Though some may claim they hold the key to eternal youth, when it comes to getting older, there’s really no magic pill. That being said, there are some things you can do to help slow down the process. SLOW AGING WITH THESE 5 TIPS #1– Stay Hydrated! The human body can go for weeks without food, but only about 3 days without water. Are you drinking enough? A good general guideline for water consumption is 8 – 10 glasses per day. And when we say water, we mean water—not soda or coffee. Water flushes toxins from the body and helps keep the skin hydrated, keeping cells happy and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. #2 – Eat Right and Take Your Vitamins! Eat a diet rich in good fats, moderate in protein and light in carbohydrates, and avoid sugar as much as possible. Why? Sugar causes inflammation, which breaks down collagen and elastin causing wrinkles and sagging skin. What’s more, sugar has been linked to numerous illnesses and diseases. Certain supplements can help slow down the aging process. Click here to learn about the 7 vitamins that can help! #3 – Exercise Regularly! Regular exercise produces long-term health benefits and in some cases, Read more…
5 Ways to Reduce Menopause Symptoms Naturally!
From hot flashes to mood swings, most women experience a range of symptoms when going through menopause. Luckily, there are natural ways to reduce menopause symptoms – and chiropractic care is one of them What is Menopause? By definition menopause is one year without a menstrual period. Most North American women will experience menopause at around the age of 50. During this time, the ovaries begin to limit estrogen production, forcing the adrenal glands to take over. Those with balanced hormones will likely go through menopause with ease. However, those with hormonal imbalances are likely to experience symptoms like: • Irregular periods • Hot flashes • Night sweats • Problems sleeping • Mood changes • Weight gain and slowed metabolism • Thinning of hair and dry skin As we have said time and time again, symptoms are your body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong. A hormone imbalance is often the cause of issues during menopause. Many women turn to estrogen replacement therapy but this has many risks including: breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. What can you do if you suffer from menopause symptoms? 5 Ways to Reduce Annoying Menopause Symptoms Naturally! 1. Take a Supplement! Read more…
Can Chiropractic Help Fertility Issues?
In 1984, the estimated number of Canadian couples struggling with fertility problems was 5.4%. In 1992, the number rose to 8.5%. Today, 11.5% to 15.7% of Canadian couples struggle with infertility. When you break that down that’s one in every six couples, which means you or someone you know has probably struggled with infertility. How can chiropractic help with fertility issues? Keep reading. What is Infertility? The general definition of infertility is being unable to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse if a woman is under age 35, or 6 months if a woman is 35 or older. Infertility can also refer to the biological inability of an individual to contribute to conception, or to a female who cannot carry a pregnancy to full term. What Causes Infertility? From the growing number of women waiting to have children later in life, to the rising rate of obesity, to declining sperm counts in men –there are many reasons fertility issues are on the rise. Perhaps one of the most preeminent issues is the use of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in our pharmaceuticals, household chemicals and foods. Research shows that EDCs not only impact fertility, but also contribute to cancer, diabetes Read more…
Do you suffer from the A-B-C-Ds? Abdominal Pain Bloating Constipation Diarrhea If so, you might be one of the 30% of Canadians suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (also known as IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine (colon). It can begin in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and can resolve unexpectedly for periods throughout an individual’s lifespan, recurring at any age. Most people can control their IBS symptoms by managing their diet, lifestyle and stress levels. However, those with more severe symptoms may require medication and counselling. What Triggers IBS? Your intestinal walls are lined with layers of muscle that contract and relax in a rhythm as they move food from your stomach to your rectum. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, contractions may be stronger and last longer than normal, causing gas, bloating and diarrhea. Or they may be weaker, slowing food contractions slowing food passage and leading to hard, dry stools. It’s not known exactly what causes this to occur, but there are notable IBS triggers. Triggers vary from person to person. The Mayo Clinic lists these four common triggers on their website: Dietary Choices. Food allergies and intolerances can trigger IBS Read more…
7 Ways to Support Healthy Liver Function
The liver is a large, meaty organ that is located on the right side of the body, just above the stomach. Weighing approximately 3 lbs., it is the largest organ in your body. It is also one of the most important organs—acting as your body’s personal toxic waste plant. The Liver’s Role Your liver chemically breaks down anything that you consume. It is your liver’s job to distinguish between the nutrients you need to absorb (like vitamins and minerals), and the dangerous or unnecessary substances that must be filtered out of your bloodstream (like drugs or alcohol). Unfortunately, maintaining the health of your liver is easier said than done. Pollution, processed foods, medication and alcohol consumption; all clog and overwhelm the liver. Making it difficult for it to process the nutrients and fats your body needs. This causes a buildup of toxins in the body, which drastically affects your overall health and wellbeing. Symptoms of Liver Toxicity An example of some of the symptoms of liver toxicity include: • Acne • Dry, brittle hair • Nightmares • Difficulty losing weight • Insomnia • Exhaustion • Flu-like feelings • Difficulty thinking or focusing • Pain under right rib • Blood sugar Read more…
The Difference Between Heartburn and Acid Reflux
“You know you’re getting older, when the fire in your belly is actually acid reflux.” Almost everyone has experienced heartburn at some point in their life. In fact, it’s reported that nearly 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month. Do you suffer from frequent heartburn? If yes, keep reading. What’s the Difference Between Heartburn and Acid Reflux? Many people use the terms acid reflux, heartburn and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) interchangeably, despite them being different things. To clear things up: Heartburn is a sensation of tightness, pain or discomfort in the middle of the chest that can — but doesn’t always — follow an occurrence of acid reflux. It has nothing to do with the heart, and everything to do with the digestion system. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid regurgitates up into the esophagus. This happens due to an issue with the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The LES is the of muscle at the entrance of the stomach valve. Its job is to open and close as food passes through it. If it doesn’t close all the way, or if it opens too often stomach acid can make its way into the esophagus which is what we call Read more…
With Canada’s 150th just around the corner I thought I’d pay tribute to one of my all-time favourite Canadians: Dr. Daniel David (DD) Palmer. Why is Dr. Palmer one of my favourites? He discovered the chiropractic profession! A Little Chiropractic History On September 18th 1895, DD Palmer delivered the first chiropractic adjustment to a man named Harvey Lillard. Harvey was a deaf janitor working in the same building as Palmer. He had lost his hearing years earlier after feeling a pop in his upper back. Palmer examined Harvey and found a misalignment in his spine. He decided to manipulate the misalignment, which ended up restoring Harvey’s hearing. Chiropractic was born! While Palmer quickly realized that chiropractic wasn’t a cure for deafness, he did discover that adjustments could relieve many of his patients’ pains and other symptoms. Symptoms like sciatica, migraines, headaches, and stomach complaints. Palmer continued to develop chiropractic and in 1897 established the Palmer School of Cure, now known as the Palmer College of Chiropractic. With his research underway, people became interested in Palmer’s new science and healing art. Most interested in chiropractic was DD’s son, Bartlett Joshua (BJ). BJ carried on his Father’s legacy and is often given credit for growing and Read more…
5 Summer Sports That Can Cause Back Pain
Summer is officially here meaning Summer sports are in season. This week’s blog discusses five sports that are known to cause back pain, so that you can protect your spine when participating in your summertime activities! 1. Football All contact sports are rough on the body, but football is especially rough. Even as a spectator, my body starts to hurt after seeing someone take a big hit. One common back injury football players are plagued with is called a stinger “a sports related injury to the nerves around the neck or shoulders.” 2. Running Running is a well-known perpetrator of back pain. Its repetitive and high impact nature will often lead to, or worsen back injuries. Why is this? Your spinal discs are your body’s shock absorbers. Similar to the shocks on a bike or car, they are susceptible to wear and tear especially, if used often and for long durations. One common type of back pain runners experience is sciatica — a shooting pain that radiates from the back into the legs. Those experiencing back pain should consult a health care professional before running to ensure the action will not aggravate the problem. 3. Golf Though golf is one Read more…
Two Natural Ways to Relieve Foot Pain
Approximately 75% of Canadians will experience some form of foot problem during their lifetime. Are you one of the 75% of people suffering? This week’s blog addresses two natural ways to relieve foot pain. Common Causes of Foot Pain Your feet are a complex system of 52 bones, 66 joints, 214 ligaments and 38 tendons and muscles. Even the smallest imbalance in your feet can cause pain. Fortunately, there are solutions but before we get into those let’s chat about some of the most common causes of foot pain. 1) Plantar Fasciitis Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It occurs when the plantar fascia attaches to the heel bone. The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that spans the sole of the foot and provides shock absorption while walking. Those with plantar fasciitis will usually exp erience pain in the morning, when they first step out of bed. The pain will usually improve over the day, with only a dull pain persisting. 2) Metatarsalgia Metatarsalgia results in a sharp pain in ball the foot, which is given its shape by the rounded ends of the metatarsal bones. The pain can feel like Read more…
5 Things You Can Do to Relieve Shoulder Pain
Looking to relieve shoulder pain? Keep reading… The shoulder is a complex joint that is located at the intersection of the humerus (upper arm), clavicle (collarbone), and scapula (shoulder blade). These 3 bones are held in place by a network of muscles, tendons and ligaments. Despite its large range of motion, the shoulder is not very stable, which puts it at an increased risk for injury. In fact, shoulder injuries are so common that 1 in 10 people experience shoulder pain in their lifetime. What Causes Shoulder Pain? It could be as simple as a slip or fall, an injury while playing sports or plain old overuse. The pain may be caused by: • A fractured bone • An injury to tissues around your joint, like a ligament (bone connector), tendon (muscle-bone connector), or muscle • Damage to the cartilage cushion inside the joint Whatever the cause, shoulder pain is just that – a pain. Since shoulder pain can make life miserable, people often overdo it with pain medication. Though medication may temporarily mask pain, one must keep in mind that it does nothing to resolve the cause of the pain. Without addressing the cause – the pain will almost always come back. So, Read more…