Weight Loss Detox Diet

Research shows that only 25% of U.S. adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. More people are eating convenient, sugar-laden, processed foods that lack vitamins and minerals essential for health. Over a life time, this can contribute to other more serious health risks, such as arthritis, joint replacements, asthma, and other degenerative diseases.

Where should you start? Try removing all sodas and sugary drinks from your diet. Replace them with organic juices and water. Start reading labels for hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, and other malnutritious ingredients. Eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Below is a Diet that I am recommending to you for three weeks, and, as always, first be sure that you consult your doctor, nutritionist, or chiropractor before beginning, to see if it is right for you. It is meant to be temporary.


Detox Diet

Foods Allowed: poultry, seafood, eggs, butter, whole nuts (except peanuts), all vegetables, including asparagus, cucumber, celery, green peas, onion, broccoli, lettuce, okra, carrots, etc., all salads, beans, ginger root, and low sugar fruits including all type of berries, pears, green apples, unripe bananas, and grapefruit. Only use small quantities of high quality oils if necessary, such as olive, sunflower, canola, fish oils, flax oil, and borage oils. Spices are ok; ginger and turmeric are highly anti-inflammatory.

Restricted Foods: all grains, bread, pasta, cereals, rice, sweet fruits, juices, sweets, candy, cake, corn, potatoes, starches, chips, and crackers, high fructose corn syrup, and sugar. No alcohol. No Carbohydrates for three weeks.

Things to be Mindful of: Make sure that you drink plenty of water, and prepare your meals. This can be done in conjunction with a healthy exercise program. When you are finished with the three weeks, it is still very important to eat less starch and processed sugars, as these items in particular contribute to weight gain.

Again, this is a guide, and should be followed closely with your health care practitioner. It can be quite challenging, but you will see results.

Get Rid of Gout for Good

The most effective natural way to prevent gout is dietary modification. Studies suggest that by simply lowering blood sugar, gout risks can decrease up to 85%. Recent research has indicated that men who drink 1 to 2 sugary drinks per day are 85%more likely to develop gout than those who drank 1 sugary drink per month. The best way to lower sugar is to eliminate HFCS from the diet, which includes replacing all soft drinks and sugary beverages with 10-12 glasses of water per day. Increasing hydration and water consumption will help flush uric acid in the body. Additionally, adding more exercise promotes increased circulation and stabilizes insulin levels. Research has also shown that exercise helps to increase your immune system and can decrease risk factors for diabetes.


Alcohol can be a large contributor to gout since it elevates insulin and uric acid levels and causes dehydration. Avoiding red wine and alcohol for gout sufferers is imperative. Although red wine has many benefits, for gout sufferers the negative effects strongly outweigh the positives making it imperative to eliminate it altogether.


Two fantastic ways to counteract and prevent gout is to consume Persian cherry juice, “tart cherries”, and celery seed. Persian cherry juice is very pure, low in sugar, and contains up to 50-60 cherries per ounce. “Tart cherries” contain powerful phytochemicals called anthocyanins and bioflavanoids which help prevent arthritis and gout and can be found in most whole food stores. Celery seed helps clear toxins and uric acid crystals from the body, and is an exceptional anti-inflammatory. Celery seed also helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Both can be found in your local organic food store. Strawberries and nutmeg have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties useful for preventing gout.

In Summary
Gout can be a painful and debilitating condition, but there are simple, healthy ways to prevent and relieve these symptoms.
Be sure to:
Increase
• Exercise
• Intake of Persian cherry juice, tart cherries, celery seed, strawberries
• Water consumption (10-12 glasses per day)
Decrease
• High fructose corn syrup, fructose
• Sodas, sugary drinks, desserts, breads, other sugary foods
• Consumption of beer, red wine, other alcoholic beverages
• Foods rich in purine content (red meats, sardines, anchovies, yeast)

Stretch Your Way to Safer, More Comfortable Travel

As summer unfolds many of us will hop into a car or board an airplane to head for enjoyable destinations. Although reasons for vacation travel are pleasant, the trip can mean sitting in a cramped position for long periods. You arrive ready to relax, only to find that you are stiff, sore, and fatigued.

The physical stresses of traveling can lead to pain and muscle spasms. Although less common, the result is occasionally severe: blood clots or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Development of clots sometimes leads to hospitalization and can even be fatal.

Fortunately, simple stretches help offset inactivity:

• When the pilot permits it, walk around – every 30 to 45 minutes on longer flights.
• Sitting, lift your feet and make circular motions with each ankle, clockwise and counterclockwise. For fun, point your toes to form letters and words!
• If waiting for the lavatory, bend and touch the walkway with your fingers close to your toes.
• An in-lavatory exercise – place both hands on the wall, and put one foot in front of the other as far apart as space allows. Lunge.
• In the aisle, stand on one leg, bend the opposite knee until your heel is close to your buttock. Maintain for 15 seconds. Switch legs.
• In your seat, keep your head against the headrest. Clasp your hands together beside your head. Tilt your head sideways moving your ear to your other shoulder. Hold. Repeat, starting on the other side.
• With your right hand touch the back left part of your shoulder. Then place your left hand on your right elbow and pull. Switch sides after 15 seconds.

Stretching during flights and long vehicle rides helps to increase energy, flexibility, and range of motion. If you experience stiffness and pain for more than a day or two after a trip, then chiropractic techniques can likely help restore your cramped muscles to full pain-free function. For deep leg or calf pain, consult your medical doctor immediately.

What to do when an athletic injury occurs

Stretch to Avoid Injuries
Athletes who stretch increase their flexibility and mobility, reduce injuries, enhance coordination, and speed up the healing process. Daily stretching, both before and after physical activity, is imperative. All muscle groups should be stretched, and each stretch should be held for a minimum of 15 to 20 seconds.

When an injury does occur, the first step is to evaluate how severe it is. If the injury is a muscle strain, then ice and stretching are usually appropriate. Symptoms that are more severe, such as numbness, loss of sensory or motor control, and moderate to severe pain with loss of motion, can require evaluation by a chiropractor, doctor, or physical therapist. Several tools, including posture, range of motion, palpation, X-ray imaging, MRI, EMG/NCV (muscle and nerve studies), and muscle testing, assist health care professionals in assessing the severity of an injury and developing an appropriate course of treatment. Studies show that early movement of body areas with soft tissue injuries, including the neck in cases of whiplash, enhances the long-term function and can prevent disability.


Activity should be stopped immediately when damage occurs. After the injury begins to heal, passive range of motion exercises can be initiated (no muscle groups contracting to move the injured area), followed by active range of motion exercises (muscles being used to improve functional motion). Common remedies for simple injuries, such as strains and sprains, include implementing immediate first aid therapy prompted by the acronym "RICE":
• Rest – Prevent further injury and restore energy that fosters the healing process.
• Ice – Reduce pain, edema (fluid build-up) and related swelling, and limit blood flow in the injured area. When applying ice, make sure that the application is no longer than 20
minutes at a time, every few hours, and not directly to the skin.
• Compression – Reduces swelling, supports the injured area, and may relieve pain. An ACE bandage is a useful compression tool, if available.
• Elevation – Reduces bleeding and swelling and is most effective if the injured area is
elevated above the level of the heart (for example, raising an injured ankle with pillows while lying on a flat surface).

According to famous athlete Jerry Rice (any similarity between last name and the previous treatment principle is a coincidence!), professional care for sports injuries is essential. Rice, who helped the San Francisco 49ers win three Super Bowl Championships and is viewed by many as the greatest wide receiver ever to play, has said, “Chiropractic care was key to keeping me in the game.” Of the 32 NFL teams, 31 have a chiropractor on staff. During Super Bowl XXIII, several 49ers were hurt, and Rice praised his chiropractor for assisting. According to Rice, “Ever since then, I’ve had the benefit of chiropractic care.”
Renowned bicyclist Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France has stated, “I couldn’t have won without my chiropractor. He is possibly the most important man on the team.” Although all of these sports figures are career athletes, the same issues apply to nonprofessionals.

Car Accidents and Whiplash Injuries: What to do?

How many of you have ever been in a motor vehicle accident? During your lifetime, there is a strong likelihood that it will happen to you or someone you know. Often times, you may take a painkiller or two, maybe some therapy, and once feeling better, may never think of it again. But what if symptoms linger? Or worse yet, if you don’t have symptoms, can an accident come back to haunt you? And what to do should you be involved in an accident?
Statistics show that one out of every four people will be in a car accident during their lifetime, and the chances of dying in an accident are approximately one out of every 140 people. It is estimated by Whiplash Specialist Dr. Arthur Croft, that as many as 3 million whiplash injuries occur every year in the United States, and that one out of every three people will suffer from whiplash injury. Whiplash injury is a sudden strain or trauma affecting the bones, discs, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tendons of the neck. Various symptoms can occur, including but not limited to neck and back pain, nausea, numbness, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, vertigo, inflammation, hearing impairment, headaches, visual disturbances, fracture, paralysis, and even death. Sometimes, there are no symptoms present at all, only to show themselves days, weeks, or even years down the road. The top three causes of whiplash injury are motor vehicle collisions, contact sports, and amusement park rides.
Barring a fracture, your Chiropractor will do an examination including a detailed history, orthopedic and neurological tests, range of motion, posture and palpation check, and x-rays to see the extent of damage or change in the spine. On X-ray, the neck should be perfectly straight. Your chiropractor will be able find misalignment or subluxation. From the side view, the neck should have an arc of a circle. Any loss of cervical curve which is quite common upon impact can cause any of the symptoms above. It is important to be checked immediately following an accident, whether the emergency room or your chiropractor.
Treatment includes passive and active exercises, gentle massage, chiropractic, massage, spinal and extremity adjustments, therapies such as traction to correct the spinal posture, electrical stimulation to relax the muscle spasms, stretching, and ice. Using ice immediately following most whiplash injuries will help reduce inflammation and swelling. This should last for 10-20 minutes at a time every hour. After 24 hours, alternating between ice and heat is recommended, up to 20 minutes at a time. Be sure to wrap the ice or ice pack in a towel before using it. When sleeping, roll a towel and place underneath the neck while lying on your back, so that the back of the skull is on the bed. Many studies have shown Chiropractic and Acupuncture to work more effectively than medications for treatment of injuries sustained in car accidents.
Whiplash injuries have shown to have lasting effects for years. The forward and backward, or even sideway jolt of the head and neck are not only caused by auto-mobile accidents, but can also be caused by various amusement park rides, con-tact sports, and falls. Getting immediate attention is a must, and seeking good medical and Chiropractic care can help prevent surgery and more injuries from developing.

Save Your Back During Snow Season!

Now that winter is here, snowfall is certainly in the Mid-Atlantic forecast. Improper biomechanics while shoveling and snowblowing can result in back or shoulder pain and other injuries that lead to sprains and even herniated disks. Check these guidelines to help alleviate spinal stress during snowy weather.
Stretch and Warm up!
Dr. Thomas Campbell, head of Emergency Medicine at Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh advises complete avoidance of shoveling for those over the age of 40 or 45, those who live a sedentary lifestyle, or individuals with known high blood pressure. If you are considered at risk for a heart attack, be extremely careful about physical exertion. Paying someone else to remove snow may be a wise, possibly lifesaving, decision.
Most individuals do not prepare properly. Appropriate stretching before shoveling snow reduces your chance of injury. A chiropractor or fitness trainer can provide a list of suitable stretches. Ten minutes of warming up is recommended.
Dressing adequately for prolonged cold-weather exposure should be a no-brainer! Layer your clothing. Wear waterproof items and underclothing that wicks underneath your heavier clothes. Note that mittens trap warmth far more efficiently than gloves do. Push snow, don’t drag it. Choose a plastic shovel with a curved, adjustable handle, and spray a silicone product on the shovel blade. Hold the shovel by placing your hands about 12 to 18 inches apart, with one hand at the handle and the other closer to the blade. Use your leg muscles and contract your abdominal muscles each time you lift. As you dump snow out of your shovel, turn your entire body to face the spot where you intend to drop it. Avoid throwing snow over your shoulder or twisting your torso.
Repeated shoveling of smaller snow piles is preferable to one marathon session. Stretch during the entire shoveling period. Taking a quick break every 10 to 20 minutes can help muscles rejuvenate. Stay hydrated by drinking nonalcoholic liquids frequently, as dehydration is surprisingly common even in colder climates.
Even mild physical activities can cause soreness and herniations. If, despite precautions, you experience an injury or develop pain during snow removal, stop. Help is available! The trained professionals at Corrective Chiropractic can make you more comfortable through a variety of relief-giving therapies.

Magnesium: The Essential Mineral

Magnesium contributes to the body in many ways, including mood and preventing depression, dizziness, muscle weakness, nerve transmission, heart regulation, maintaining the body’s pH balance (acidity/alkalinity), and body temperature. It works in tandem with calcium, phosphorus and potassium. It works with Vitamin B6, aiding the prevention of kidney stone formation, and even plays a role in cancer prevention and lowering cholesterol. According the American Medical Association, it was reported that mothers who took magnesium supplements during their pregnancy had a 70% less likelihood of mental disabilities and 90% less likelihood of cerebral palsy in their children versus mothers who did not ingest Magnesium.

Early warnings of magnesium deficiency include: nausea, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, fatigue, seizures, insomnia, poor digestion, and rapid heartbeat, involuntary muscle contractions and cramping.

Dietary sources of magnesium include halibut, almonds, cashews, soybeans, spinach, nuts peanut butter, apples, bananas, beans, lentils, brown rice, salmon, tofu, parsley, avocados, figs, lemons, green leafy vegetables, and many others. Various sources show that children should take between 100-250mg/day, while adults should be taking about 400mg/day.