What is the biggest benefit from Chiropractic?

Instead of quoting an article or a study about the biggest benefits of regular Chiropractic care, this week we'd like to ask YOU!

Leave us a comment, send us a direct message, or email the office securely to let us know what YOUR biggest benefit has been.

We're updating our practice website soon, and we'd like to feature the most important benefits from our most important source,

our valued patients.

We truly appreciate your business and value your trust in us to assist you on your journey to health and wellness!

Natural Choices for Pain Relief

If you have ever taken ibuprofen or aspirin for a sprain or a headache, then you have taken an NSAID-a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.While they are effective, NSAIDs pose some risks, including gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, and even heart attack. If you would rather rely on natural alternatives for routine aches and pains, there are options.

Turmeric is being studied as a powerful ally in the fight against pain. The active ingredient, curcumin-which gives curry its characteristic yellow hue-is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. However, it can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with blood thinners. Always tell your health care provider and your pharmacist about all supplements you are taking.

Ginger has been a component of Chinese medicine for centuries and is commonly used today as an anti-nausea agent. It also contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds, called gingerols, that can block pain with less risk of digestive distress. Use of ginger can also increase the risk of bleeding. Ginger root supplements are available, but it is cheaper and tastier to add ginger to meals when you are cooking.

Capsaicin is the chemical that puts the hot in hot chili peppers, and it has been proven very effective in relieving minor ache and pains associated with arthritis when it is applied to the skin. Talk to your pharmacist or other health care provider about capsaicin ointments.

Source of article: Healthy Living January/February 2012

Flu and Cold Fighters

22 Million School days are lost annually to the common cold, and workplace productivity plummets when coworkers come to work sick and pass the cold or flu around.

Here are some tips to tell whether you have a cold or the flu:

With a COLD, you may sometimes have a low fever (less than 101) but suspect the Flu if your fever is over 102 degrees.

While a COLD will generally come on gradually over a few days and result in a sore throat and mild headache, the FLU generally starts suddenly and your body hurts all over.

A COLD will leave you tired, but you can usually manage your regular daily activities. The FLU results in extreme fatigue, often requiring bedrest.

Fresh fruits, veggies, lean meats and fish will do a body good year round, but certain foods will give your body's infection-defeating abilities an extra boost, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D. a member of the Family Circle health Advisory Board. Try some or all of these:

CARROTS: A diet rich in beta-carotene also found in bell peppers, kale, brocolli, sweet potatoes, and squash protects the lining of the nose, which traps germs before they can infect you.

GREEN TEA: Science backs up what tea drinkers have known for centuries: Going green keeps you healthy. In a study at the University of Florida, people who consumed two cups of green tea daily for three months had 32% fewer colds than those who didn't imbibe. "If you aren't crazy about the flavor, add a splash of 100% fruit juice," suggests Taub-Dix.

NONFAT GREEK YOGURT: This rich and tangy variety has three times more protein (which helps increase the number of immune cells in your body) than regular yogurt. It's also chock-full of immune-boosting live and active cultures.

SALMON: No doubt you've heard this food is a great source of heart-strengthening omega-3 fatty acids, but one serving also contains up to 1,000 IU of Vitamin D; a University of Colorado, Denver study found that upping your intake of the vitamin staves off colds.

GARLIC: A compound called allicin fights against bacterial, viral and fungal infections, says Taub-Dix. Plus, in a recent study, people who took a daily garlic supplement had 36% fewer colds over the course of a year than those who were given a placebo.

ARTICLE SOURCE: familycircle.com

How the Body Metabolizes SUGAR

Americans, on average, consume 110 grams of Sugar a day. The USDA recommends 20 max, for women.

Simple table sugar, which is half fructose, half glucose, is metabolized in 4 steps:

1) MOUTH: Sugar mixes with saliva, which contains an enzyme that starts to break it down. Sugar also reacts with bacteria, creating a harmful acid that can erode tooth enamel, leading to cavities.

2) STOMACH: The sugar then travels to the stomach. After about 15 minutes, it moves to the small intestine at intervals. There, it is processed with intestinal amylase, a type of enzyme, and divided into fructose and glucose.

3) BLOOD: The pancreas pumps out insulin to manage the glucose influx. Glucose enters the bloodstream with levels peaking about 30 minutes after you've eaten. Meanwhile, fructose heads to the liver.

4) BRAIN: Insulin moves glucose into cells throughout the body, providing a sugar *rush*. After about two hours,, insulin and blood glucose levels dip, leaving you hungry and lethargic. Extra glucose is partially turned into FAT.

The amount of added sugars in foods and beverages increased 19 percent between 1970 and 2005, according to the USDA.

Be sure to read the labels and try for some balance in your diet. Include protein and some fat with each carb you eat. When fiber rich carbohydrates are paired with protein or fat, they take longer to digest and keep hunger at bay.

Try tracking your sugar intake for a few weeks and see if you feel better with fewer grams....

Happy New Year!