium- all nutrients that are important for the normal function of the kidneys.
- Sweet Potatoes and Your Pancreas - Sweet potatoes receive their vivid colour from beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant which has also been shown to support pancreatic health.
Image adapted from www.livelovefruit.com
“Every 35 days, your skin replaces itself. Your liver, about a month. Your body makes these new cells from the food that you eat. What you eat literally becomes you. You have a choice in what you’re made of!”
Chiropractic Care and Proper Digestion
Does chiropractic play a role in digestion? Yes, it absolutely does! Let us explain how.
Your nervous system (your brain, spinal cord and all the nerves that come off of it) controls digestive function from several different regions. The vagus nerve, which comes off of the brain stem and runs near the top bone in your spine, innervates all the major organs of digestion and functions to stimulate the digestive process. It is the major highway between the brain and the gut, so if you've heard of the "mind-gut" connection before, this is what they are referring to. In addition to the vagus nerve, we also have segmental innervation of the stomach, intestines, and other digestive organs from nerves in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar spine.
The problem occurs if the spinal bones shift outside of their normal position (due to trauma, injuries, repetitive poor posture, etc). These "structural shifts" of the spine put pressure on the nerves, causing interference and altered nerve supply to the digestive organs. When this happens, the brain cannot properly communicate with these organs leading to digestive dysfunction and other complications. Your chiropractors focusing on NeuroStructural Correction search for the location of such spinal misalignments and perform specific chiropractic adjustments to help realign the spine and restore nerve supply. This approach honours the body's own ability to heal, improving your digestion and your overall health!
Obviously we understand that proper nutrition, emotional stress, etc., will affect our digestion as well. However, if you feel like you've tried everything else to get your digestive issues under control with no success then give us a call. We are happy to help!