1) NUCCA Care – First and foremost, NUCCA treatments are essential to free the body of interference in the nervous system and decreasing physical stress on its function. The nervous system and immune system work hand-in-hand. If nerve response is compromised and less efficient, the immune system will not operate at full potential either. The NUCCA adjustment allows for increased blood flow to the brain, the control center for ALL body functions, allowing for more oxygen and nutrients to nourish the control center of our entire body. It helps the Autonomic Nervous System to work at its full potential in order to manage the external and internal stresses of life. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system are the two parts of the autonomic nervous system (fight/flight response to stress). When the NUCCA correction is performed it increases the abilities of these two systems to function. NUCCA is the precise, gentle and objective upper cervical chiropractic technique that we utilize at the Alpha Spine Center.
2) Exercise – Consistent exercise bolsters the immune system by reducing stress hormones that lower our immune response. It also decreases inflammation in the body, allowing our body to respond to physiological pressures from pathogens. Hiking, yoga, running, or group sports like pickle ball or tennis are great ways to get active if the gym isn’t for you. Online workout programs range from cheap to free, and can be done from the comfort of your living room! Tight on money? YouTube is flooded with all sorts of work out routines, yoga sessions, and exercise tips!
3) Clean Eating – The shelves are full of hyper processed, nutrient lacking food but instead of hoarding all the frozen pizzas and processed cereals, practice shopping for a variety of foods that our body needs. Local farmers markets are a great resource for finding nutrient dense, organic, locally source meats and produce. It is important to get the essential nutrients through our diet. Include fruits and vegetables with every meal. A diet with a balance of greens, fruits and different protein sources will keep your immune system nourished.
4) Pound that Vitamin C – We recommend taking around 2000 mg per day, whether it’s a supplement or a powder packet. You can take more due to the fact Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. You know you are taking enough if you start having soft stools. Here is a link describing the difference between water-soluble vitamins versus fat-soluble.
Vitamin C is involved in many immune system processes. Chiefly, it encourages the production of pathogen and infection-fighting White Blood Cells known as lymphocytes and phagocytes. It also helps our skin remain healthy, allowing for better pathogen protection on the skin’s surface.
Try DesignsForHealth available through the ASC.
Here is the link to order the products we are recommending:
Click HERE and sign up, and the order is shipped directly to your door:
— Immune Support Packets
— Liposomal
— C+BioFizz
— Stellar C
5) Vitamin D and Zinc – Take some time to isolate yourself on the porch or on a solo walk to soak up the rays. Sun exposure allows your body to produce much needed Vitamin D. Most Americans have a Vitamin D deficiency. We recommend supplements which are available at the links below, and are especially needed after these last two months of constant rain here in Georgia. Need access to a supplement? We offer Designs for Health supplements that are research backed and made clean without any toxic fillers.
6) Drink Plenty of Water – H20 is vital to our body. Staying hydrated aids our immune response by flushing out toxins and allowing your cells to take in nutrients. It is also the key substance in lymph. Lymph is the fluid that carries body fluids from the blood to the lymph nodes where white blood cells are amassed to fight and destroy infectious agents. Keeping well hydrated will help the body filtering out the bad microbes, as well as flush out toxins through the kidneys. Make sure if you already drink a lot of water, to keep a good intake of electrolytes as well such as Potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium.
7) Allergies – Many of you, like myself, may already feel the itchy eyes and irritation of spring and fall pollen in the air. If you are someone who suffers from seasonal allergies, animal allergies, or food allergies, overstimulation of these will cause inflammation and hyper reactions of the immune system. It will wear it down making you more susceptible to sickness.
8) Clean Air – This means stay away from smoky environments that contaminate the air with particulates and toxins. At the Alpha Spine Center, we keep the air in our office clean using a Surgical Grade air purifier by PuraAire UV600 HEPA. Clean air, and keeping up with air filter replacement and maintenance is important for reducing the concentration of foreign particles entering our bodies. The more our bodies are bombarded by dust, pollen, dander, or harmful substances, the more taxed our immune system becomes.
9) Wash Your Hands – Wash them like you have to put your contacts in after cutting up a bunch of jalapeños. This means a minimum of 20 seconds of rubbing the soap into your hands before rinsing it off. Also, disinfect commonly touched surfaces such doorknobs. This simple step can help you avoid getting sick during the flu seasons.
10) Pray and Meditate – The verse 2 Timothy 1:7 comes to mind during this season. “God did not give us a sprit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind.” It is important to be prepared, but not to panic. Stress is a major effector on the immune system. Keeping our hearts, minds, and spirits calm will reduce stress hormone release and keep the immune system healthy.
11) Bring Balance to Your Day and add Some Joy and Laughter to the Day – There is a lot of serious news out there. Balance you day with some laughter with the family, watch a comedy skit that brings a smile, play a game with the kids, play chase, or turn the news off and listen to an inspiring song. Many cultures in hardship use song and dance to help balance difficult times. The key is to remain calm, be responsible, and take a deep breath as life slows down for the unforeseeable future.
Keep your spine aligned and your nervous system functioning at its optimum as the cold weather brings with it its cold weather sicknesses. We have an amazing team of NUCCA doctors, and continue to provide the best upper cervical chiropractic care to the greater Atlanta area.
Yours In Better Health,
Dr. Bryan Salminen, DC
Dr. Andrew Salminen, DC
