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Friday, July 31, 2009

Flax Seeds for Better Health!

Health Tip of the Week: The Flax plant, found in the Dakotas and state of Minnesota, is an annual plant that grows about a foot-and-a-half tall, with pale blue flowers and a small round fruit that has many "apple" like seeds. The flax is primarily used for its fibers and its seeds. The seeds of the flax plant are high in fiber, protein and the essential omega-three fatty acids. Flax seeds are often pressed into oil, called flax seed oil, but also commonly known as Linseed oil. Flax seeds also contain high levels of lignans. Lignans act as anti-oxidants and have been shown to help the body combat heart disease, as well as different kinds of breast and prostate cancer. Flax seed oil, like its counter part, fish oil, acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in the body. The oil of flax seeds, taken on a regular basis, may help to ease joint pain. Flax seed oil consumption has also been shown to lower cholesterol, decrease blood pressure and reduce cancer risks. A last fact that is not widely known is that flax seed oil is wonderful for the skin, and has been beneficial for people suffering from dryness, acne, eczema and psoriasis. Liquid flax seed oil is easily found in commercial shopping areas. One teaspoon per 50 pounds of bodyweight is the suggested daily dosage. The flax seed, itself, has a nutty taste and can be sprinkled on salads, yogurts, cereals and soups. Even ice cream!
Thought for the Week: "Wherever flaxseeds becomea regular food item among the people, there will be better health." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: "Chiropractic is a profession with a limited scope of practice that has broad body implications. Holding forth the concept that only the body heals, chiropractors can accept any case as long as they have a vertebral subluxation. For as long as a subluxation can be reduced, improving the nervous systems communication, the body itself may augment its own innate forces to heal."
--------- Fred Barge, D.C.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Food Poisoning

This weeks Health Tip will start with a question and end with an answer. If a person develops nausea, abdominal cramping, diarhea, vomiting and chills due to eating tainted food, should you call that person sick or should you call that person healthy? Salmonella is one of many bacteria that, when present in food, can cause food poisoning. The Center of Disease Control reports that there are an estimated 1.4 million reported cases of salmonella based food poisoning each year in the United States. The salmonella bacteria, when taken in the human body, causes the lining of the stomach and the intestines to swell. Resulting symptoms include nausea, fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle aches. Salmonella infection rarely causes death, though the CDC states that there are an estimated 1000 deaths per year due to salmonella poisoning. Statistically a low number, these deaths primarily occur in the very young, elderly, or people who are compromised with disease or with weakened immune systems. One of the main complications of salmonella poisoning that leads to death is dehydration due to the excessive vomiting, diarrhea and fever. The body becomes rapidly depleted of fluids, which puts an enormous strain on the heart. When food poisoning is evident, it is extremely important to remain hydrated by taking in fluids on a regular basis. If fluids can not be kept down, intra-venous (IV) fluid intake is the next step. To avoid salmonella poisoning, cook all animal products thoroughly, as salmonella can live in raw meat, poultry and eggs. Heat kills the salmonella bacteria. Also, clean all cooking preparation surfaces and utensils thoroughly (hands too), as the bacteria is easily passed from meat to surfaces. To answer the question at the top of the paragraph, a person who is vomiting with chills, fever and diarrhea due to eating tainted, poisoned food, is actually healthy, not sick. A healthy body responds to food bacteria by trying to rid the body of the bacteria in anyway possible. Unfortunately, as this cleansing process is happening, knowing you are healthy is the last thing on your mind.


Thought for the Week:
"The patient must be guided toward discovering the healing powers that lie within him. Faith in pills and external treatments can be replaced with faith in oneself." --- Dennis Jaffe. Ph.D


Chiropractic Thought for the Week:
"Health is a condition in which all body functions are carried on normally, meeting all body demands for adaptation to the environment." --------- Galen Price, D.C.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Probiotics

Health Tip of the Week: The human digestive system contains approximately 500 different types of bacteria living inside its different organs. Some of the bacteria is good and some of it is bad. In order to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system, the good and bad bacteria must be kept in proper balance. The "bad" bacteria comes from, and more importantly thrives on poor nutrition (junk food), antibiotic therapy and stress. This type of bacteria weakens the digestive system allowing toxins to build up, which then threatens the immune system. The "good" bacteria gobbles up the toxins and waste products in the digestive system allowing the immune system to function properly, which in turn contributes to good health. When the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria in the digestive system is out of synch, many kinds of illnesses can occur. One of the most important keys to health is maintaining, or even building a better ratio of "good" bacteria vs "bad" bacteria. Probiotic therapy is the addition of "good" bacteria into the body through diet or supplementation. The most common forms of "good" bacteria are acidolphilus, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Probiotics are found in yogurt, sauerkraut, some cottage cheeses and various manufactured probiotic supplements. For optimal health in children and adults, probiotics should be consumed on a daily basis. Recently, a study in Finland found the severity and durations of respiratory infections dramatically decreased in children that supplemented their diet with probiotics all winter long. In addition, conditions such as diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, stomach ulcers and chronic yeast infections have all been shown to improve from probiotic consumption.


Thought for the Week:
"When diet is wrong medicine is of no use. When diet is correct medicine is of no need." ~Ayurvedic Proverb


Chiropractic Thought for the Week:
One of the greatest wide receivers in National Football League history is now telling how he managed to withstand all those truly "vicious" hits he took. "Chiropractic care was key to keeping me in the game," says Jerry Rice, who helped the San Francisco 49ers win three Super Bowl Championships between 1985 and 2000. Rice first became a believer in chiropractic care right before the 49ers were to play the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. A couple of key players were injured, and he credits a chiropractor for turning things around. "Ever since then, I've had the benefit of chiropractic care," says Rice, a 13-time Pro Bowl football player, with 38 career records, who retired from the NFL. -------- North American Press Syndicate, NY, New York