With the holidays fast approaching, we can tend to think that our choices for positive health won't affect us. But they do and they will. Everyday of this coming month, lets ask ourselves if the choices we are making for our health will take us toward or away from health. We don't want to be getting sick at the "most wonderful time of the year". Eat well, drink water, get your sleep, move your body, pass on 50% of the sweets you'd like to take :)

Enjoy a festive season filled with good health and holiday blessings!

Healthcare reform doesn't start in Washington, it starts in the kitchen. If you don't already, begin the process of knowing what is in your food, what real food actually is, what additives are in your food, what side effects are associated with those additives. As we become more aware and educated about what goes into our bodies, we can then make CHOICES for what goes into our bodies rather than being 'fed' a chemical or food product not of our choosing. Do we really need modified food starch (what exactly is that?) and who knows what exactly is in canola oil?

Often we are asked what is the best exercise for people to do. There are so many factors, including, are you self-motivated, do you already have some injuries or limiting conditions, can you actually do that exercise (swimming is not the best exercise for you if you can't swim or are allergic to chlorine), etc. The short answer is: The exercise that you WILL DO consistantly. Just. Get. Moving. Daily. And enjoy yourself.

Dehydration is not simply lack of water, it also includes lack of proper balance of electrolytes in the body. In some cases if a headache is already present, drinking more water may cause more dehydration, as it can dilute the already low electrolyte levels. If you have chronic headaches, notice if you are drinking enough water throughout the day. And it takes much more water to compensate for diuretic drinks (coffee, tea) than one would imagine. 8 oz of coffee needs aproximately 32 oz (depending on the person) to replace the fluid loss caused by 8 oz of coffee.

We daily see patients that need a boost in their nutrition and we advise them of such. Then we get the inevitable question, "Doc, I eat a lot of vegetables. Why am I ______(fill in the nutrient(s)of choice here, magnesium, calcium, etc) deficient? Can't I just eat some more broccoli?" And the response is that our soils are being depleted, so the food is less nutrient dense, and genetically modified (GM) foods are much more prevelent in the grocery store than any of us imagine.  

This article released by the American Physical Therapy Association is quite accurate and informational. Parents should be vigilent about proper backpack ergonomics for their children. Improper biomechanics predispose a child to a lifetime of complaints and chronic problems, including, but not limited to chronic subluxations, chronic back, neck and/or shoulder pain, numbness and tingling of extremities in severe cases. If your child is experiencing any such conditions, assess their backpack situation, and have them checked by a chiropractor.

This is a great article. It covers all the cautions we tell patients about high-heel wearing. My recommendation if you are going to wear heels, only once a week or if you want to wear them more frequently, get your feet and spine adjusted weekly. I get adjusted after each heel wearing. 

http://www.lhj.com/health/news/killer-heels/?page=5