Spring 08 Issue

Steps to Wellness this spring

There are really just two reasons that we are not as healthy as we would like to be, and they are;

Too much toxicity. Toxicity includes such things as too much sugar, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, chemical additives, pesticides, cigarettes, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trans fat and any other unhealthy substances consumed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. We can also include under the heading of toxins, trauma from acute injury or repetitive strain, too much sitting, poor posture, disharmony in family life or at work or school, negative thoughts and outlook and poor self image.
Not enough sufficiency. We need sufficient pure water, fresh fruit, vegetables and protein, sufficient rest and relaxation, fresh air, exercise, movement of all the joints and muscles in our bodies, positive self image, sense of belonging and joy.

To many people getting healthier can seem like such a daunting prospect, riddled with giving up all “the good stuff” (toxicity). It’s always better to be positive, so rather than starting by taking away toxicity, start by adding sufficiency. An example is employing the Fresh Fibre First rule. Before eating anything, eat some fresh fibre. E.g. before having toast or chocolate cake or ice-cream or pizza, eat an apple or carrot or banana or piece of celery. If you are struggling to give up smoking, then start exercising. Ideally start swimming, walking, join a gym, get a personal trainer, take up tai chi or Pilates, get back into surfing or cycling. But even if you make a deal with yourself that before every cigarette you have to walk the dog up the street and back or do twenty push ups or sit ups, or some stretching exercises it’s a good start. You mightn’t be able to give up sitting in your office job but you can take mini stretch breaks or maybe sit on a gym ball for part of your day. Make time each day to reflect on the things you are thankful for. Whether you do this as a meditation or simply by just thinking about the good things in your life. Think about what you could add to your life to improve your wellness.

Breathe Easier

Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to lower the stress response and increase immune response. A study (1) led by Dr Ray Hayek, PhD on 420 subjects found that people undergoing chiropractic care showed significant improvement in asthma symptoms, depression and anxiety scores. Following chiropractic care a dramatic decrease in the immunosuppressant stress hormone, cortisol was demonstrated, accompanied by a dramatic increase in immunoglobulin IgA, suggesting increased immune function.

So with the potential for improved asthma symptoms, less depression, less anxiety, and improved immune response maybe a chiropractic check up would be a good thing for you and the family this spring.

(1) Hayek,R. Presented FCER 9th International Conference on Spinal Manipulation Oct 5 2002 Toronto

Diet drinks may make you Fatter

A recent study found that rats fed food sweetened with saccharin ate more kilojoules, gained more weight and more fat than rats fed food sweetened with glucose.

The authors felt that the low joule artificial sweeteners may change the brain response to food so that the rats responded by eating more. The animals fed sugar sweetened food had a natural “off switch” for their eating that seemed not to work on the ones fed with non-sugar sweeteners. They may alter other physiological responses so that the animals expend less energy.

The article references previous research that correlates a rise in obesity in human populations with a rise in the consumption of non-sugar sweeteners. This had previously been put down to a behavioral response, i.e. people who are obese start using low joule sweeteners to try and lose weight without addressing other eating behaviors.

Swithers, SE and Davidson, TL. A Role for Sweet taste: Calorie Predictive Relations in Energy Regulation.
Behavioral Neuroscience. February 2008, Vol.122, No1

Fatherhood in the Land of the Midnight sun

For all our patients who have had the pleasure of adjustments with chiropractor, Knut Sandbakken, we felt you may be interested in the following good news. Knut who is practicing chiropractic now in Oslo, Norway is becoming a father. Knut’s partner, Lena is due to have their baby in November. Best wishes and congratulations from us all at Champion Chiropractic Centre.

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