Maintaining Your Body's Health Like You Maintain Your Car

I was getting the oil changed in my car yesterday and noticed a poster on the wall discussing the importance of maintaining your vehicle. This is a concept that anyone with a car seems to grasp so easily. If you don’t take care of your car by getting the oil changed, filling it with gas, rotating the tires, getting tune-ups and so on, you’ll never get the most out of your vehicle. While each of these things cost money, they provide value and save so much money in the long run by keeping our cars on the road and out of the shop. For example, regular oil changes every few months, sure beats spending a few thousand dollars to replace your engine and to rent a car. I think this is something most people can relate to and agree on. Routine maintenance is vital to the “life” of your car. It makes so much more sense to take care of our cars regularly, than to wait until they break down.

Now only if everybody took this same approach with their health. Think about it for a minute: how much more valuable are your health and life than that vehicle that takes you to and from places. Yet, so many people wait until their bodies begin to break down to take care of themselves. How can you expect to get the most out of your life, without regularly providing your body it with what it requires? It would be crazy to think that when the check engine light comes on in your car, you solve the problem by putting a piece of tape over it. Yet this is what so many people do when their body sends signals like pain, digestive trouble, lack of energy or trouble sleeping. They cover up these symptoms with a pill, potion or lotion without getting to the root problem. Many times these medications do cover up the symptoms but they never move a person closer to health. I am not suggesting that there aren’t times when emergency procedures and medications are necessary to save a life, merely that our approach to health is very reactive rather than proactive.

Just as your car needs things like gas, clean oil and air in the tires to run smoothly and efficiently, your body has requirements. These include healthy “fuel” such as fruits, veggies, proteins and healthy fats, regular movement and exercise, positive thinking, rest, and a clear brain-body connection. Chiropractic provides this last piece. By removing interference to the nervous system (the master controlling and coordinating system of the body) chiropractic adjustments allow you to function at a higher level. Make chiropractic care a part of your regular healthy lifestyle choices to keep your body “tuned-up” and functioning at a high level. Maintain higher levels of health and performance by providing your body these healthy essentials rather than waiting for it to break down.  Remember, your health is so much more valuable than any Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini or any other car you can think of.