Chiropractic Support for Cravings and Weight Loss

Junk Food, Cravings, and Chiropractic Care: An Integrative Approach to Health

Introduction

For many people, resisting junk food feels like a constant battle. The more you try to cut it out, the harder it seems to avoid. That’s because unhealthy foods are not just tasty—they are scientifically engineered to be addictive. The mix of fat, sugar, and salt lights up pleasure centers in the brain, making it easy to overeat and difficult to stop.

At El Paso Back Clinic, Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, takes an integrative approach to health. His team helps patients overcome pain, recover from injuries, and make healthier lifestyle choices. One overlooked part of recovery and wellness is diet—especially how cravings for processed foods can affect healing, digestion, and overall energy. By combining chiropractic care with integrative medicine, patients not only feel better physically but also build long-term habits that make resisting junk food easier.

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Why Junk Food Feels Impossible to Resist

Unhealthy foods are designed to be addictive. Food companies carefully balance fat, sugar, and salt to reach the “bliss point”—a flavor combination that maximizes pleasure and keeps you reaching for more【Piedmont, n.d.】.

When you eat these foods, your brain releases dopamine, a chemical linked to pleasure and reward. Over time, this creates reinforcement loops, similar to addictive behaviors. You begin craving these foods even when you’re not hungry【Harvard Gazette, 2024】.

Example: A patient at El Paso Back Clinic recovering from a knee injury reported strong nightly cravings for chips. Through chiropractic adjustments that reduced stress on her nervous system, combined with mindfulness practices, she was able to cut back significantly.

References: Piedmont, Harvard Gazette.

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The Hidden Health Risks of Cravings

Eating too much junk food does more than add calories. It can:

• Increase inflammation throughout the body.
• High sodium levels can raise blood pressure.
• Causes insulin resistance, leading to type 2 diabetes.
• Slow down injury recovery by reducing nutrient absorption【Healthline, n.d.】.

Even mental health is affected. Diets high in processed foods are linked with fatigue, anxiety, and poor sleep【THOCC, n.d.】. Dr. Jimenez often sees this in personal injury patients: pain, stress, and poor eating habits compound each other, creating a cycle that slows healing.

Example: A patient recovering from a whiplash injury relied heavily on fast food due to convenience. By addressing spinal misalignments and providing nutrition support, his inflammation decreased, and his recovery sped up.

References: Healthline, THOCC.

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Simple Ways to Beat Food Cravings

You don’t have to give up all your favorite foods overnight. Instead, focus on small, sustainable changes:

• Mindful eating: Pause and ask yourself why you’re craving something. Hunger? Stress? Boredom?【Virtua, n.d.】
• Change your environment: Keep fruits and nuts on the counter and store chips or candy out of sight【Intermountain Healthcare, n.d.】.
• Healthy swaps: Replace soda with sparkling water, or ice cream with frozen fruit smoothies【Tidings, n.d.】.
• Stress management: Practice deep breathing, exercise, or chiropractic-based relaxation therapies to reduce stress-driven cravings【Stelo, n.d.】.

Example: A teacher in her 40s turned to ice cream nightly for comfort. With mindful eating techniques, spinal care, and stress management strategies, she replaced the habit with healthier alternatives and lost 12 pounds in six months.

References: Virtua, Intermountain Healthcare, Tidings, Stelo.

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Chiropractic Care and Nutrition Connection

Chiropractic care is not just about back pain. By improving spinal alignment, chiropractors help the nervous system communicate more effectively with the digestive system. This supports nutrient absorption, reduces inflammation, and improves overall energy【Rangeline Chiropractic, n.d.】.

Patients at El Paso Back Clinic often report better digestion and fewer cravings after regular spinal adjustments. When stress on the nervous system is reduced, the body is better able to manage hunger and satiety signals.

Example: A patient with chronic back pain also battled constant sugar cravings. After chiropractic adjustments, combined with nutrition counseling, both pain and cravings diminished.

References: Rangeline Chiropractic.

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Dr. Alexander Jimenez’s Dual-Scope Expertise

Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, stands out because of his dual training in chiropractic and functional medicine as a nurse practitioner. This allows him to:

• Perform advanced diagnostic assessments.
• Provide both medical and chiropractic care.
• Address dietary and lifestyle issues alongside spinal health.
• Support patients in legal-medical documentation after injuries.

This comprehensive approach ensures patients don’t just mask symptoms—they get to the root cause of cravings, inflammation, and pain.

References: Dr. Alex Jimenez.

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Integrative Medicine: Healing the Whole Person

At El Paso Back Clinic, integrative medicine goes beyond adjustments. Patients benefit from:

• Nutritional counseling to replace processed foods with whole foods.
• Stress-reduction techniques like acupuncture and massage therapy.
• Targeted exercises to balance hormones and build resilience.
• Emotional health support to manage stress, eating, and lifestyle changes【Artisan Chiro Clinic, n.d.】.

Example: A 50-year-old man recovering from a car accident developed unhealthy eating habits. With chiropractic care, stress management, and nutritional counseling, he not only healed faster but also lost weight and improved sleep.

References: Artisan Chiro Clinic.

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Conclusion

Junk food cravings are powerful, but they don’t have to control your life. They are the result of brain chemistry, food design, and environmental triggers. Left unchecked, they can harm both physical and mental health, slow recovery from injuries, and create long-term problems.

The good news is that change is possible. Through mindful eating, environmental adjustments, and chiropractic-integrative care, cravings can be reduced, digestion improved, and overall health restored. At El Paso Back Clinic, Dr. Jimenez and his team combine chiropractic precision with functional medicine insights, helping patients recover from injuries and build healthier lives.

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References

Artisan Chiro Clinic. (n.d.). The connection between chiropractic care and improved digestive health.

Dr. Alex Jimenez. (n.d.). Clinical insights on chiropractic and integrative medicine.

Harvard Gazette. (2024). Why do we crave junk food? Diet and psychology.

Healthline. (n.d.). How to avoid eating junk food.

Intermountain Healthcare. (n.d.). How your environment affects what you eat.

Piedmont. (n.d.). Why is junk food so addictive?.

Rangeline Chiropractic. (n.d.). Integrating chiropractic care with nutrition for optimal wellness.

Stelo. (n.d.). What causes food cravings and how to stop them.

The Hospital of Central Connecticut. (n.d.). Why junk foods are so addictive.

Tidings. (n.d.). Creating a healthy lifestyle.

Virtua Health. (n.d.). What causes food addiction and what are the signs?.