5 Tips for a Better You
August 12, 2010
Earlier this week, we posted an article, 5 Fitness Myths You Need to Forget, on our Facebook and Twitter pages. We thought it had some great information, which is why we decided to compile our own tips for a better you:
- What you put in your body matters. This includes food, supplements and external products (shampoo, lotion, etc). A good rule of thumb is, “keep it balanced and natural.” Try to find food, supplements and external products that are organic and all-natural, and use a wide variety to maintain balance.
- It’s called “diet AND exercise” for a reason. You can have the best diet in the world, but if you don’t exercise regularly you won’t be as healthy as you could be. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand.
- What you do outside of workouts make a difference. Even if you work out every day, it’s still not good for your body to sit still for large chunks of time. Remember to stand up and stretch every hour.
- Schedule time with friends. Socialization is good for our sanity, and research shows it’s good for our physical health, too. Make sure you fit time with friends into your busy schedule.
- Sleep. Yes, it sounds basic, but most of us don’t get enough sleep at night. At least 7-8 hours is a good goal, although some people need more.
Bonus Tip: Have regular check-ups. Remember to see your chiropractor, dentist and any other health care professional you trust regularly. They will help you stay on track and catch early warning signs of a bigger problem.
What additional tips would you add to this list?
Friends Keep Friends Healthy
August 5, 2010
That’s right! Friends keep friends healthy – but not just through encouragement of a healthy lifestyle. A new study suggests that satisfying social relationships may be as important as not smoking when it comes to your lifespan, according to this article on CNN Health.
Amidst a full schedule of work, kids, a significant other, exercise, keeping on top of chores and everything else going on, it can be hard to invest time in friends. Here are a few suggestions for integrating social relationships into an already-busy week:
- Work out with a friend – Call up a friend or two and schedule a weekly or bi-weekly walk / trip to the gym. Chatting on the elliptical or while walking through a park will help keep your oxygen flowing, and provide some mental stimulation.
- Carpool – Does a coworker live near you? Take turns driving! Not only will this keep gas costs down and help out the environment, but it will help you get to know a coworker a little better, outside the confines of the job.
- Share a Meal – Everyone’s got to eat, so why not turn it into a social engagement? Invite another family over for some good food and good conversation.
What other suggestions do you have for spending time with friends during an already-busy week?
I’m Healthy – Why See a Chiropractor?
July 29, 2010
A lot of people think they don’t need to see a chiropractor unless they already have pain in their back and/or neck, but the truth is that going to a chiropractor can help detect conditions that may exist before you feel them – much like a dentist detects a cavity before you feel it.
The condition we look for, subluxation, degrades body function over time with very few symptoms. It’s hard to detect and correct without professional training, which is why everyone – even chiropractors – need regular exams and adjustments.
So who is chiropractic care for? Although most people think it’s for those with a back problem, stress related problem or other health problem, it is also good for anyone looking to progress their health, happiness and improve their productivity. Positive side effects include better energy, better elimination, better digestion, more energy and better sleep.
Want more information about how chiropractic care might help you? Call us at 408-979-9999.
Release Tension at Home
July 8, 2010
One way we help our clients release tension at home is through offering decompression tips to incorporate into their daily schedules.
To make sure we’re all on the same page, decompressing means releasing the tension on your central nervous system. This helps ensure your nervous system is working optimally.
Here are three ways you can decompress, or release tension, at home, work or wherever you may be:
- Walk for 10 minutes. The 50:10 rule works well – especially for those that sit at a desk allday. For every 50 minutes of sitting, get up and move for the next 10 minutes. Walk, stretch or drink a glass of water – then get back to your project.
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Photo Credit: apdk
Breathe deeply.
It’s common for stressed people to take shallow breaths, so practice breathing deeply – 5 counts in and 5 counts out. Slowing down and paying attention to every breath forces our nervous system into a relaxed state. - Laugh. Laughing increases oxygenation to our entire body – there is even research that suggests it activates parts of our immune system as well! Hang out with people who make you laugh, rent some funny movies and laugh out loud!
Man Up, Stand Strong!!
June 21, 2010
If you are a man and you are reading this, then I am glad we got your attention. The term “man up” is the expression used by many men that describes taking on challenges, facing fears and accepting responsibility. “Stand strong” implies overcoming adversity and promoting and defending your beliefs. In this context, to ensure that you can “man up” and “stand strong” for a lifetime, it is critical that you make your health a priority.
Too many men are crisis motivated only. They wait and wait and wait until their pains or illnesses become debilitating. Rather than manning up and standing strong on their own accord, they do not take action on their health until they hear their family and friends screaming the wake up call, “man down!” Don’t let this happen to you.
Now is the time to man up, stand strong and make your health a priority. Chiropractic care is a great place to start because with a healthy spine and nervous system, your entire body can function better.
Call us today so we can help you Stand Strong!!
Could Your Mom’s Voice Help You?
June 2, 2010
Fascinating study on pre-teen girls showing that their mom’s voices and praise had dramatic effects on soothing nerves and anxiety. Another boy after hearing his mom’s voice for 3 weeks straight came out of his coma and today is a conscious participating member in his life!
Stress management is one of the keys to living a long, happy life and this seems like an easy way to reduce anxiety and relieve tension.
The study concludes by saying that it shows that all of us need someone to call that will calm us down and get us to our happy place again!
Who do you call when you need a pick-me up?
You Are What You Eat
May 25, 2010
Today I was reminded once again that what we eat plays a vital role in the condition of our bodies. MSNBC posted an article about 15 muscle-building, brain-enhancing, wrinkle-erasing, heart-strengthening, bone-protecting, immunity-boosting, and inflammation-fighting foods that should be a regular part of our diets.
Want a few suggestions on foods to integrate into your diet?
- Almonds - These energy-rich snacks lower bad cholesterol, bolster testosterone levels and muscle growth, help defend against sun damage and work to keep your arteries free of dangerous free radicals.
- Flaxseeds - Rich in protein and fiber, these little seeds offer a payload of omega-3 fatty acids, which erase spots and iron out fine lines in the skin. Try sprinkling ground flaxseed on oatmeal, yogurt, and salads.
- Dried plums – Also known as prunes, these dark shrivelers are rich in copper and boron, both of which can help prevent osteoporosis.
- Walnuts - Richer in heart-healthy omega-3s than salmon, loaded with more anti-inflammatory polyphenols than red wine, and packing half as much muscle-building protein as chicken, the walnut sounds like a Frankenfood, but it grows on trees.
- Apples - An apple a day reduces swelling of all kinds, thanks to quercetin, a flavonoid also found in the skin of red onions. Quercetin reduces the risk of allergies, heart attack, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prostate and lung cancers.
Read more about these foods and the other 10 in the full article at http://bit.ly/cekc68.
Long Hours Are Bad News For Your Heart
May 24, 2010
Our days are getting longer and longer and the research is showing that those long days at the office are causing stress to our systems beyond what it can adapt to.
A study of British civil servants showed that those working 11 hour days showed a 60% increase in the likelihood of having an adverse cardiac event than those who clocked out after 7 hours.
Although this study was done on people working in an office environment, I believe that you can extend these finding to those also working at home! A healthy, happy life is about finding balance. On your deathbed, you won’t be saying “I wish I had worked more” – no one does- find those activities you enjoy that PULL you away from your work!
How do YOU find balance in your life??
Lovaza- New Drug or Sneaky Big Pharma?
May 4, 2010
Has anyone noticed the newest drug ad on TV? There is a new drug called Lovaza that is actually a Omega 3 supplement! Glaxo Smith Kline has taken a very effective supplement and has begun advertising that it has an FDA approved “drug” for lowering cholesterol. If you read our prior posts about the FDA , you’ll know that FDA approved means nothing really!
The doctor in the white coat also mentions that their supplement is pharmaceutical grade and molecularly distilled. High quality Omega 3 supplements that you buy from your health care provider are also. I know for sure that drug store brands and large grocery store brands you do need to check for both of these criteria.
What I did appreciate is that there was not a long laundry list of side effects as there normally is with medications! ( i.e. do not take if you are male, female, overweight, underweight or you may experience dizziness, headache, runny nose, sneezing or death….)
Let’s be clear- Omega 3 supplementation is excellent for optimal function of many systems in the body- I am sure that I don’t want big pharma having their hands in my supplement and calling it a new drug!
FDA Science and Mission at Risk, Pt. 2
April 19, 2010
Last week we posted the first 6 ways in which the FDA condemns itself , here are the next 6 conclusions that they drew from the study on themselves!
7. “The FDA science agenda lacks a coherent structure and vision, as well as effective coordination and prioritization.”
8. “The FDA has substantial recruitment and retention challenges.”
9. “The FDA has an inadequate and ineffective program for scientist performance.”
10. “The FDA has not taken sufficient advantage of external and internal collaborations.”
11. “The FDA lacks the information science capability and information infrastructure to fulfill its regulatory mandate.”
12. “The FDA cannot provide the information infrastructure support to regulate products based on new science.”
The FDA is a 102 year old agency and these problems did not occur overnight. As its responsibilities grew, the FDA’s infrastructure deteriorated. As a consumer, before you ever take another drug, you must seriously consider that the drug you are taking may cause you serious harm. Every drug, even if it’s necessary to save a life, has harmful side effects.
Think about the drug ads that you see on TV, hear on the radio or read in magazines. Close your eyes and listen to the severity and extent of the side effects that are being announced while the happy smiling people dance around in a beautiful green field. If you want to stay healthy over the course of your entire lifetime, you must become conscious of this drug reality and consider lifestyle changes along with holistic health care, such as chiropractic, as your primary option.
Another serious concern about drug testing is the fact that it only takes 8 years for a drug to be approved by the FDA. The side effects and the testing are not designed for long term usage. For example, if you start taking a drug for a health problem at 40 and it was only tested for 8 years, this will take you to age 48. If you continue for another 10, 20, or 40 years, you could be setting yourself up for severe consequences and side effects which may include heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and dementia.
So many health problems can be solved by changing your lifestyle and seeking chiropractic care. Even more importantly, so many health problems can be prevented. Make Lifestyle Care your top priority and turn your medicine chest into a bathroom cabinet. You’ll love the extra space and the new level of health you experience.
