Letter: Treat your body right

Working hard and playing hard in the Roaring Fork Valley creates a situation that can have its consequences. While we are fortunate to have the great outdoors to counter the demands of work, placing more demands on the body can lead to health issues.

Stress comes in different forms. The six basic types of stress are physical (structural), mental (emotional), biochemical (nutritional), electromagnetic and toxins and allergies. Our world is much more complicated and stressful, and there is an interconnection throughout our lives that we are affected by.

Accumulated stress syndrome plays a role in most if not all diseases of the body. The body is remarkable at how resilient yet how sensitive it is to the demands we place on it.

The adrenalin rush or the endorphin high is an experience that so many enjoy. The adrenal glands produce adrenalin and are the front line when it comes to rising to the demands of a situation. Whether it be work or play, the “fight or flight” mechanism kicks in when we work hard or play hard. If you are working or playing hard for extended periods of time, it is the adrenal glands that are providing you much of your “rhino” energy. Adrenal exhaustion is epidemic in our society, and it plays a role in many health issues.

We are all just energy packs, and the more demands we place on our batteries, the more reserves our bodies will have to rely on to perform. If we don’t replenish and maintain our bodies, they will eventually break down.

Take, for instance, someone who works in a service business and is on their feet all day. Before or after work, they may go for a hike or a run. Realize that a 150-pound person will put 1.5 tons of pressure on each foot every mile. Think about the accumulated stress and the effects that take place on the body in just this one example. Weaknesses, imbalances and structural misalignments can exacerbate these stresses.

Sooner or later, our bodies will no longer be able to meet the demands that are placed on them.

Confusing fitness with health only compounds this dilemma. The answer is not to exercise more. An answer is to maintain your body specific to your individual needs. How often does the race car pull into the pit during the race, and what kind of maintenance is performed on that car between races?

There are some things that can be done to optimize your health. Structural integrity is important, as it ensures that your nervous system is communicating effectively and responding to the demands in your environment. Providing good nutrition is essential. Eating organic foods and reducing sugars and carbohydrates are important. Even with eating well, proper vitamin supplementation can be beneficial. Detox whenever you can.

It is important to address all of the areas of stress so that you can live and enjoy an optimal lifestyle.

Remember that if you are going to work hard and play hard, you will benefit from properly maintaining good health.

Don’t make the mistake of sacrificing your health. You have been given one body. The better you treat it, the better it will treat you.

Dr. Tom Lankering

Basalt