Health, Massage, Wellness

Benefits of Exercise for Osteoporosis

2009-11-23T12:22:00.001-08:00

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

Why can't I drink Energy drinks instead of water?

2009-11-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

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

Heart Healthy

2009-11-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

Heart Health

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!

Positively Green - Tea that is!

2009-11-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

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.

References: (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/30/AR2008053001886.html)
(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

http://www.truehealth.org/ahealt15.html

http://www.cupofgreentea.com/green-tea-alzheimers.htm

2009-11-11T12:56:00.001-08:00

Can you get insurance to pay for massage?
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

Do You Believe You Were Meant To Live With The Pain That You Currently Have?

2009-05-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

Do You Believe You Were Meant To Live With The Pain That You Currently Have?

Many people suffer needlessly with pain that can be alleviated.
If you or someone you know is suffering from an injury that is muscle related, you'll be excited to learn that Medical Massage Therapy can quickly and sometimes permanently relieve pain.

Medical Massage Therapy is a powerful tool to speed injury recovery and eradicate pain. There are many types of Medical Massage Therapy such as Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, Manual Lymph(atic) Drainage, and others. The purpose is to get you out of pain as quickly as possible at the lowest cost possible. Some people believe that Massage Therapy is expensive, but the average cost for Low Back Pain treatment by an MD is $23916.00, often without permanent relief. Massage Therapy is typically $55-$80/hour and can result in long term relief.

Today I would like to talk about Neuromuscular Therapy and Trigger Point Therapy. These two terms are used interchangeably, although Trigger Point is actually a subset of Neuromuscular Therapy. Trigger Points are "knots" in the muscle that refer pain to other areas such as neck pain that gives the patient a headache. These "knots" are accumulations of waste and tightness around the muscle fiber and Dr. Janet Travell mapped and explained the most common patterns for Trigger Point referred pain.

Trigger points can exist in two states, either active or latent. Active trigger points are those which cause discomfort. Latent trigger points wait silently in the muscle for a future stress to activate them. Aches and pains which began in the past become more frequent and severe in intensity as we age. It is common to attribute this discomfort to arthritis instead of our tight muscles which harbor trigger points.

To eliminate these points, direct constant pressure is applied to the Trigger Point until the nerve and muscle fiber relax. As the Trigger Point is released, the blood flow is improved and endorphins are released resulting in alleviation of pain and reduced recovery time.
The patient needs to participate in this therapy by keeping the therapist informed about discomfort level and intensity of pain so the therapist can accurately locate and release these "knots."
One treatment is not usually sufficient for chronic Trigger Points and the patient may need several sessions. It is also suggested to stretch the muscles treated to maintain progress and monitor intake of water and vitamins so Trigger Points do not reform.

http://spas.about.com/cs/massagetherapy/l/aa081300.htm
http://riverviewchiropractic.net/topics/riseincost.htm

Weight loss pills

2008-08-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

Everywhere you look there are new pills to help lose weight, now there's even one that is approved by the FDA.
These pills are a waste of money and can be dangerous. If you must take a pill, you should be 0n a program with a doctor so your side effects can be monitored.
But, you really don't need a pill, what you need is to take the money you would waste on these pills and buy some weights or a gym membership.
And then maybe find a friend to work out with so you have some accountability. When you are unmotivated to workout, she will motivate you and vice versa.
And reward yourself when you hit milestones. Maybe make a goal to lose 10 pounds, and when you accomplish this, give yourself a day at the spa.
The next most important thing is buying good food and keeping it handy at the house. Get rid of those temptations and replace them with apples, broccoli, bananas, salads, cantelope, any fruits and vegetables that you like. Only allow yourself to splurge when eating out once a week, don't keep it in the house!
I already wrote about getting wheat out of your diet and you will find that if you will eliminate wheat first, the rest of this challenge will be easier and healthier. www.paleodiet.com

Dieting Trick that works

2008-07-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

Quick boost for healthy eating
There are so many books on dieting and everyone has a plan or a pill. The bottom line is that it takes eating right and exercise to lose those extra calories that are stored in the body. But, I found a book that talks about a trick to boost healthy eating, a trick in the sense that it takes a big problem and breaks it into smaller, more manageable steps. The book is "The No-Grain Diet" and it is not for weight loss, but for getting healthy.It explains in great detail how the grains and sugars we eat train the body into expecting them, almost like an addiction. But, if you can stop eating them cold turkey for ONLY 72 hours, you will lose your cravings! I tried it and it worked. After 3 days I could look at chocolate cake and TAKE it or LEAVE it. It was awesome. The cravings for cake seem to come back a little at "that time of the month", but I can do without grain most of the time. And if I fall off the wagon and eat a bunch of cakes and cookies, I can do the 72 hour "cleanse" again and VOILA, they don't tempt me anymore. So, here is the recipe - it's easy to understand, difficult to be faithful to, but you only have to do it for 3 days: Fruits, vegetables, meat, nuts, fish. No sugar, wheat, processed food (because they usually have wheat or gluten), no fruit juice (corn syrup and fructose are sugar), no cookies, cakes, pudding, bread, pasta, rice, oatmeal, rye, barley, etc. After the 3 days, you can eat rice, oatmeal and some small amounts of real cane sugar or stevia, but the main point is that after this point, it won't be as difficult because you won't have to fight the cravings! And don't worry about fat or calories for now, this is one step at a time. For more info, I read the book "The No-Grain Diet" and the "recipe" is explained fully by Dr. Joseph Mercola. Also helpful is the website: http://www.paleodiet.com/

Lose 20 pounds in one month?

2008-07-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

Somebody asked me about losing 20 pounds in 1 month. While this would be nice, it is very bad for your health; and probably bad for your mind too. This is an unrealistic goal and sets you up for failure from the beginning. Did you watch "The Biggest Loser", the reality show where obese people were trying to lose weight? They worked out until they dropped and dieted with professional nutritionists and personal trainers. The average per week loss was probably around 5 pounds - 20 pounds in one month. But these people had doctors monitoring them, personal trainers helping them work out for hours and nutritionists helping them with meals. Plus, most of them had over 100 pounds to lose. This kind of weight loss is NOT healthy without close professional supervision. The metabolism drops and the chances of hurting yourself is great. Once the metabolism drops, you have to work out harder and longer to lose the same amount of weight, rather, if you keep your metabolism high, your muscles burn calories even when you are not working out, and as you DO work out, the muscles get bigger and burn even MORE calories.

It is much wiser if you are going to try to lose weight yourself to try for 5 pounds a month. This is not dangerous to your physical health as well as not unrealistic for your mental health. Set yourself small goals and when you reach them, reward yourself. And if you fall off the bandwagon, just get back on. Remember "losers" never quit. They just try again.

Benefits of Massage

2008-07-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

Massage received on a regular basis can:
Reduce stress-Encourage relaxation-Reduce blood pressure-Reduce pain and swelling-Increase blood flow-Lower heart rate-Create a sense of wellbeing-Improve posture-Improve flexibility and range of motion-Improves rehab after surgery-Strengthen the immune system-Improve sleep patterns-Increase beta waves which improves mental alertness

Massage treatments can be beneficial for:AnxietyPain (including labor pain)-HeadachesBackaches-Muscle strain/sprain-Edema (Lymphedema)-Infant growth (especially in preemies)-Children with diabetes-WhiplashSciaticaFrozen shoulder-the Immune system-Cancer treatment-Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-Fibromyalgia-Chronic Fatigue syndrome-Constipation-Neck pain-TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction)-Thoracic Outlet Syndrome-Torticollis-Osteoarthritis-Post surgery