Learning About Diagnosing Common Health Problems

Posted on: 30 October 2017

Can chiropractic care actually help you lose weight -- particularly those stubborn pounds that seem to hang on no matter what you do?

It may seem like there's no real connection between chiropractic care and weight loss, and it isn't a magic cure that for all your weight loss needs. However, there has been a growing body of evidence that indicates chiropractic care combined with healthy lifestyle choices can assist with weight loss. 

The mind-body connection that affects weight loss

Essentially, chiropractors look for misalignments in the spine. Misalignments affect your central nervous system's ability to communicate effectively between your brain and your brain -- which means that it can become harder for ordinary metabolic functions to work. Those failing metabolic functions end up affecting your body's ability to manage itself, maintain appropriate insulin levels, and burn fat.

The physical benefits that can also improve weight loss

Pain doesn't make it any easier to make healthy lifestyle choices. When you suffer from chronic pain due to back, neck, or hip problems, it's awfully difficult to maintain a regular exercise routine. In fact, it can even be counterproductive when it comes to relieving pain. Chiropractic adjustments can put your spine and hips back into alignment and alleviate neck, shoulder, and arm pain that limits your ability to exercise. Lowering your pain levels can make it much easier to feel motivated to exercise.

The additional benefits you may not realize are there

There's an additional benefit -- if you're on pain medication, the chiropractic care can help reduce your need for those pain meds, many of which are associated with weight gain.

Chiropractic care is also good for stress relief -- basically for many of the reasons mentioned above (particularly pain management). It also is helpful even if you don't have chronic pain but are carrying a lot of your stress in your shoulders. A lot of office workers, for example, carry an "invisible monkey" on their backs from being hunched over a desk and a keyboard all day. Regular chiropractic care can help reduce that kind of stress. 

Additionally, if you suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension) related to stress, there's significant proof that a specific chiropractic procedure called the "Atlas Adjustment" can reduce that elevated blood pressure and get your body back on track.

The final verdict on chiropractic care and weight loss

Chiropractic care isn't an automatic key to losing weight but it should be a part of the methods that you use to get your weight under control, especially if regular methods like diet control don't seem to be working. Chiropractic care takes a focus on health from the inside out and should be combined with exercise and good food choices if you want to really lose weight faster and easier.