Why is fitness so important to health?

When you’re fit and healthy, you can live life to the fullest at every age. Fitness and wellness include being physically and mentally fit -- mind, body, and soul. The foods you eat, the amount of exercise you get, and your mental well-being contribute to your overall state of fitness and wellness.

When you keep your body and mind healthy, you’re also better able to stay free from disease, chronic pain, and other age and lifestyle-related conditions. When you maintain the best fitness level you can, every system in your body works better.

As a Seattle naturopath and acupuncturist, Dr. Barnett helps patients of all ages achieve their optimal fitness levels. She educates individuals regarding lifestyle changes, sports nutrition, and exercise and movement options for patients who are ready to make a commitment toward better health and wellness. Dr. Barnett also recommends sports acupuncture for its additional health benefits.

What are the benefits of acupuncture for fitness and wellness?

• Ease muscle fatigue and decrease inflammation. Increase blood flow to every area of your body, including vital organs, and help prevent exercise-related injuries.

• Enhance your energy levels and increase your endurance. Crucial during a session at the gym, a long bike ride, or a yoga class.

• Help with recovery time after a sports injury. Minimizes pain by increasing the production of endorphins (your body’s natural painkillers). It also activates your immune system to help your body heal and fight off illness.

• Helps you get deeper, more restful sleep. Letting your muscles have time to recover and rebuild after a particularly challenging physical workout, such as running a half marathon.

Anyone who wants to optimize their overall fitness and wellness is a candidate for acupuncture sessions. It’s not necessary to have a chronic condition or an injury to benefit from acupuncture. Many patients report feeling a deep sense of relaxation during and after treatment, as well as decreased feelings of anxiety and lower stress levels -- all of which allow your body to rejuvenate using its natural healing abilities.

How does sports nutrition help with fitness and wellness?

Sports nutrition helps athletes get the fuel they need for maximum energy during workouts, but sports nutrition isn’t just for athletes. Anyone can benefit from eating whole, nutrient-rich foods that provide a healthy balance of protein, carbs, and fats. Depending on your fitness goals, Dr. Barnett helps you find the nutritional balance that’s the best fuel for your body.

Whether your workouts include walking the dog or weight-training at the gym, you need different foods at different times of the day to refuel and rehydrate your body before and after exercise. Dr. Barnett works with your individual goals in mind and creates a nutrition plan that can help optimize your workouts, both for sports and for recreation.

Learn more about achieving your optimal wellness and fitness. Call the office, email admin@drclara.com or click to schedule a consultation online.