FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE!!
This got us thinking at Health 1st, “You know what? Our health is kind of like a football team!” Stay with me on this as we get a little nerdy, but I think the analogy works brilliantly, as all parts are necessary to either an optimally functioning gridiron dynasty or an incredibly healthy human being.
Defense: Think “reactive in response” to threats that our bodies encounter. Our immune system is our body’s first line of defense. We are created to withstand so many bacterial and viral infections that we aren’t even semi-aware of! I won’t go into detail, but our T helper cells and B humoral cells do wonders to keep us fully functional.
Offense: This is the more important element of the game, because, I’d argue, that it’s the one we have the most control over. This is how we are “proactive” with our health.
- Eating right equates to less inflammation so that our defense can focus on its job against foreign invaders instead of needing to spend time and energy against domestic opposition, like inflammation or stress.
- We are 70% water and hydration is the backbone on which the offense can execute.
- Sleep does immeasurable good for our body as our brain can then effectively process through all of our days events and thoughts, maintaining or discarding each one. Our brain also eliminates free radicals and excess debris that piled up during our wakefulness. In a way, proper sleep maximizes our brain and is thus like the QB who recognizes coverages, identifies misalignments of his own teammates, and can key in on where to maximize the team’s energies.
Head Coach: Dr. Gina. A Doctor of Chiropractic like Dr. Gina, can kind of bring everything together and unify the body. Just as a defense and offense have completely different functions for their teams, but all can be greatly improved or worsened from a great head coach; so our body can be maximized when it’s drawn together and aligned properly under watchful care. I’m sure you can think of many-a-time where a subluxation brought you incredible amounts of pain, soreness, etc. You brought your ailing teammate to the Coach (Dr. Gina), and your good to go! Good thing we have the Bill Belichick (and not the Mike McCarthy ha) of coaching in our chiropractor!
So, how important is a good offense? Many of my Chicago Bears fans will remember the early 2000’s when their defense ran the team. They were spectacular. Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, Tommie Harris…I could go on and on. But the team lacked some real firepower on the other side of the ball. Thomas Jones and the late Cedric Benson were serviceable backs, but combine that with less than stellar quarterback play from Rex Grossman, and the team was embarrassed at the hands of the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. Albeit, the defense was able to prevent enough opposing scoring to advance the Bears far into the postseason; yet they couldn’t get over the hump due to their lackadaisical offense. It got to the point that it seemed as though the two sides of the ball were working against each other. The defense spent incredible amounts of time on the field, preventing excessive scoring; yet the other side of the ball presented only 3 and out after 3 and out.
At the end of the day, it comes down to if you want to be reactive or proactive with your health. Will you say, “screw it,” and neglect the aforementioned and additional things that you can be doing to optimize your wellness? If so, it truly is only a matter of time, before you or I lose. The 2006 Chicago Bears fell flat in a big way, and lost the biggest game of the year. Off the field, a poor offense looks more like dehydration, diabetes, or even cancer.
On the contrary, an efficient offense allows for your immune system to fight truly novice invaders and not be sidelined by the random sneeze of any passerby.
Thus, as we begin the 2021 NFL season; don’t neglect your offensive weapons. ‘Feed the rock’ to your Dalvin Cook or Justin Jefferson by taking care of yourself to the best of your ability. And don’t forget to check in with your head coach, Dr. Gina, on the way to your personal quest for the Super Bowl: the healthiest you’ve ever been!
Until next time and SKOL Vikes,
Brock Baumgarn CA and Nutrition Consultant for Health 1st Chiropractic and Wellness Center