The phrase "you are what you eat" is truer than you might think. Consider all the processed foods you consume; no matter how tasty and craving satisfying they are, they often lack essential nutrients your body needs. Why would everything in a box or bag have to be vitamin fortified if it were really good for you?

Our bodies are constantly working to maintain a healthy equilibrium. Consider how hard our bodies must work as we grow and change from children to adolescents to adults. Bones are lengthened, tissue multiplied, brain cells dividing with learning - all these processes are fueled by what we eat!

The "whole foods craze" deserves attention because it's not just a passing "diet fad," it makes sense! Our bodies, although amazing at adapting and evolving to fit our environments, are still pretty animalistic. Give it protein, fruits and veggies in proper proportions, and an optimum working nervous system that is supported by chiropractic care and it will do its job best. It might seem like common sense, but with so many supplements and fast-fixes available today and the ever confusing "food pyramid," it can often be hard to know what is best.

Let's just consider the few following nutritional needs, especially for children and young adults in learning environments:

• Iron - found in red meat, tuna, chicken or leafy vegetable: Prevents anemia, helps with a longer attention span, causes more motivation to participate in challenging tasks that stretch imagination and ability.

• Folic Acid - found in fruits and veggies: Important in the formation of red and white blood cells. Low folic acid results can present as tired, irritable and forgetful.

• Zinc - found in peanuts: Helps maintain communication between brain and nerve cells.

Some benefits of whole, natural, foods are:

• They function synergistically in your body.

• Your body can recognize and absorb the nutrients quickly in their whole, natural state.

Chiropractic gets you a fully functioning nervous system as a foundation and eating healthy is one of the components with which to build on this.

There are many avenues of working more whole foods into your lifestyle which includes getting fresh produce through a farmers market or local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). There are often fun culinary events to attend, such as the Relish Cooking Show and Expo, that are geared toward all experience levels of cooking.

If you're interested in having a nutritional consultation, or would like information on how chiropractic care works well with balanced, healthy intake of nutrients, call us at (208) 667-7434 or visit us at our office at 370 E. Kathleen Ave., Suite 600, Coeur d'Alene. You can also find us on the Web at www.cdahealth.com. Get out there and start cooking!