Thursday, September 2, 2010

8 Steps to Maximized Health during Seasonal Changes

Do you have a strategy or a plan for avoiding health problems associated with seasonal changes? I sure hope it’s not simply getting the flu shot, putting your primary care doctor’s phone number on speed dial, or stocking up with over the counter medications.

I have always been told that ‘a man without a plan is on a fast track to failure’. I don’t know about you, but when it comes time for the seasons to change I don’t plan on getting sick – I plan on getting through without a scratch. I literally have a plan for accomplishing this. Do you? If not, feel free to copy mine:

1.Take advantage of natural health care. It is well known that chiropractic care improves immune system activity. Some chiropractic adjustments are more powerful than others, i.e. upper neck adjustments can dramatically stimulate the nerve-immune system connection. I always try to get adjusted more frequently during seasonal changes, and because of this I feel confident putting my hands on sick people all day long. Keeping the body lined up and tuned up just makes sense!!

2.Increase high quality nutrient intake. Your immune system needs fuel to function properly. Healthy, high quality foods and supplements can keep your body healthy in a room full of sick people. You should be extra cautious about nutrient and supplement intake during seasonal changes. Increasing your efforts in this department could mean the difference between laughing all day vs. coughing all day. If you need help in this department – please ask us!

3.Get some extra exercise. Regular exercise stimulates the body in so many healthy ways you can’t believe it. A body that moves well, and often, is a body that is better able to adapt and remain symptom free – and, has a longer shelf life! Schedule 3-5 workouts a week and stay committed.

4.Increase water intake. A chronically dehydrated body is a breeding ground for illness. If you care about increasing bodily function than you need a daily strategy for monitoring water intake. At lunch time and at dinner time I know exactly how much water I have consumed and therefore how much more I should consume by the end of the day. Formulate a strategy and stick to it!

5.Decrease your sugar intake. It is well known that a diet high in sugar can suppress the immune system and create chaos throughout the body. Decrease your sugar intake during seasonal changes and you will increase your ability to adapt and thrive during this period.

6.Get enough sleep. During seasonal changes the body is slightly more stressed than usual as it is forced to adapt to a changing external environment. Adequate sleep gives your body the opportunity to repair, regenerate, build resistance and rise to the challenge without complications.

7.Maintain a positive attitude. We can not maintain a strong healthy body if we are chronically stressed out, stuck in a state of negativity, or have nothing to look forward to. Find several positive influences (people, books, hobbies) and cultivate a positive outlook on life. The body has a strong tendency to follow the mind.

8.Take time to relax. Out of all the things you have to get done during the day, taking time to relax and recharge should be the most important. Take a 60 second time-out at your desk whenever you get stressed out and say a prayer, meditate, read a passage, or just take some deep breathes. Resetting ‘the system’ (mind – body connection) now and then keeps the system from breaking down.

9.I have saved my “SECRET WEAPON” for the upcoming seminar entitled, How to Build a Titanium Strength Immune System. Stay tuned in for more details later.

Do you see the value in having a plan for avoiding health problems associated with seasonal changes? Your plan should always be a work in progress – continuously evolving and improving. Do a little research on your own, and share your findings with others. Too many people nowadays think that being sick is a matter of bad luck. The truth is… you can stack the odds in your favour if you just put a little work into doing so.


Speak Up and Educate Others,
Dr. Craig Burns

The “Scary Truth” About Getting Sick with Seasonal Changes

Ever wonder why so many people get sick when the seasons change? There is a “scary reason” for this and a very important lesson to be learned here…

Our body’s ability to adapt to seasonal change is a reflection of how stable our health profile really is. Therefore, monitoring how well a body adapts is a good measuring stick for how healthy a child or an adult is at that moment in their life. Unfortunately, we are not taught to think like this – but, we should be!

A healthy, well balanced body can adapt to changes in the environment. An unhealthy, unbalanced body can not! Signs i.e. symptoms of imbalance of an unhealthy body that can not adapt well to seasonal changes would be increased sinus problems, headaches, elevated joint pain and stiffness, fluctuating mood, frequent onset of cold and flu-like symptoms, decreased immune system activity, inflammatory responses, etc.

We are taught that the body reacts this way for external reasons (bugs, germs, the weather, etc). The TRUTH is… there is a problem or weakness inside the body that is causing it to react in an abnormal manner when challenged. When our body behaves this way we should immediately ask ourselves “WHY is my body doing this, what is the weakness or imbalance, and what do I need to do to fix it?” If we don’t learn to focus on the cause, the weakness, it will surely get worse with time. And, perhaps lead to a larger state of illness in the future.

There is always a reason for our body to manifest a symptom and it is NEVER the result of too little Tylenol, Lipitor, Prozac or Benadryl in the diet. It is incredibly empowering to understand that health and disease is primarily an internal event brought about by our very own lifestyle choices.

Long ago a Doctor told me to make up my mind... to take control of my body and be proactive or give up control and be reactive. I am forever grateful for that man’s advice.

Since that time I have stopped blaming external circumstances for being sick and relying on external factors to make me healthy again. From that day on I have been the steward of my own health, on a journey to find and foster health from the inside-out.

The care we provide, the newsletters we write, and the seminars we conduct are all done with one PURPOSE in mind – to point others in a more positive direction. We want people to realize, sooner rather than later, what it is like to be INDEPENDENTLY HEALTHY.

We know that if we can help someone change the way they think about symptoms, their body and their health – then we can drastically change that person’s life forever!

It is with this great purpose in mind that I ask for your help in getting this message to other members of our community. One way you can do this is to forward this newsletter to friends, family and co-workers. Another way is to tell people what you are learning in this office in regard to health and disease – tell everyone!

I truly believe that every person in our office is moving closer and closer to taking control of their health and their body, and knowing what it is like to be INDEPENDENTLY HEALTHY. By changing the way you think about your body you are committing to a better you, and a better future for your family!

Yours in Health and ON PURPOSE,
Dr. Craig Burns