We all want to live well. But it’s tough somedays. The media, our fast paced society, technology and the responsibilities of daily life… It can be overwhelming. But the truth is this – true wellness does come from within. If you track statistics of what causes disease and death, a pie graph would show this: 20% is genetics, 10% is unknown factors, and 70% is environmental factors. What are environmental factors? At Casteel Chiropractic, we consider five major environmental factors on a regular basis: Diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and a healthy nerve supply through chiropractic. Our job is to deliver the best chiropractic care we can for your body. The bonus – as we become partners in your health, we will discuss wellness in a way that is easy to understand. It doesn’t happen over night. But by taking small, simple steps forward every day, you can do it. You can change your life for the better! Here are our top tips to start with:

• Diet: Drink water. Eat real food. Fresh is best. Try eating one more real fruit and one more real vegetable every day. And then drink one more big glass of water.
• Exercise: It’s not about running a marathon. We are in this for the longer race–the race of your life. What can you commit too? Try for at least 3 days a week for 30 minutes. Simply walking in the sunshine is a great start.
• Sleep: Most know 8 hours is average ideal. A simple way to evaluate if you are getting enough is to stop for a minute and realize how you feel on a daily basis. If you are tired through each day and need an alarm each morning, you may need to work on your sleep habits.
• Stress: It’s the most underestimated factor in anyone’s health. Simply being honest with yourself is the start of improving your stress levels. What are some small changes you can make? Know it will take time, but it is worth the effort.
• Healthy Nerve Supply: Living well is not chasing symptoms – it’s about staying ahead of problems. Maintaining your chiropractic care – symptoms or not – let’s your body work better and let’s you live a higher quality of life.

We all have an innate intelligence. Wellness comes from within. Let’s get started at living your best life today!

Spring is (slowly getting) here in Central PA! Now is the time to reassess your goals for the season. One of my favorite spring tips is to encourage patients to plant a garden. It can be as simple as a few containers on your porch, to as big as you can dream. If you know you can’t do it on your own, consider a neighborhood garden. For years, our city friends have been doing this and sharing the yield. The past few years, I have heard this story more-so in our community. This is a great way to overcome space/time management/cost obstacles. We are also fortunate to have several local garden centers that are friendly and will help you through all gardening steps. Ask questions as you buy local. These small business owners are passionate about gardening. They know what works in our region. They will inspire and educate you about planting. Here are my top reasons why you should start your plan for a garden today:

• Fresh is best! It’s tough to beat the flavor and quality of your own grown. Growing your own produce reduces chemicals. Nutritional value doesn’t get better than right off the stem.
• It’s an education: For you and your kids. Prepping the soil, learning about what you are growing/vitamins the produce contains, exploring recipes/tastes that are new and exciting: a garden makes learning fun. Learn/teach one thing a day about your garden. By the end of the summer, you and your family will be more enlightened and self-skilled.
• What better way to introduce new foods to your kids than having them grow their own? A garden is a great way to turn picky eaters into eaters that will pick/try lots of different foods.
• Be inspired! A few container tomatoes this year can become a way of life next year. Start somewhere now. Eating well is part of living well.
• Redefine “fast food” for your family. Yes – it may take time and nurturing to start, but in summer when you pick your own fresh herbs to cook with or open a can of your own harvested green beans in the winter, the investment will be realized.
• Feel the joy! Gardening cultivates positive attitudes and behaviors. You will feel accomplished. In adults and kids, research studies show that gardening increases appreciation for nature, improves social skills, and instills gratitude/respect of manual labor and patience.

At Casteel Chiropractic, we are committed to helping you live well. Along with maintaining your chiropractic care, growing your own produce and flowers are ways to increase your quality of life. Make a plan for your garden today!

Spring is coming, but winter is still here. Reminder: Don’t forget to look around and see how beautiful it really is. (The key is just staying warm while you do look around – aka: find a winter coat you LOVE! This is a great time of year to find that coat on sale!)

Reminder: “It is not the years in your life – it is the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln

Reminder: Healthy, long-term weight loss is not about 2 to 4 pounds a week. It is 1 to 2 pounds a week.

Perspective: True wellness is about much more than weight. This is about the quality of YOUR Life!

Fact: The BIGGEST killers in the world (in order): 1. Heart Disease 2. Cancer 3. Osteoporosis 4. Hospital complications

Fact: In speaking of what determines morbidity and mortality (disease and death): 10% of factors are unkown. 20% are genetics/heredity 70% are environmental factors. 5 factors YOU have control of: Eating habits, Exercise, Stress, Sleep, and a Health Nerve Supply.

Perspective: Don’t solely focus on weight. FOCUS on doing the best you can do at whatever (eating habits, exercise habits, time with your kid/spouse, work…) you do, and you will never go wrong. That is when you will be making the most of all of your life: not just the years. That is real perspective.