The Connection Between Body and Mind

Have you ever felt intense back pain that you thought was caused by “sleeping funny?” Have you ever bent over to tie your shoes, but were not able to straighten up afterward? When intense back or neck pain happens seemingly out of the blue, one of the things you may be experiencing is psychosomatic pain. This is defined as a pain that can manifest physically, but originates from mental or emotional causes.

A simple example of this is what physically happens to your body during a negative emotion, such as anger or fear. If your computer hard drive crashed and important files were lost, you would feel more tense. As a result, your muscles would be tighter and your normal range of motion would be decreased, leaving you more likely to experiences strains. Normal, everyday motions such as tying your shoes or looking over your shoulder can become difficult.

This imbalance can even be magnified by pre-existing conditions. Chiropractors work to maximize your muscle and joint movement, therefore minimizing your chances of physical pain from your state of mind.

Inflammation

Is all inflammation bad for you? No, some inflammation is necessary to heal your body. When you damage muscles, tendons or ligaments, you often see inflammation and reduced function in the affected areas. The inflammatory response allows tissue repair and limits further damage by restricting movement in the injured area. However, excessive or chronic inflammation prevents healing, and your body becomes more susceptible to disease. Besides joint related diseases like arthritis, inflammation can be a key contributor to heart disease, stroke, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer’s disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.

One main contributor to inflammation is free radical molecules. It is not possible to completely stop your body from producing free radicals because it is part of natural metabolic processes. In fact, every time you breathe, you create free radicals. However, you should know the steps you can take to limit the production of free radicals and reduce inflammation in your body.

Our environment and lifestyle can contribute significantly to the development of inflammation. Avoid exposure to pesticides by eating organic food. When it comes to diet, consume plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, kale and spinach. For protein rich sources, opt for fish over meat. Legumes and nuts are also good sources of protein. Exercise to keep your body in an appropriate weight range. Stress also promotes inflammation, so learn stress management techniques to keep it under control. Feel free to ask me for more tips on improving your diet and lifestyle.