Welcome to the Family Chiropractic & Massage blog! Here, we will discuss anything and everything that has to do with chiropractic care and wellness. We will share helpful information and hopefully answer any questions you have through our articles. We are a chiropractic clinic that began in 1997 and has since grown to locations in North Charleston, Summerville, and Moncks Corner, South Carolina. We are dedicated to providing tailored care and treatment with traditional and new techniques to help our patients reach their wellness goals. We treat a variety of conditions including neck pain, back pain, injuries, sciatica, scoliosis, and more. Besides chiropractic care, we also offer physiotherapeutic care, rehabilitative care, and massage therapy. Our licensed massage therapists offer all types of massage from deep tissue to compression massage and more. We are strong believers in natural healing! Check out our website to find out more information about the services and care we offer, and contact us today to schedule an appointment with our experienced doctors!
In our last post, we discussed natural home remedies for various ailments and conditions. Home remedies date back centuries, before modern medicine was developed. Some of these remedies have been passed down from generation to generation and some have been attributed to “old wives’ tales. These natural remedies are great for those who want to forgo over-the-counter painkillers and other drugs. We discussed the use of turmeric, oatmeal, honey, and ginger. If you are interested in learning more, we encourage you to check out our last post!
Today, we’ll be discussing water and how it benefits the body. We have all heard about the importance of staying hydrated, but did you know that water does more than just quench your thirst? The human body is made up of roughly 60% water on average, and that water is used in the everyday functions and processes of the body, keeping it performing at its best. When receiving routine chiropractic care, your overall health can play a role in how effective the treatment is. Therefore, taking care of your body can help maximize the benefits of chiropractic adjustments. If you’re interested in taking a closer look at what water does for your body, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.
From a scientific lens, water is a substance composed of hydrogen and oxygen and is transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless. It is made up of billions of molecules and can be found all over Earth. And that doesn’t just mean bodies of water like lakes or oceans– Water is the main component of the fluids of all living organisms. It is essential to the health and survival of people and animals. Water is constantly being absorbed, used, and discarded by the body, which means that you have to make sure your water intake is not less than your output, as this can cause you to become dehydrated. This, in turn, means that your body cannot perform its essential functions properly. Let’s take a look at some of these functions and other ways that water benefits the body.
Regulates Body Temperature
The average person’s body temperature tends to be around 98.6 degrees, but may be slightly higher or lower. As we age, our body’s ability to regulate temperature changes. For example, older adults tend to have difficulty conserving heat. Many other factors can affect body temperature, such as the weather, hormone levels, and level of physical activity. Additionally, our bodies tend to warm up throughout the day. The body loses water through sweat, whether from physical activity, being outside in a hot climate, or another activity. Although sweating is the body’s way of keeping cool, you need to replenish the water you lose to prevent your body temperature from rising. With that being said, be sure to drink plenty of water when exercising, staying outside in hot weather, or any other strenuous activity that makes you sweat.
Lubricates And Protects Joints
Water is the primary component of most fluid in the body, and the joints are no exception. There is a thick liquid located between the joints known as synovial fluid, or joint fluid. It is produced by the connective tissue membrane known as the synovium. Synovial fluid cushions the ends of your bones and acts as a lubricant for the joints, helping reduce friction when your joints move. Adequate consumption of water helps stimulate the production of synovial fluid, which then lubricates the joints, spinal cord, and surrounding tissues. This can reduce discomfort during physical activity or discomfort caused by conditions such as arthritis.
Aids In Digestion
Water is a key player in healthy digestion. Digestion is the breakdown of food into smaller molecules of nutrients that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. These nutrients are used for energy, growth, and cell repair. Digestion also creates waste to be eliminated. When you drink water, it is absorbed by both your small and large intestines, and then moved into the bloodstream to help break down food. Drinking water before, during, and after a meal can help your body break down food more easily. This not only helps your body absorb vitamins and nutrients more effectively but may also reduce or prevent bloating and discomfort.
Keeps Skin Healthy
Drinking water keeps your body hydrated, and that includes your skin. Skin is the body’s largest organ, and it protects the body from pollutants, germs, and toxins. Drinking enough water helps the skin maintain hydration levels and can improve blood flow in the skin and body. This, in turn, can help stimulate the production of collagen, a structural protein that provides support and strength to the skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissue. Although drinking water alone is not a cure-all for aging or skin conditions, it can be beneficial.
How much water do I need?
Daily water intake looks different for everyone, depending on their needs. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report that an adequate daily fluid intake for men is about 15.5 cups, and about 11.5 cups for women. It is important to note that you do not need to get your fluids from drinking water alone– In fact, people tend to get about 20% of their daily water intake from food. Many fruits and vegetables are high in water, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, lettuce, and celery. Incorporating these foods into your diet can help ensure you are getting enough water.
Hydration And Chiropractic Care
Since staying hydrated helps your body perform at its best, this can help you get optimal results from chiropractic care. As mentioned above, hydration helps lubricate and protect your joints, spinal cord, and tissues, all of which are key components of chiropractic. The body has the ability to heal itself naturally, and chiropractic adjustments work to remove subluxations that prevent this from happening. When your body is hydrated and functioning at its best, these adjustments are bound to be more effective. Additionally, the discs of the spine are made up mostly of water– About 80%. The discs must be well-hydrated in order to function properly, but they cannot absorb water in the same way that the rest of the body does because they do not have a blood supply. Instead, discs receive water through imbibition. Imbibition is a type of diffusion in which one substance is absorbed by another. Water is pulled into the tissue when there is movement above and below each disc.
As you can see, water is incredibly important to your overall health and provides many benefits to the body, including the joints. Staying hydrated can help you get the most out of your chiropractic visits! We hope you found this article informative, and we encourage you to reach out to us if you have any further questions or concerns. It would be a pleasure to assist you. Here at Family Chiropractic & Massage, we offer chiropractic care as well as massage services and heat and cold therapy. We have doctors who have studied various chiropractic techniques to render care to patients with different types of conditions. As people vary, so do the techniques chosen to help each patient get well. We use evidence-based treatment methods to help patients get better faster. If you are suffering from any type of back pain, contact us today to set up an appointment so we can assess your needs and create an effective treatment plan. One of our experienced doctors would love to help get you on the right track to living a healthy, pain-free life! Thank you for reading, and we hope you’ll check back for more articles about chiropractic care and all it has to offer!
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