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Showing posts from October, 2012

Do You Break the Rules?

Turns out, the quality of our health is the result of a set of very simple rules. Play by the rules and you have the best chance for optimum health. Break the rules and you'll pay for it. 1. You shall breathe. If you stop breathing, breathe in a shallow manner or inhale pollutants, you will pay a price. 2. You shall ingest nutrition. Nutrition is the raw materials needed to fuel, grow and repair your body. 3. You shall expel wastes. What goes in, must come out. If it comes out too quickly you'll suffer. If it takes too long to come out you'll suffer. 4. You shall hydrate. We're mostly water. Drink enough fluids. 5. You shall move. A sedentary lifestyle causes stagnation, poor circulation and hampers the function of the lymphatic system. 6. You shall rest. Your body needs time to renew, refresh and repair. This is done largely at night while enjoying restful sleep. 7. You shall adapt to your environment. Your nervous system orchestrates every cell and tis

Creating A Better Fit Between You and Your Workspace

Over the years I’ve been a practicing chiropractor, I’ve heard the same story consistently from my patients: they’re trying to fit their bodies to their workspaces — and they’re not succeeding. They’re having to twist to see their monitors; sitting in chairs that don’t fit correctly so they’re leaning forward all day; using laptops because their companies never got around to buying them desktops; and typing on keyboards that sit on their desks rather than on keyboard trays under them. Unfortunately, proper ergonomics in the workplace is typically looked at as an add-on rather than an investment. But in reality, workspace comfort — or lack thereof — has a major effect on productivity and performance. It’s estimated that there are a billion people per week who are uncomfortable at work. Why is that acceptable? If I were to offer you $150,000 a year to run a marathon every day, five days a week, in cowboy boots two sizes too small, you wouldn’t do it. When something doesn

Top 10 Super Foods

Top 10 Super Foods! If someone were to ask for a list of the top 10 most nutritious foods, no list would be complete without mentioning the following: 1. Apples – Loaded with Vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, these crunchy snacks might actually help keep the doctor away, by reducing cholesterol and your risk for cancer and heart disease. But remember to eat the skin! 2. Avocados – Did someone say guacamole? Also high in antioxidants, they help to reduce cholesterol and your risk for cancer and diabetes. 3. Beans – Include many varieties (red beans, pintos, lentils, kidney beans, soy) that provide energy, protein and fiber to help regulate blood sugar and reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. 4. Blueberries – A low-calorie fiber and antioxidant source, blueberries may help improve short-term memory and slow down the effects of aging on the brain (i.e., Alzheimer’s). 5. Broccoli – This highly nutritious vegetable, a relative of spinach,

Sitting Disease

What Is Sitting Disease? In the 1980s, Nancy Reagan stood in front of the White House and said, “Just say no.” We declared a war on drugs, and we’re still fighting that battle. Now it’s only a matter of time until the First Lady gets in front of the White House and says “Just say no” to prolonged sitting. Researchers are finding that prolonged, uninterrupted periods of sitting — a/k/a “sitting disease” — contributes to a host of health-related problems and issues: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, orthopedic problems. There are some correlations now with cancer. Prolonged sitting also affects our metabolic health, with risk factors including a large waistline, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides. After about 25 minutes of sitting, your body goes into a mode like a computer would in sleep mode, and bad things start to happen. Over the last 16 years, I’ve seen a pattern emerging with my new patients, consistent issues that they’re all having: lower ba

An Apple A Day....

The temperatures are starting to fall and Summer is officially over. There are many benefits to Autumn's arrival though...such as apple picking! Is it true that, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? Numerous studies have concluded that it has a ring of truth for many reasons, particularly because of the fiber content in the apple peel (don’t remove it!) and the high antioxidant properties present in apples that fight damage to your body’s cells. Adding an apple to your daily diet is beneficial because: Increasing the amount of fiber in your diet helps lower cholesterol, aids in weight reduction, reduces abnormal sugar (insulin) level surges, reduces your risk of heart disease and colon cancer and makes you feel fuller so you don’t overeat. Eating apples may protect you from getting serious lung disease. In fact, a University of Nottingham, England study, conducted over nine years, found that the lungs of those who ate more apples were three years younger