With Canadian Thanksgiving coming up this weekend, I thought I’d share some thoughts on the topic of gratitude. Practicing daily gratitude holds many benefits. From lower our stress levels to increase our happiness. Studies continue to show the tremendous power of giving thanks! Gratitude can be as simple as smiling or saying thank you. It can also be a more intentional practice, like taking time to jot down a few things that you are grateful for each day or practicing gratitude through daily meditation. Instead of giving thanks just one time a year, why not do it throughout? Here are 5 tips that I believe can help foster an attitude of gratitude all year long! Tip #1 – Use Gratitude to change your state of mind. When something isn’t going your way or someone upsets you, try to list 3 to 5 things that you are grateful for in that moment. It could be something as simple your kids being ready on time or a co-worker bringing you a cup of coffee. Focusing on a few good things will help put whatever annoyances or hardships you are facing into perspective. The best part – when you start thinking this way, Read more…
Back To School—Pack-it-Right and Wear-it-Light Strategies for a Healthy Spine and Mind This School Year
Who knew that the ubiquitous school backpack could actually create health issues for children and teenagers? Before you buy that cute and colourful backpack for your six-year-old heading off to school for the first time, consider how it can affect their spine. Student back injuries are pretty widespread. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that 96% of pupils monitored haul far too much weight for their back. Fast forward a few years, and there may have a number of long-term issues that will affect the child with everything from minor everyday movements to poor posture, headaches, chronic neck arm and back pain, and a host of other problems. The back should be viewed as any other kind of load-bearing equipment. Similar to trucks, trains, and ships, if loads are too heavy or unstable, the entire operation is at risk! We also have to remember that the spine covers and protects the nervous system which controls every cell, tissue, and organs in the body. Bad posture will therefore not only have an impact on the spine but also on nervous system function. This is why it is important to have children’s spine checked for misalignments by a chiropractor to Read more…
Can You Prevent Arthritis? Is it truly possible to prevent arthritis? The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is also known as degenerative joint disease. It is experienced by 80% of people over 50 years of age and can begin in the teenage years. It brings with it pain, deformity and the tendency to limit joint movement throughout the body. Unfortunately, it usually does not announce its arrival. Rather, it comes on subtly, often with morning joint stiffness appearing as the initial symptom. From there, it progresses, becoming increasingly painful, especially with activity. For many people, the assumption is that it is impossible to prevent arthritis of this kind. They feel that osteoarthritis is just a normal part of aging and that it goes hand in hand with normal “wear and tear” on the body. They also believe that nothing can be done about it. Improve Your Understanding to Prevent Arthritis Understanding how osteoarthritis is caused, can help provide solutions in how to prevent it. Osteoarthritis is caused by an improper function (or motion) of the involved joints. When joints begin to move improperly, 90% of the time it causes no sensation. As a result, joint degeneration occurs, Read more…
Are you a weekend or Summer warrior? You know…someone who spends their weekdays behind a desk and their weekends running marathons, gardening for hours on end, building a deck or cycling across the city. While you may think that you can get away with saving your physical activity for the weekend, think again! In Canada, 35% of injuries occur during participation in some type of sport or exercise and studies show that weekend warriors are actually at a greater risk of developing an injury. Especially, warriors who are over the age of 30 and are not making time to exercise during the week. Weekend and summer warriors have a tendency of doing too much, too fast and that’s what puts them at extra risk for injuries like muscle sprains and chronic tendonitis. To avoid injury, it’s best to break your physical activity into smaller, more frequent sessions. Yes, this also goes for activities like gardening, building a deck or even house cleaning! Listen to your body. If certain activities cause your pain or discomfort like neck pain, back pain or joint pain, consider hiring someone to help get the job done. When it comes to exercise, consider a workout Read more…
Benefits of Chiropractic Care and How It Can Help Support Your Health
WHY SHOULD YOU SEE A CHIROPRACTOR? AFTER EXPERIENCING ACCIDENTS OR TRAUMA A car accident or simple fall can cause severe stress on one’s neuro-musculoskeletal system, this can affect movement and function. A fall, even as a young child, can cause or contribute to future health problems. Thankfully, seeing a chiropractor can help with such injuries. It is possible to not only find relief but also prevent other health issues that may arise later on in life. IF YOU ARE COMPETING IN SPORTS Even though sports benefit the body by giving it exercise, these activities can also put stress on our spines. The vast majority of elite teams and athletes worldwide would not dream of competing without first experiencing chiropractic adjustments. Research shows that chiropractic care increases athletic performance by 17%! Are you an athlete who has been putting up with aches, pains or other injuries? If you see a chiropractor, you could experience an alleviation of your symptoms, and a boost to your competitive edge. TO EASE PREGNANCY Pregnancy is a time of hormonal changes that can “loosen” ligaments, when the body is preparing for birth. This, coupled with added weight, can put increased stress on the neuro-musculoskeletalal system. Women Read more…
Tips for Having a Healthy Holiday Season!
The holidays are meant to be a time of great joy and cheer, but sometimes they can be downright stressful. Especially, when we aren’t planning enough time for ourselves. That’s why I wrote this week’s blog. While the holiday season will always be a little hectic, not sticking to your healthy habits can result in you feeling run down (or even worse…sick!) over the holidays. Here are a few tips to keep you working out and eating right this holiday! Tips for Working Out During the Holiday • Pencil it In. You are less likely to skip your workout if you make a point to pencil it into your calendar. Look over your plans for the holiday and figure out when and where a workout could fit in. • Keep it Short. You don’t have to run a marathon. Schedule a quick HIIT circuit or a walk with the family to keep your body moving. • Get the Family Involved. After all, there’s nothing like skating or tobogganing to get you in the holiday spirit. Tips of Eating Healthy During the Holidays • Try Your Best. Let’s face it, it’s hard to eat clean during the holidays. If you do happen to fall Read more…
Pregnant? Experiencing Back Pain? Give this a Read!
5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SLOW AGING
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…
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…
