Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or “IBS” for short – This seems to have been a “buzzword” for quite some time now. I remember first hearing it and thinking to myself, “sounds like an unknown that needs a label!” Well, I think most people have heard this term now, but the following are the symptoms associated with IBS:
Bloating
Gas
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Abdominal Pain or Discomfort
This is really an umbrella term, with many different conditions and diagnoses associated with it. The most common are:
Lactose Intolerance
Fructose Malabsorption
Coeliac (Celiac) Disease
Having one or more of the above conditions can be a roadblock to your health and wellness, if not addressed properly.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is not only a well known condition but very common. It is where a person doesn’t have appropriate levels of lactase, the enzyme required for the breakdown of lactose (milk sugar). For people with lactose intolerance, eating lactose can cause symptoms of bloating, stomach cramps, loose stools, diarrhoea, nausea and flatulence. Avoiding dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and ice cream will decrease the amount of lactose in the diet and therefore decrease the symptoms.
Fructose Malabsorption
Lesser known, but making more headlines lately is Fructose Malabsorption. It is similar to lactose intolerance but with Fructose Malabsorption, a person has impaired ability to absorb fructose, (fruit sugar). This results in fructose passing through the intestines and being fermented by bacteria, causing both gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal bloating/cramps, constipation, loose stools, diarrhoea or flatulence) and increased proliferation of certain intestinal bacteria and yeast which metabolise fructose.
The most common fruits with high fructose that should be avoided are: apples, pears, guavas, mangoes, watermelon, lychees, pawpaw.
Note, Fructose Malabsorption is not to be confused with Fructose Intolerance. Fructose Intolerance is a hereditary condition in which there are deficient liver enzymes to break fructose up. In patients with Fructose Malabsorption, the small intestine fails to absorb fructose properly. This results in excess hydrogen caused by an overgrowth of otherwise normal intestinal bacteria.
Coeliac Disease
Coeliac Disease is from an intolerance to gluten. It is a disease of malabsorption (nutrients not absorbed properly) as well as having an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. Coeliac Disease can be hereditary. The small intestine is unable to absorb nutrients from food. Diagnosis can be difficult because of the similarity of other symptoms, but blood tests are used to help in the diagnosis.
With all of these, Lactose Intolerance, Fructose Malabsorption and Coeliac Disease, you may start by being your own detective and making a food diary; noting which foods trigger which symptoms can be very helpful. This can help strengthen the practitioner-patient relationship.
Let me encourage you if you have any of these symptoms to start listening to your body and taking note. Then seek a health practitioner to assist in the proper diagnosis and management to get you on the path of health and wellness.
Chiropractic treatment has helped in many cases to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms, allowing patients to lead more active lives; however chiropractic cannot cure these diseases.
Cherry season is just about over here in Perth, Western Australia. I did manage to find some nice ones at the local fruit and vegetable shop just the other day.
I did an experiment at the start of cherry season here which was the beginning of summer. One of my best friends was going to a market and offered to pick up a box of fresh cherries. They came in a 5 kilogram box which equals 11 lb and 0.36 oz. This box had some of the tastiest cherries I have ever had. I thought I would get tired of them but it was actually the opposite. I realised I would be missing all the health benefits on a regular basis if I didn’t include them almost daily. They don’t have to be fresh all the time. Cherries are also available dried, canned, jarred, juiced, and frozen.
Several cherry varieties are produced primarily in Michigan. Michigan is actually my birthplace and where I grew up. Some of the things I miss about Michigan are cherry picking, cherry festivals and cherry pie. I can’t forget Cherries Jubilee – which was one of my favourite desserts.
While writing this post, I was also reflecting and 2 things really stood out:
Erma Bombeck was born in 1927 in Dayton, Ohio. I didn’t realise she was born in the same city as my husband! Even though Erma suffered from a hereditary kidney disease, she developed a comical approach to life. Erma wrote about being a mother, wife, journalist, and a woman. She published more than four thousand syndicated columns, wrote 15 best-selling books, and became one of the world’s most beloved humourists. Erma Bombeck passed away in 1996. Her spirit, however, lives on.
Secondly, the movie, “Witches of Eastwick”. If you’ve seen the movie, you know what I’m referring to.
“Have another cherry…..” If you haven’t seen the movie, here’s a clip of the memorable scene: (Caution – sense of humour needed!)
In Australia, the cherries seem to be very popular at Christmas time because it is summer here in December. I have no complaints, as they are one of my absolute favourites.
Cherries have several important health benefits – from helping to ease the pain of arthritis and gout, to reducing risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers, particularly colon. Cherries also contain melatonin, which has been found to help regulate the body’s natural sleep patterns, aid with jet lag, prevent memory loss and delay the aging process.
Cherries are heart healthy. Studies have found that a cherry-enriched diet can help in loss of weight, body fat (especially the important “belly” fat), inflammation and cholesterol. All of the above contribute to risk of heart disease.
While there’s no established guideline yet on how many cherries it takes to reap the benefits, experts suggest that 1-2 servings of cherries daily can help provide some of the health benefits identified in the research. Single serving size examples include:
• 1/2 cup dried
• 1 cup fresh or frozen
• 1 cup juice
• 1 ounce (or 2 Tbsp) juice concentrate
Tart cherries offer far more benefits than sweet cherries. Tart cherries are very rich sources of anthocyanins whereas sweet cherries have lower amounts. In general, the darker the cherry color, the higher the anthocyanin content. The skin of the cherries holds most of the essential antioxidants vital to their health benefits.
Studies show that tart cherries, enjoyed as either dried, frozen cherries or cherry juice, have among the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants, when compared to other fruits. They also contain other important nutrients such as beta carotene, Vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fibre and folate.
In one study, women who ate two servings of Bing cherries daily experienced decreased markers of inflammation – due to the synergistic effect of all the natural compounds found in cherries. It has also been demonstrated that the anthocyanins in tart cherries may help prevent muscle pain related to intensive exercise. Cherry juice in the daily diet reported decreased symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage. There was also reports of lowered serum urate levels. Other benefits extend to patients with autoimmune neurodegenerative and connective tissue diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.
I had a workshop to attend over in Melbourne on the first weekend of February. I lived in Melbourne from 1991-1996, so there were lots of things I wanted to do and see and spend extra time for while we were travelling over there. We went for a week, but I could have easily filled up 2-3 weeks! Oh well, I am grateful for the time we had there. One of the things that is relevant here is the time spent with my friends that are like family; specifically the Italian couple who just celebrated their 78th (hers) and 84th (his) birthdays recently. I love to absorb their wonderful wisdom, mainly around food. They strongly believe that what we eat and how we eat is a major contributor to their good health all these years. They have lived in Australia since their early 20’s when they migrated to a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. They look fantastic for their age, and I believe that reflects the inside. Neither one of them take any medication. A lot of people their age are prescribed so many tablets for different conditions, they get confused what they are all for. The vegetable and herb garden in their backyard is thriving along with their fruit trees. The fresh produce makes up most of their meals, and they buy bread, milk, meat, fish, poultry etc. from their trusted shops over the years. Their lives have always inspired me and tomatoes are a regular part of their diet.
They grow their own tomatoes, a few different varieties and the taste is amazing. Fresh right off the vine either by themselves, or in a salad is great straight away. Then incorporating them into different recipes, hot or cold. Not just pasta or pizza, but even Greek salad or a Lebanese recipe such as tabouli!
We have all seen the various red varieties, but I didn’t realise there are over a thousand different varieties of tomatoes! We had the traditional red ones, but I was introduced to yellow tomatoes for the first time.
Yellow tomatoes are low-acid tomatoes that still retain their unique tomato flavour and texture. The yellow tomato is a deep, bright yellow colour. They look just like the traditional red tomatoes, only yellow. Yellow tomatoes go well in salads and are especially tasty and beautiful in an all-tomato salad or platter that combines both red and yellow varieties.
Actually tomatoes are a fruit–oh yes, it’s a fruit–but in the United States, Australia and other countries, it is treated more like a vegetable. Tomatoes originated in South America. It was once called the Peruvian apple; the French called it the love apple, and the Italians named it the golden apple as the first tomatoes were yellow. The early Spanish explorers sent seeds to Italy and they fell in love with the tomatoes, and the rest is history!
Another reason to eat pizza! Tomatoes are loaded with lycopene, an antioxidant that reduces the risk of prostate, breast, lung and other cancers, and has heart-protective effects. Research shows that the absorption of lycopene is greatest when tomatoes are cooked with olive oil. In one study, a combination of tomato and broccoli was more effective at slowing tumor growth than tomatoes or broccoli alone. How to eat more: simmer chopped tomatoes and broccoli in olive oil, top with kalamata olives and grated Parmesan cheese, or drizzle halved Roma tomatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with pepper and fresh basil torn and not cut with a knife.
A really good tomato is sweet, tender, juicy, and except for the yellow varieties, a deep rich red colour. When you get one of those hard tomatoes that tastes like cardboard, you’ve got one of the hybrids that started coming onto the market in the 1950′s, when the businessmen and scientists got together and produced a tomato that could be shipped from one coast to the other without bruising. Unfortunately, at the same time they also bred out all the flavour. We get so used to the taste of store bought tomatoes, that it isn’t until we have a fresh one from someone’s home grown vine that we realise how flavourful they are.
A great tomato is worth looking for. And the way you handle it at home is almost as important as what you choose in the first place. The most important rules to remember about tomatoes are:
Never refrigerate!
Never Refrigerate!
NEVER REFRIGERATE!
Refrigerating kills the flavour, the nutrients, the texture. It just kills the tomato – period. I must admit, I was guilty of refrigerating them myself. Sure it makes them last longer, but now I keep them out on the kitchen bench, and I buy them more often so that they are fresher more often. They are a part of our diet, daily.
Unless you live in a really cold climate, the best tomatoes you can buy will be at your local fruit and vegetable shop, when tomatoes are in season in your area. That’s true for most produce, but it’s doubly true for tomatoes. Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with a Queensland tomato in Queensland, or a Victorian tomato in Victoria. For the other side of the globe, nothing wrong with a Florida tomato in Florida, or a California tomato in California. The problem isn’t the source–it’s that the tomatoes are picked green, gassed with ethylene to make them turn more or less red, then refrigerated and shipped. Even if the tomatoes are picked ripe, they’re refrigerated before they’re shipped, and that’s the final insult.
Like other tomatoes, local cherry tomatoes, picked ripe, are going to be the best. Look for small ones. When choosing cherry tomatoes, look for a good red color–avoid those that look orange. Also check to see if the stems are still on. If the stems are missing, chances are those tomatoes have been sitting around too long.
Tomatoes are considered “vine ripe” by the industry if they have developed a little “colour break”-that is, a small yellowish or reddish patch of colour on the skin or a starburst of yellow at the blossom end. If the tomato has a colour break or the starburst, you’ll be able to ripen it at home. Don’t ripen tomatoes on the windowsill. Never put them in the sun to ripen. Just put them out on the counter, stem end up, in a relatively cool place – not right next to the stove or the dishwasher. Never, ever refrigerate – not even after the tomato is ripe. If you’ve got too many ripe tomatoes, make a salad or a raw tomato sauce for pasta. Or make a cooked sauce, freeze it, and you’ll have something nice for the winter.
When I was a child, I remember my grandparents having fresh tomatoes growing in their backyard. The taste and smell of a fresh warm tomato picked right off the vine is something that stays with you forever. Those memories came flooding back with my trip to Melbourne and spending time with my friends and their fresh tomatoes.
Cranberries not only taste great alongside turkey, stuffing and other holiday favourites – they are also great for packing a health punch during this festive time of year. While a lot of us consume jellied cranberry sauce every holiday season, many don’t realise that they are receiving health benefits at the same time by eating this powerful little berry. Not only during the hectic holiday season, but year-round as well, this powerful little berry is the perfect solution for contributing to good health.
Cranberries in the Raw
I recently made a beautiful jellied cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving that I found on YouTube.I celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia with my American friends that live here too.During the year, I keep frozen cranberries in the freezer, for a treat or if I just want to make the cranberry sauce before the typical holiday season.Other ways to get health benefits from cranberries are cranberry juice and/or dried cranberries. Dried cranberries are a great snack for in between meals or mixed through a salad for a little tang packed with health benefits.
Cranberries contain significant amounts of antioxidants and other phytonutrients that may help protect against heart disease, cancer and other diseases.Considered a superfood because of the various health benefits, they can help prevent bacteria causing infections, particularly in the bladder and urinary tract.They are a great natural preventative for recurring bladder infections.If you don’t consume cranberries in some form or another regularly, cranberry tablet supplements are available from your local health food shop. What is your favourite way to get your health benefits from cranberries?
If you or someone you know has an unsettled baby, and you don’t know what to do, you may want to investigate taking your baby to a chiropractor.
As your child is being born, natural or Caesarean, the neck and back vertebrae can go out of alignment, causing vertebral subluxation complexes due to the stretching and compressing of the body as it emerges into the world. If your delivery included a prolonged pushing stage, forceps or vacuum extraction, or other form of assisted delivery, the chances of a misalignment are great.
If the misalignments, called vertebral subluxations, are big enough, the functioning of major systems in the body can be compromised. The digestive system may be affected and effective digestion of breastmilk and formula can cause major discomfort in your baby, leading to colic episodes.
What Is Colic?
Infantile colic is the term commonly used to describe an otherwise healthy infant who exhibits persistent, forceful crying for no apparent reason. The crying usually persists for several hours each day and is usually evident at least five days in each week. Parents’ attempts to comfort the infant by holding and rocking the child, and making sure they are clean and fed have little or no effect on the condition. The affected infant will have a tense, rumbling abdomen, usually with knees flexed, tight muscles along the spine and be very gassy. Occasionally the head and neck will be arched backwards.
Many parents are hesitant of taking their small, helpless babies to see a chiropractor. The main reason being the “crunching and cracking” stereotype that chiropractic can have.
In actuality, the adjustments that a chiropractor will do on your baby is basically applying gently pressure with the fingers or with an adjustment instrument called an Activator to areas on the neck and back. You may see your baby totally relax before your eyes as the misalignments are corrected.
As with selecting any health care provider, you need to ask questions first, in order to make an informed decision. Being clear on the objective and the techniques that will be carried out is very important. Ask for referrals from family or friends that you can contact if you are unsure.
Chiropractic care can be very valuable in helping to calm the colic tendencies in a safe, natural environment.
Posture is the position that you hold your body upright against gravity while, sitting, standing or lying down.
Poor posture may result from poor habits that come from things we do every day – activities such as standing for long periods of time, sitting at a computer, driving, and even sleeping. Poor posture can easily become second nature, causing or aggravating back or neck pain which can lead to damaging spinal structures. The good news is that when it is brought to our awareness, we are able to change and better manage the situations causing the poor posture.
The following guidelines suggest several ways to improve posture and ergonomics especially for people who work sitting in an office chair for most of the day.
Be aware of the warning signs caused by poor ergonomics and posture. Back pain may be the result of poor ergonomics and posture if the back pain is worse at certain times of day or week (such as after a long day of sitting in an office chair in front of a computer, but not during the weekends); pain that starts in the neck and moves downwards into the upper back, lower back and extremities; pain that goes away after switching positions while sitting or standing; sudden back pain that is experienced with a new job, a new office chair, or a new car; and/or back pain that comes and goes for months.
Get up and move. As muscles get tired, slouching, slumping, and other poor postures become more likely; this in turn puts extra pressure on the neck and back. In order to maintain a relaxed yet supported posture, change positions frequently. One way is to take a break from sitting in an office chair every half hour for two minutes in order to stretch, stand, or walk.
Keep the body in alignment while sitting in an office chair and while standing. Try to distribute your body weight evenly to the front, back, and sides of the feet while standing. While sitting in an office chair, use the chair’s features. Sit up straight and align the ears, shoulders, and hips in one vertical line. Even a good position for too long will be tiring. Swap from leaning forward with a straight back and alternate with sitting back against the support of the office chair to ease the work of the back muscles. Also be aware of and avoid unbalanced postures such as crossing legs unevenly while sitting, leaning to one side, hunching the shoulders forward or tilting the head.
Use posture-friendly props and ergonomic office chairs when sitting. Ergonomic supportive “props” can help to take the strain and load off of the spine. Office chairs that are ergonomically designed or chairs with an adjustable back support can be used at work. Footrests, portable lumbar back supports, or even a towel or small pillow can be used while sitting in an office chair and while driving. Using handbags or backpacks that are designed to minimize back strain can also influence good posture. Positioning computer screens to your natural eye level position can also help to avoid leaning or straining the neck with the head tilted forward. Excessive use of a laptop can be hazardous, so a laptop raiser could be beneficial.
Increase awareness of posture and ergonomics in everyday settings. This includes making conscious thoughts and connections to your posture not only at work, but at home and during social activities.
Use exercise to help prevent injury and promote good posture. Regular exercise such as walking, swimming, or bicycling will help the body stay aerobically conditioned, while specific strengthening exercises will help the muscles surrounding the back to stay strong. These benefits of exercise promote good posture, which will, in turn, further help to condition muscles and prevent injury. There are also specific exercises that will help maintain good posture. Core strength is essential to develop and maintain to help support the upper body and maintain good posture.
Wear supportive footwear when standing. Avoid regularly wearing high-heeled shoes, which can affect the body’s center of gravity and change the alignment of the entire body, negatively affecting the spine and posture. When standing for long periods of time, placing a rubber mat on the floor can improve comfort.
Remember good posture and ergonomics when in motion. Walking, lifting heavy materials, holding a telephone, and typing are all moving activities that require attention to ergonomics and posture. It is important to maintain good posture even while moving to avoid injury. Back injuries are especially common while twisting and/or lifting and often occur because of awkward movement and control of the upper body weight alone.
Create ergonomic physical environments and workspaces, such as for sitting in an office chair at a computer. It does require a small investment of time to personalize the workspace, home, and car, but the payoff will be well worth it. Undue strain will be placed on the structures of the spine unless the office chair, desk, keyboard, and computer screen, etc. are correctly positioned.
Avoid overprotecting posture. Remember that it is important to maintain an overall relaxed posture and therefore avoid restricting movements like clenching muscles and adopting an unnatural, stiff posture. For individuals who already have some back pain, it is a natural tendency to try to limit movements to avoid the potential pain associated with movement. However, unless there is a fracture or other serious problem, the structures in the spine are designed for movement and any limitation in motion over a long period of time creates more pain and a downward cycle of less motion and more pain, etc.
We live in a society where either posture is not taught, or it is taught in such a way that kids come to resent it, meaning they have a parent or grandparent that is always telling them “don’t slouch” or “stand up straight!” Typically when this happens, a person’s first reaction is to thrust their shoulders back and stick their lower back out which in turn creates even more of a problem. Holding your shoulders rigidly back, and putting too much curve in your lower spine can cause just as many problems as slumping with shoulders rolled forward. Even though this is what is often thought of as appropriate posture, it actually is not.
Whatever the reasons for bad posture, whether it be poorly designed desks when we are in school, bosses who don’t have ergonomic chairs for those who sit at a computer all day, or just our own misunderstanding of what good posture is, bad posture has become a real problem for all of society.
Bad posture can be caused by a number of reasons such as, sitting for too long, standing for too long, being depressed or anxious, using poorly designed furniture, and stress. However, whatever a person’s reason for poor posture, anyone can change their posture at any time with just a little effort. Keep in mind it is not necessary to expend large amounts of effort on good posture. Remember that holding shoulders rigidly back, and having excessive curve in the lower back is not good posture, but simply another form of bad posture.
Bad posture may cause back problems, and exacerbate existing health problems even if the existing health problems such as a seasonal cold aren’t severe or permanent. So, what can you do to improve your poor posture?
The first thing you want to do when it comes to improving your posture is to become aware and understand what good posture really is. Good posture is when your spine is straight but with a slight curve in the lower spine, and your shoulders are rolled back just a bit (but not rigidly so) so that it is as if your shoulder blades could slide down your back. Your chin should be level with the ground, not drooping as if it were going to tuck into your chest.
The best way to get an idea of this is to stand up straight, but not too rigid. Imagine there is a metal string hanging from a hook in your ceiling that is attached to the top of your head. Pretend that this string can pull up just enough to align all the bones in your skeleton just right so that your head, neck and shoulders are aligned with your spine and on down to your feet. This is what it is like to have good posture. You can perform the same test when sitting, just make sure you have a chair that allows your feet to rest flat on the ground. If you are a woman wearing heels, they automatically throw your spine out of alignment by tipping your pelvis unnaturally forward.
Some other things you can do to improve your posture are using an ergonomic chair (with lumbar support) at your desk, and/or lower your chair so that your feet rest flat on the floor while you are sitting at your desk. A footrest may help too. Another is not to sit for long periods of time without getting up and walking around a bit, even if it is just to walk around your desk or cubicle space. You should also take time to stretch, or better yet begin practicing Office Yoga which are yoga postures you can do at your desk. Taking classes such as yoga or tai chi or Pilates that emphasize good posture can help as well.
When you find yourself slumping or sliding back into your old posture habits don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead simply be gentle and kind with yourself and begin to practice good posture again. In time good posture will become a habit. Remind yourself with sticky notes at your computer or around the house wherever you spend the most time. When it does you will notice that you feel a lot better. You may even find that you can handle stress better as well. These are only a few of the benefits of good posture, there are many others such as less or no back pain. Improving your posture will improve the quality of your life.
Feeling the winter blues? Tired of catching colds that go around? Rather than taking something to simply cover up the symptoms, how about some advice on avoiding them in the first place? The best treatment is often prevention. Here we show you how to boost your immune system through natural means like exercise, nutrition and more, so you can get through winter unscathed.
Look To Nature
The great thing about herbs is that they improve your immune system, rather than attack a bug. Naturopathy focuses on the natural herbs nature has to offer.
A Positive Outlook
A positive outlook on life can help ward off colds, flu and infections. People with an optimistic outlook on life tend to have higher levels of immune-system weaponry (T-cells and natural killer cells) than pessimistic people. You may not be able to change your situation at a certain moment, but you can change your attitude.
Foods and Fluids
If your body is lacking in certain nutrients, your immune system will certainly suffer. So eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, which contain antioxidants.
Immune-boosting properties from carotenoids are found in yellow and orange fruit and vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, oranges and apricots as well as green leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli.
Increase the garlic and onion in your meals. Eat raw, freshly-crushed garlic – it has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. It is a natural immune booster.
Vitamin C found in citrus fruits and berries may help improve resistance to infection.
Include plenty of zinc and iron, found in lean red meat, poultry, seafood, wholegrains and nuts, in your diet. They’re not antioxidants, but they are also thought to keep the immune system healthy.
Drink plenty of water and/or herbal teas; eliminate caffeine-containing fluids like coffee and soft drinks.
Avoid sugar – as it can decrease the immune system’s activity.
Curb your stress levels – Some Stress is Good
People tend to talk about stress as if it’s all bad. It’s not.
Some stress is good for you. Public speakers, for example have to get their stress response to a certain optimal level so that they can perform in front of an audience. Otherwise, it may come across as lethargic and listless.
However, while some stress is good, too much is not. If you’re too stressed, your performance can diminish. The objective should be not to get rid of stress completely because you can’t get rid of stress — stress is life, life is stress. Rather, you need to be able to use your stress response optimally.”
The key is to learn to move yourself to that optimal peak point so that you’re not underperforming but you’re also not so stressed that you’re unable to perform. The challenge is knowing our limits – how much we’re actually able to handle.
The goal should be to try to learn to control your stress to make it work for you. Don’t just think of getting rid of your stress; think of turning it to your advantage.
Let Your Emotions Out
Expressing your emotions can be good for your health. Repressing emotions after a traumatic event can lower the function of the immune system compared to those who share their feelings.
Therapeutic Massage
Receiving a therapeutic massage can boost the immune system and promote lymph flow. It can aid in removing toxins, lead to less anxiety and improve the function of the immune system.
Exercise
Regular exercise supports general health and immune function. It promotes healthy blood circulation and drives the lymphatic system.
While professional athletes and those who train intensely have weakened immune systems, studies show that moderate exercise strengthens the immune system.
People who exercise regularly have about 25 percent fewer colds than those who seldom or never exercised.
We need adequate rest to allow the body to repair itself.
Rest and Relaxation
A good night’s sleep can also significantly boost the immune system. There are potent immune enhancing compounds released during sleep and immune functions are increased significantly by an adequate night’s rest.
Doing things you enjoy helps to decrease stress levels, especially if we are inspired to do something, rather than doing things because we have to.
A well-rested person’s immune system may respond more strongly that of a sleep-deprived person’s.
Your body requires more sleep during the winter months – so get to bed a bit earlier!
Chiropractic Maintenance Care
A regular visit to the chiropractor may greatly enhance your body’s immune system in combination with the abovementioned topics. By aligning your spine, the nervous system (which also affects the immune system) can function optimally.
Chiropractic is an art, science and philosophy focusing on a nervous system free from interference to allow the body to reach it’s optimum potential, naturally.
Chiropractic is a main passion and interest in my life. Not only is it my profession, but a way to connect the mind and body; a lifestyle - a natural way to allow your body to heal itself, and so much more. It is about looking at the entire body. Our bodies act as a whole unit - from Above, Down, Inside, Out! I love serving the community and being pro-active in making a difference…both individually and collectively as a whole.
