Exercise is good for you, but if you or someone you know has Osteoporosis or Osteopenia (early bone loss), exercise is an imperative. Bones lose density because as we age the body takes calcium from the bones to use in the muscles and blood. While it is unclear why this occurs, it is known that we can encourage the body to redeposit calcium in the bones with exercise. Weight-bearing exercise challenges the bones and that stress stimulates the body to make the bones stronger by depositing calcium. So, walking, lifting weights, dancing, yoga, rowing, stretch bands, jogging and cross training will all help challenge the bones to deposit calcium. The increased muscle mass and bone mass will help reduce the risk of broken bones, slow bone loss and reduce the need for medical intervention. Please consult with your physician before starting any exercise program. For more information visit: http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/fcs/bb/exercise.html
Monday, November 23, 2009
Why can't I drink Energy drinks instead of water?
Many people think they get enough water from drinks, but energy drinks and soda have a lot of sugar and caffeine. The body uses water to metabolize sugar and caffeine, so whatever water content there is, is used up. So, you still need your 8 glasses of water everyday, even if you do drink soda or energy drinks. Related article
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Heart Healthy
The best indicators for heart health are Blood Pressure, Cholesterol Levels (including HDL, LDL and triglycerides). homocysteine levels, and C-reactive protein levels.
The best way to keep Blood pressure normal is through exercise and healthy eating. If you have high blood pressure you may be able to reduce it to normal through diet and exercise, or you may need to check with your doctor for prescription medication.
The best way to control cholesterol is through healthy eating. The most important part of the equation is arguably the HDL. If your high density lipids are high enough, they will scavenge cholesterol from your blood stream and help keep it under control.
The best way to reduce homocysteine levels is increasing folic acid supplementation.
Reducing the C reactive protein levels is unclear in research currently. Studies show that Vitamin C, exercise and Omega 3's may all be helpful in reducing C reactive protein.
Does anyone else see a pattern here? A healthy heart begins and ends with diet and exercise.
The best foods to reduce cholesterol are: apples, barley, beans (such as pinto or navy), carrots, chili pepper, eggplant, garlic, grapefruit, lecithin (a soybean derived emulsifier), oat bran, olive oil, onions, plantains, seaweed, soybeans, spinach, yams, yogurt, and Vitamin C (found in dark greens, citrus fruit, cherries, guavas).
Omega 3 can be found most abundantly in caviar, fish, walnuts, olive oil, flaxseed and winter squash.
The best foods to reduce high blood pressure are: Potassium rich foods such as beans, parsley, pistachios, almonds and sesame seeds; Calcium rich foods such as sesame seeds, kelp, cheese, sardines, salmon, and chickpeas; and decrease foods with sugar.
Have a Happy and Health Heart!
UPDATE: There are now more effective ways to monitor heart health. These 10 risk factors are the best indicators of cardiovascular/stroke risk.
1. Cardiac Arrythmias
2. Triglycerides (cholesterol is not as important as once believed.
3. Homocysteine
4. Insulin
5. Cortisol
6. Estrogen
7. Low testosterone (in men)
8. High testosterone (in women)
9. Lipid peroxide
10. CRP (C-reactive protein)
Reference: http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/1071.cfm
Positively Green - Tea that is!
We have heard about the benefits of Green Tea, but now there is evidence that it may protect against Alzheimer's as well. Alzheimer's is a disease that affects 13 million people throughout the world. It is characterized by plaques forming in the brain that disrupt the signal between nerve cells so they can no longer function together or communicate well. These plaques are made up of amyloid fibrils, a toxic protein found in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. “Now, a German team says the tea antioxidant, called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), has potent anti-plaque ability.”
EGCG seems to attack misfolded proteins and convert them into a molecule that is less toxic, then the immune system can destroy these proteins and reduce the plaque. It is not known if there are any side effects to the EGCG and one challenge encountered by the research was poor absorption of the EGCG. Another challenge is that EGCG is not available for patenting so the pharmaceutical companies may not want to spend the money necessary to begin clinical trials.
The benefits of Green Tea do seem to be the antioxidants (polyphenols) and these compounds are also found in red wine and yellow curry. Research isn’t far enough along to determine a recommended amount and doctors believe it may be between 2 and 10 cups daily. Unfortunately, at the higher end, the quantity of other flavinoids present in Green Tea would counteract the effects of the EGCG. Researchers suggest that purifying the EGCG and providing it in supplement form should be tested clinically.
Until the research is completed, it is unknown what doseage is needed daily, but there is enough evidence that Green Tea is good for many ailments, and it makes a great addition to curry chicken.
(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050928234820.htm)
For more information on the research about Alzheimer’s and Green Tea check out these websites:
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Green-tea-s-Alzheimer-protection-gets-more-support
It depends completely on your insurance. Mine doesn't cover massage, but some will if it is part of treatment at a chiropractor's office with interdisciplinary care. So as long as the doc puts it in the treatment plan it is covered. It has to be used for a specific problem, such as back pain.
Also, if you have a car accident, in Florida the insurance does cover massage, you just need a prescription from a MD, DO, or DC. What is covered depends on the coverage you purchased, if you have 10/30/10 the insurance will pay 80% of customary and usual charges. If you purchased more, it may cover more.
Look at your insurance book, or website. More and more insurances are covering it as an adjunct to chiropractic care and physical therapy