My father used to say, “give me the fresh looking one” when it came to certain foods or products that he was looking to buy. Something about the way he said that would always “get under my skin” – probably because I thought he was being overly picky on a decision that didn’t really change the outcome.

But what if it being more aggressive about getting something “fresh” did change the outcome? And change it drastically! This makes getting the absolute best product much more worth the time and investment. For example, guacamole will not last long when exposed to air. 

Who wants to eat “old/browned” guacamole when your favorite taco spot has fresh made “bright green” guacamole which also enhances the color profile of your meal and enhances your perception of enjoying that dish! Or try this example, an oil change of your car.

Take out the old oil and put in the new oil right. Except, what if you were at a discount station where they refilled your car with “slightly used oil” b/c its cheaper? It’s “fresher” than the dirty oil that came out of your car, but is it really the oil you want to put into your car? NO!!!

This oil will not last as long before it must be changed again, it could lead to more corrosion within the engine, and who knows what other problems could pop up when you least expect it. Put in the band new “fresh” oil. Better yet, put in the 2022 “synthetic” oil that can last for 1 year between changes – oh wait, that costs even more!

Does that last part sound familiar? It should. That is exactly how neurological pattern changes are supposed to work within the context of chiropractic. Put the right “fresh” energy into your body, and remove the old patterns of interference, so that you can enjoy life longer in-between adjustments.

Back to the “fresh” concept: fresh can also imply new? Fresh new faces. Fresh new clothing outfit for a big event. Why is this important? Typically, “fresh,” meaning “new,” can equate to an opportunity. An opportunity for something different to happen, usually for the better.

The first thing that comes to my mind is the change of seasons. As we enter spring, we are blessed to see nature bloom. New flowers and leaves are budding for growth and blooming. Now, some of you are probably going “I hate those changes, my allergies become terrible during this time!” But – is it the new bloom that the problem? No, it can’t be, or literally everyone would have allergy symptoms every spring.

If you have allergies, you must have a less than optimal immune response to the “freshness” of outside plants, leading to your symptoms (BTW – seasonal allergies are 100% curable without taking OTC allergy meds!) Don’t blame the pollen, blame your own health!

Speaking of health, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can, and should, keep your body “fresh” so that you can function at your best – not just with allergies, but with all areas of your day-to-day life and health!

Four Areas Of Health Freshness You Need To Pay Attention To

• RED BLOOD CELLS
  Red blood cells function to help transport oxygen to various cells to utilize. Your red blood cells only last around 120 days before dying off and needing to be replaced. This process requires healthy bone marrow, proper hormone signaling from healthy kidneys (via Erythropoietin pathways), and various minerals.

A lack of red blood cells brings along with it a whole host of issues with energy utilization via oxygen pathways. Tissues deprived of oxygen are at risk of atrophy and possibly death.  

Consider donating your blood 1-2x yearly as these forces your body to make new, “fresh” RBC to replace the ones you just “lost” via donation.   

Over 40: 1x yearly 
Over 50: 2x yearly
Over 60: 3x yearly

Over 70+: 4x yearly

• CEREBRAL SPINAL FLUID
  Cerebral Spina Fluid (CSF) – protects your brain and spinal cord needs and is automatically replaced every 6-8 hours. With an average of 140 mL moving around your central nervous system at any given time, there is almost no wiggle room to not have “fresh” CSF being constantly produced and flowing through. MRI’s can show stagnant CSF flow that is a result of a major physical disruption to the nervous system.
  
  What’s more is that research shows that the biggest contributor to CSF fluid movement is circulatory and respiratory rhythms. So, if you are predisposed to cardiovascular and/or respiratory issues, you are at a much higher risk to also have a loss of CSF movement which greatly inhibiting the proper function of your nervous system!   Chiropractic care has been shown to enhance the replacement of your CSF along with rebounding – a lymphatic technique to move fluids within your body.
• SKIN
  What is the largest organ in your body?…. Skin! Skin is made up of two layers. The outer layer, the epidermis, is your 1st layer of defense, exposed to the world. Composed of 5 different layers of skin cells, the outer layer is constantly sloughing off your old – dead skin cells, while the bottom layer his constantly making new skin cells.
  
  What do you think would happen if your bottom layer of your epidermis stopped producing new skin cells? How long would the current skin cells last before you had no protection? Research states around 27 days. This is skewed for unhealthy tissue, meaning if you cut or bruise yourself, you need more time to regenerate the tissue, depending on the severity of the tissue loss.
  
  There are even some congenital defects that can lead to an inability to regenerate skin tissue. This allows foreign invaders to enter the body rapidly which is why these people often only live to be teenagers. This terrible disease, called Epidermolysis Bullosa, is known as butterfly skin disease simply due to the fact their skin is as brittle as butterfly’s wings; please pray for these children and their families as there’s no cure for this!
• DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
  When we think of keeping your body at ultimate “Freshness” the foods you eat and the nutrients you absorb should also come to mind. Proper digestion takes around 36-hours from moment you swallow to the moment the “leftovers” get into the toilet.
  
  Do you see how important it is ensuring the fuel you use is “fresh!”  How many of you reading this are guilty of eating “fake/rancid/toxic fuels” that gum up your digestion? Hopefully it makes sense why we have patients in our office follow various fasting protocols as part of their healing journey.
  
  It is so important to not overload your parts digestive tract and allow it to normalize before adding more fuel to the system. From the bacterial flora to enzymatic secretions, it all must be regulated appropriately to ensure your body is ready for the next meal.
  
  So, the next time you are ready to eat, decide if the benefits of adding more fuel to your body vs the benefits of healing your gut and balancing the digestive processes.
  
  What is the best way to enhance the “freshness” of your digestive system? Stimulating the VAGUS NERVE! Which is the master nerve of your gut. 

That is why it is so important to be under chiropractic care regularly – not just for pain but for the “freshness” of your body!