If you are a gardener in Minnesota, you’ll soon be planting your fruits and vegetables and seeing the first signs of a successful harvest shortly after. You’ll choose high-quality seeds from a reputable source. You will work the soil and add fertilizer. You’ll choose a spot with sufficient sunlight (not too much, not too little) and water it when there’s not enough rain. You’ll weed and check for bugs or anything else that might harm your garden’s growth. Maybe you even talk to your plants or play music for the garden (sounds a little crazy, but it’s not all that weird if it works!). Then you will sit back, relax, and enjoy.

But wait, can you really just sit back? No, not really. You’ll need to tend your garden, watch for signs of problems, and address them quickly. If you see dry soil, it’s time for water. If you notice signs of critters, maybe put up a fence or treat for bugs. You really need to watch your garden throughout the growing season, and then you can enjoy a bountiful harvest.

Sounds like you and your garden have a lot in common. You need a good, healthy start to cultivate better health. It may be hard to believe, but science has shown that your mom’s health, nutrition, and stress levels while pregnant will affect you throughout your life. You need a lot of constant, gentle care to start. Just enough sunlight, not too much.

You need good water; how many times have you heard that you need to hydrate? You know how a plant looks when you haven’t given it enough water? You and your insides look the same! Ever notice your skin getting dry, flaky, or itchy when you don’t take in enough water? You are doing the same for your insides as well. Don’t forget that when you replace water, you need to replace electrolytes as well.

So how about fertilizer? That’s like taking supplements when your normal food intake does not supply your necessary vitamins and minerals. And don’t just settle for the cheapest ones. Anyone who is serious about their garden, who invests time and money into the process, pays for the quality that will give them the freshest, healthiest vegetables. Make sure you do the same for yourself.

In the case of the average American, eating the standard American diet (S.A.D.) results in multiple deficiencies. I have heard many people—unfortunately, other health professionals included—say that you can get everything you need by eating a proper, balanced diet. This may have been true 100 years ago, but it isn’t now. And, honestly, how many of us truly eat a balanced healthy diet these days? With all of the processed foods, seed oils, and gluten around us, it can take some effort. One last thing there, if you have ever heard of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), you know it is like a “miracle grow” for the brain. A recent chiropractic study showed that chiropractic adjustments increase BDNF in the brain. So, if you want to revitalize your brain, see your chiropractor!

And what about those weeds in your garden? They steal the vital water, nutrients, sunlight, and space that your veggies need to grow properly. Ever find yourself surrounded by negative people? Same thing. They say you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with. It may be time to evaluate some of the “weeds” in your life.

Think about this the next time you go out into your garden. Are you treating your mind and body as good as your garden? Or are you cutting corners? Buying cheap supplements, skipping your chiropractor visits, skimping on sleep and exercise? Your garden deserves the best care you can give it—and so does your body.

Dr. Burtis, D.C., M.S., CFMP, DACBN, has been providing natural healthcare to the Fairmont area at Burtis Chiropractic Center for over 35 years. He uses a combination of chiropractic, nutrition, and functional medicine to help individuals restore and maintain health and healing through individualized care plans. The mission of Burtis Chiropractic Center is to provide transformational healthcare that takes an individual’s life to the next level. We strive to be a solution for families to experience transformational healthcare and help create vibrant and resilient lifestyles that can be passed to future generations.