It is that time of the year again where we are on the non-stop go trying to keep up with the holidays. Generally, most everyone tries to get into the holidays as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, most people start to develop some additional aches and pains during the stressful season. Chanhassen MN Chiropractor Dr. Ben Knight, walks through a 3 step process of how to avoid the extra aches and pains that follow the Holiday season.
Holiday Aches and Pains
Step # 1 Sleep 8 Hours a Night
Start your day off right. This involves getting ample sleep every night. It is very easy to go on 5-6 hours of sleep at night during the holidays in order to try and balance a busy schedule of travel, work, kids, and extra activities.
Sleep is the most anabolic process in the body. This is when the body recovers from all its daily stressors and re-builds for the next day to come. When your body is functioning on less than 8 hours of sleep, it is working overtime. This spikes the stress hormone called cortisol which decreases the action of white blood cells to fight off bacteria and viruses that cause the common cold. Ultimately resulting in additional un-wanted neck pain and back pain.
Chanhassen MN Chiropractor Dr. Ben Knight, suggest a minimum of 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep to maintain your health through the holiday season.
Step #2 Start with a Healthy Breakfast
Wake up to a healthy breakfast. Notice the keyword of healthy instead of hearty… Too common we hear to eat a hearty breakfast or a large breakfast. That myth can lead to a blood sugar spike, insulin spike and even a lunch time crash, making you feel the need to take a long nap only half way through the day.
At night time your body significantly diminishes excess protein stores, using amino acids as your muscular building blocks. When you do not replenish these protein stores first thing in the morning, it can lead to aches and pains in your neck and back.
Instead, start your morning with a light breakfast consisting of healthy fats, a clean source of protein, as well, some antioxidants. Chanhassen MN Chiropractor suggest making an organic protein smoothie. All you need is some almond milk, clean source of protein, frozen berries, and a handful of spinach. Blend them all together and you have a perfect morning concoction consisting of protein, good fats and antioxidants ready for your drive to work or drive out of town to see family.
Step #3 Do Not Procrastinate
The holidays make it real easy for us to procrastinate. It is easy for all of us to say, I will take care of these headaches when life slows down, or I will take care of this neck pain after the holidays. The problem with this approach is it gives the problem a chance to get worse. This mindset allows for something that may have been a quick fix, to develop into a more costly problem.
Chanhassen Chiropractic, home of neck pain and back pain doctor, Dr. Ben Knight, suggest addressing your problems while they are still in the quick fix stage. Once the neck pain and back pain has set in for a while, it will begin to effect other systems, and in worst case scenarios it develops into many more symptoms like headaches, insomnia, or in real severe cases sciatica.
Solution
Take care of your neck pain and back pain now before other problems have a chance to manifest. Go to your holiday parties feeling on top of your game and pain free. Click here or call the office at 952.300.8338 to fix your aches and pains before they multiply.
