Can Your Purse or Handbag Be Too Heavy?

Many of my female patients will ask me if I think that their purse or handbag is the cause of their neck pain or lower back pain. In many cases, it is not the primary cause, but the type of bag and the weight of the bag can be a contributing factor to discomfort in the spine. Recently, Oprah's magazine interviewed a New York City based chiropractor to ask her opinion on handbags. Some of her answers in the article will intrigue you. So, if you're in the market for a new purse or your current purse is causing you discomfort, you may want to read this!

Chiropractic Featured on the Dr. Oz Show!

Recently on an episode of the Dr. Oz Show, Dr. Oz had a Doctor of Chiropractic appear on the program and perform a spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustment on one of the audience members who had been experiencing some lower back pain. This segment shows how chiropractic care is becoming more main stream. I think it's great that someone of Dr. Oz's notoriety is open to people with back pain getting chiropractic care. Programs like this help to quell some of the fear the public may have with chiropractic and it shows how chiropractic and traditional medicine can work together to help people get out of pain. Check out the adjustment on Dr. Oz's show!

Chiropractic and Ear Infections?

Here is a great news story from a few years back about how chiropractic care can help kids who have chronic ear infections. Take a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwroDrJaCMI

Concussions? Learn About Brain Health!

Concussions have become a major problem in many sports; amatuer to professional; kids to adults. Ice hockey has been one sport where it seems as if someone new has a concussion each week. Hockey is a game of speed and skill , and with the players becoming faster and stronger, collisions on the ice are resulting in more concussions.

Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins is one of the more famous cases of how a concussion can threaten one's season, and even one's career. Chiropractic neurology is a new method of treating athletes with brain injuries. To learn more about brain health, click on the link of the video. Enjoy!

http://bit.ly/tmivDG

Bone Health

Want to make sure you maintain strong and healthy bones? Click on the link to find out what to do to prevent osteopenia and osteoporosis!

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=354093881268835

Top 10 Healthy Energy Foods!

Our bodies main source of energy is food. Energy is what keeps us active and provides our body the power to get all our tasks and activities accomplished. Breakfast is such an important meal because it replenishes our bodies energy after a long night's fast. Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast are able to concentrate better, become more creative and behave better than people who skip the first meal of the day.

I LOVE food. I also love to eat. Always have and I always will. There aren't many foods that I don't enjoy, so I will always have an endless supply of energy. But, certain foods are better than others that will allow your body to work most efficiently. Sure, I love to eat jelly beans, but they are a source of empty calories and are only going to give me a sugar rush before my body crashes. Certain foods make excellent mid day snacks to give you that little boost, all while curbing your cravings and allowing you to feel satisfied. Here are ten foods to eat throughout the day that can boost your energy levels.

1. Apples: Excellent source of fiber; pectin (found in the skin) supports overall wellness.

2. Bananas: Excellent source of fiber; helps reject impurities and provides potassium which helps to maintain normal muscle function and aids the nervous system.

3. Eggplant: High in anti-oxidants which help to fight free radicals (pre-cursors to cancer); Contains carotenoids which help promote wellness.

4. Apricots: loaded with B vitamins that help with mood and well being.

5. Grapefruit: Supports overall health and provides high levels of energy.

6. Yogurt: Full of B-vitamins; probiotics support immune health and a healthy digestive system.

7. Cheese: Contains calcium which is great for bone health and muscle and nerve function.

8. Orange: Complete series of vitamins; Vitamin C is great for immune health.

9. Green Tea: Full of polyphenols, which help to keep the body strong and energized; supports breast health.

10. Tuna: Great source of B-12 (Red blood cell production); Omega 3 fatty acids; also supports lean muscle function and development.

In addition, kidney beans, lentils, sunflower seeds, nuts and other fruits such as blueberries and cherries are great sources of energy that help you keep moving throughout the day.

Walk It Off

It finally feels as if Spring has sprung in my neck of the woods. The temperatures are warming up, the flowers are in bloom and the landscape is turning from brown to green. This is the time of the year that I notice a change in people's moods too. The doldrums of winter have passed and people smile more and you notice a lot more people taking part in outdoor activities.

When Spring rolls around you notice that many people can have allergies to pollen and grasses. It also seems that many people in the country are allergic to exercise as well. I am not sure why that is. There are so many benefits to exercising. Exercise helps to release endorphins in your brain which can make you happier and feel better about life. Exercise can help to give you more energy, lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, burn fat, build muscle, and lower your risk of diabetes to name a few.

People lead very busy lives and we are connected more now than ever before. I feel that people think there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything they need to get done and exercising becomes a non-priority. It essentially becomes the bottom man on the totem pole. But, what people don't realize is that exercise doesn't have to take a lot of time. My workouts at the gym and my daily jogs are roughly 45 minutes long. All in all, on a day that I exercise I spend a little over an hour of my time. And that 70-75 minutes includes getting ready, working out, showering, etc.

The Mayo Clinic has recently come out with some interesting facts. When we exercise we burn oxygen, which causes our bodies to burn stored fat. But the interesting tidbit from the Mayo Clinic is that walking 4 miles a day, 4 times a week, can burn up to 1600 calories a week. If an individual chooses not to change their diet, and walks that distance for a period of six months, they will lose about 12 pounds. If you walk that distance for one year, you can lose up to 24 pounds!!! Take a step back for a second to process that.....Walking (not running, but walking) 4 miles a day, only 4 days a week for a year, without making any changes to your diet, will allow you to lose up to 24 pounds. That is only exercising 4 hours a week!

People are always looking for a quick fix to lose weight. By spending 1 hour a day, 4 days a week, you can lose the weight you have been looking to lose, plus get all the added benefits that exercise has to offer. On top of that, you get to spend time outside in the fresh air, enjoying nature, all while you become healthier! Who could ask for more?