Author: Dr. Sandra Buffkin
Summer’s Here! Schools Out!
School is out which means fun summer days are ahead! With all the excitement of summer it is important to have a wellness plan in mind. For many summer days mean unstructured days, which can often lead to prolonged hours on technology. Research shows that the average American spends 93% of their life indoors.4 The average teen spends around 9 hours a day on some form of social media. There is a strong correlation between increased social media use and increased depression and anxiety.3 So help your teen find a healthy balance and still enjoy their summer vacation! Here are some tips to ensure you and your family have a healthy summer vacation.
Go outside!
· Take your exercise outdoors! Research shows that physical activity outdoors for as little as five-minutes leads to improved moods and self-esteem.2
· The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends 60 minutes of physical activity a day.6
· An estimated 85% of the American public is deficient in Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important to help fight against infections, colds, flu, prevent chronic diseases, and helps your immune system fight bacteria and viruses. By going outdoors and spending time in the sun you will help keep your vitamin D level in therapeutic range.
· By going outside you can help prevent childhood obesity, diabetes, asthma, vitamin D deficiency, and ADHA. All have been tied to spending less time in nature and more time indoors leading to a sedentary lifestyle.1
· The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested limiting screen time to 1-2 hours per day.
Eat a healthy diet!
· The American Heart Association recommends no more then six teaspoons of added sugar a day.5 This can really sneak up on you if you are not actively watching sugar intake.
· Try substituting with coconut sugar. Coconut popsicles or coconut ice cream is great for summer days. The fat in the coconut milk will slow down the release of sugar and contains less sugar than most popsicles.
· When I think of summer pizza parties immediately come to mind. Pizza is one of my favorite foods. Instead of ordering pizzas try a cauliflower pizza crust instead!
· Remember moderation is key! The best way to shop for groceries is to stay along the perimeter of the store. Reduce consumption of grains, processed foods, and sugar.
Preventative Wellness Care
· Chiropractic care offers your family a solid foundation for wellness and preventative health care. Chiropractic care improves sleep, behavior, attitude, and the immune system function.7
· Your nervous system controls every cell and organ in your body. By making sure your spine is properly aligned you allow your nervous system to function optimally.
Enjoy your summer vacation and remember to live well! For more health and wellness tips please visit Dr. Buffkin’s website at www.realigninghealth.com
1. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2010 May;40(5):102-17.
2. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2010, 44 (10), pp 3947–3955
3. http://www.familyaware.org/teensocialmediamentalhealth/
4. https://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2015/03/06/spending-time-outdoors.aspx
6. https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/blog/schools-out-stay-active-this-summer.html
7. http://icpa4kids.org/About-the-ICPA/why-chiropractic-for-children.html
Author: Dr. Sandra Buffkin
Dr. Buffkin graduated Cum Laude from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke with a B.S. degree in Chemistry and Cum Laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida with her Doctor of Chiropractic. While at Palmer she served as Second Vice President to Sports Council and worked a variety of sporting events.
Dr. Buffkin believes wellness is multifaceted and enjoys addressing nutritional concerns and lifestyle management with others. Dr. Buffkin practices at Chiro Function in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
