Get ready for winter | Prepare your body for change in the weather

We all need to embrace this change in weather, as it is the changing which keeps us flexible and “young.”

Getting ready for the fall and winter means not only getting your “winter wardrobe” ready, but also preparing your body, as well.

It has long been known that as we age, our ligaments and tendons become stiffer, so it is even more important in these cooler days to really warm up prior to any lawn cleanup or light hanging.

Core work is always important, as the stronger your abdominals are, the stronger and more protected your lower back will be. Do your outside chores earlier in the day when there is sufficient light to be safe.

Don’t be in a rush. Take breaks to remain hydrated and to assess your body: Too hot, too wet, too tired? Many accidents either on the slopes or in your yard are caused by “that one last run of the day” or that one last tree to trim.

Watch the sweets, as sugar can weaken the immune system. Doing a nice, safe and gentle body cleanse can go a long way in strengthening the immune system. Probiotics can keep the normal flora in the intestines healthy. Eighty percent of your immune system surrounds your intestine so it again makes good since to treat your body well. Your colon has the square area of over two tennis courts—it’s not a good idea to have that large of an organ unhealthy.

If you have been walking around in athletic shoes all summer, be careful if your hiking boots have a little bit of a heel. A quarter of an inch in the heel elevation can cause many low back flare-ups.

Let’s all have some fun and have a safe and healthy winter.

• Nathaniel Swan is a chiropractor at Fall City Chiropractic Center, 33712 SE 43rd St., Fall City.

 

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