5 Tips to Fight the Flu

The National Vaccine Information Center in Washington, DC recently passed out to the media their instructions for preventing and treating the flu. I would like to share them with you. The tidbits afterwards are mine. 1. Wash hands frequently (most germs are passed to body from the hand) 2. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water (The body is 70% water and needs to be hydrated to be healthy) 2. Exercise regulary (exercise releases hormones that help to enhance immune function) 3. Eat a healthy diet ( food is what the body uses to manufacture new cells and tissues. Eat junk, you will then be junky) 3. Consider herbal and homeopathic remedies for prevention and treatment (some supplements can boost immune system function and kill germs with no harmful side effects) 4. Consider adding chiropractic or osteopathic care to your wellness program. ( spinal adjustments help the body to be healthier) 5. Get adequate sleep. (too little sleep equals a run down immune system) 5. Lower stress. (stress is the number one cause of disease on this planet)

Nothing Common About The Common Cold

The only thing common about the common cold is that everyone gets one. There are about two hundred different viruses that can cause a cold. Symptoms can range from a runny nose, stuffed sinuses, sore throat, swollen glands and coughing. When a person is fighting a cold, the best thing that they could do is drink plenty of water and eat lots of brothy soups, like chicken soup. The vegetables in the soup provide plenty of vitamins and the chicken contains amino acids (proteins) that help to fight a cold. The hot broth opens up the sinuses and allows breathing to be easier. Ginger, garlic and oregano are all anti-viral and help your body heal itself. Vitamin C, echinacea and zinc lozenges have been shown to have a positive effect on the common cold.

The best and only treatment for a cold is the body's own immune system. An immune system that is functioning on all cylinders will not only prevent a virus from getting a foothold, but if a virus does infiltrate, the immune system will make sure the virus doesn't stay around too long. Regular chiropractic care has been shown to increase resistance enzymes and improve DNA repair, all important parts of keeping the immune system functioning at its best. As mentioned previously, one of the best times to have your spine adjusted is when you actually have a cold. The white blood cell increase, that immediately follows an adjustment, fights the germ right then and there and helps to speed recovery.

Other ways to prevent a cold, involve washing your hands regularly during the cold season. Most cold viruses are either spread through the air or by hand contact. Regular soap has been shown to be more effective than anti-bacterial soap in preventing the spread of germs.

Thought for the Week: "Truth never dies. The ages come and go. The mountains wear away, the stars retire. Destruction lays earth cities low; And empires, states and dynasties expire; But caught and handed onward by the wise, Truth never dies." ------Francis Bacon, 1625.

(Maybe, this is one reason, why chiropractic has been able to endure and prosper over the years, despite a concentrated effort by the drug companies and medicine to do away with the profession. JZ)

Rock-a-Bye-Baby

Do you have trouble sleeping? If you do, you are probably not talking about it. Insomnia is one of the top health problems in our country, yet only 10% of the population discusses the issue with a doctor. Almost every person on the planet has had a bout with temporary insomnia, but the real trouble begins with chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia is the inability to sleep through the night. Insomnia is a problem because lack of sleep naturally leads to fatigue, but more importantly insomnia can supress the immune system, libido, and lead to depression, heart disease and headaches. Adults require at least eight hours sleep a night for optimum function and children and teens require even more. Here are some tips to help your body relax for a good nights sleep. Eat protein, like turkey, chicken or tuna before bed. These protein sources contain amino acids that release serotonin, which helps you sleep. On that note, whole grain, complex carbohydrates also help relax the body. Too little calcium and magnesium can lead to insomnia, the same with a vitamin B deficiency. Avoid eating or drinking foods with caffeine, alcohol and sugar. Chocolate two hours before bed is also a no-no as it contains caffeine and sugar.

Thought for the Week: "Saying you'll do something may take one kind of courage, but actually doing it requires a different type. Real bravery lies in deeds, not words."----Aesop

Holiday Wishes For All!

Thanksgiving has quickly passed us by and as we are approaching the Holiday Season, I would like to share some personal thoughts and opinions with you concerning my life, your health and all of our happiness. This past year has been the greatest in my life. Never having a child before Alexandra, I didn't realize the joy that you could experience being a parent. Yes, the hard work is hard, but one smile, a new word, a hug, a first step all bring new meaning to the words "worth while." Being a parent has made me a different person, a person I am happy to be. So, for all of you grandparents, parents and future parents out there, it is never too late to start thinking about your own personal health. The desire to be "here" for a long time with our children and grandchildren should outweigh just about all else. Being a healthy parent or grandparent is not just good for you, it is also a way of being an exceptional role model for your children. To ensure your health and longevity, it is time to really pay attention to what foods you eat and to exercise on a daily basis. It is important to take vitamin supplements to ensure your nutritional needs and to read labels on food poducts so that it is easy to avoid all of the dangerous additives that are put into our foods. It is time to take the extra body weight off. Weight gain is possibly the biggest (no pun intended) hazard to our nations health and one of the causes for the current health care crisis. The single most important thing you can do to stay healthy and around for your children is to avoid all over-the-counter medications and limit prescription drug use to only when it is absolutely necessary. Drugs will kill. It doesn't matter how comfortable they make you, they are harmful and overtime the usage of drugs damages everything from your kidneys and liver, to your stomach and heart. For your children and grandchildren, let us all try and be healthier!

I want to take a moment to tell each and every one of you how proud I am of you and your committment to your health. I want you to know how happy I am to know you and participate in your health care. It is a complete and utter joy for myself and my staff to serve you and care for you. Thank you for the opportunity for allowing us to teach, love, care and serve. Happy Holidays to all!


Health Tip of the Week: Winter time means it is time to switch from regular Carlson's Omega 3 Fish Oil to Carlson's Cod Liver Oil. The all so important Vitamin D our body manufactures from the sun is severely limited due to the cold weather and short day time hours. Cod Liver Oil is high in Vitamin D and will make up the difference. A tip for taking your fish oil is to mix it in yogurt and have it for breakfast. You or your children will never know it is in there. The dosage rule is one teaspoon per 50lbs of body weight.


Movie of the Week: If you have a spare 5 minutes, take a look at this movie, the statistics are amazing and do a lot as far as backing up my Opinion above.
Click on:

www.thehealthmovie.com