To Your Health is brought to you by: Parmer Lane Chiropractic Robert Hagood, DC 2121 W. Parmer Lane Suite 112 Austin, TX 78727 (512) 339-6635
In this issue:
* Living with Arthritis without drugs or surgery
* Lower Your Cholesterol the Natural Way
* Catch some ZZzzz's
Living with Arthritis without drugs or surgery
Arthritis is one of the oldest known afflictions and can affect virtually every part of the body, from the feet to the knees, back, shoulders and fingers. More than 50 million (about one in six) Americans suffer from arthritis. The most common types are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gouty arthritis.
There are natural ways to improve your arthritis symptoms. Dairy products, caffeine, citrus fruits, paprika, salt, tobacco and sugar should be reduced or eliminated from your diet, as these foods may increase joint inflammation. Additionally, nightshades (e.g., red, green and yellow bell peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, white flesh potatoes) should be avoided because they have a tendency to intensify arthritic symptoms. Foods containing sulfur, such as asparagus, eggs, garlic and onions, are important for the repair and rebuilding of bone, cartilage and connective tissue, and also aid in the absorption of calcium. Other good foods include green, leafy vegetables (which supply vitamin K), fresh vegetables, non-acidic fresh fruits, whole grains, oatmeal, brown rice and fish. Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, a powerful natural anti-inflammatory agent, which works by stimulating the body's production of prostaglandins.
One of the most overlooked approaches to improve the discomfort associated with arthritis is hydration. Depending on your level of activity, a good rule of thumb is to drink half of your weight in ounces. Thus, if you weigh 180 pounds, you should consume 90 ounces of pure, filtered water per day.
Arthritis in any form can be a debilitating condition that prevents you from living the life you want. Rather than immediately accepting the dangerous side effects of drugs and risky surgeries, talk to your doctor about natural alternatives to keep your muscles and joints in optimal condition.
Lower Your Cholesterol the Natural Way
People who are concerned about their financial well-being routinely monitor their portfolio - a collection of investments, securities and other valuable items - and make the appropriate changes when necessary. If you suffer from high cholesterol, it might be time to examine your dietary portfolio and alter it to one that more closely resembles the diet used in a recent study.
In the trial, 55 middle-aged men and women, who were already on a heart-healthy diet, were asked to follow a more rigid food plan that included high amounts of specific items such as raw almonds, tofu, soy, oatmeal, barley, okra and eggplant. The subjects stayed on the new diet for 12 months, after which researchers collected blood samples to measure changes in cholesterol levels.
Patients who followed the new diet faithfully lowered their cholesterol by an average of 29 percent - a rate similar to that seen in people who had taken statin drugs for a month before starting the diet. For people who did not adhere to the new diet, cholesterol levels remained roughly the same as they were before the start of the study.
If you are concerned about your cholesterol levels, talk to your doctor of chiropractic about adjusting your diet to include foods such as tofu, soy and oatmeal. Your doctor can also create an exercise plan to be used in conjunction with a diet for even greater health and wellness.
Jenkins DJA, Kendall CWC, Faulkner DA, et al. Assessment of the longer-term effects of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods in hypercholesterolemia. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition March 2006;83(3):582-591.
Catch some ZZzzz's
Experts generally recommend that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, a goal most people fail to achieve. What about your children? How much sleep should they be getting?
In a study that followed nearly 1,500 Canadian children from birth to age 6, researchers discovered that those who slept less than 10 hours per night in their preschool years were more likely to show problems with their verbal and spatial skills when they entered school. They also tended to be more hyperactive and impulsive than their less sleep-deprived peers.
Overall, children who persistently underslept were three times more likely to score poorly on a standard language test than children who consistently slept at least 10 hours nightly. Even if children increased their sleep time as they got older, the risk of hyperactivity and poor visual/spatial skills remained. Thus, experts recommend that preschool-age children sleep 11 to 13 hours per night; children ages 5 to 12 years should sleep 10 to 11 hours; and teens should get 9 hours per night.
Sleep has the power to refresh and restore, and it can help keep you and your family functioning at your best. Make sure your children are ready for life's challenges by ensuring they sleep at least 10 hours per night, particularly if they are age 3 or younger.
