flu season cold winter

5 Nutritious Foods to Stay Healthy During Cold Season

Everyone dreads the seasonal flu that comes along in winters. A Cold can slow down and weaken your immune system. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent them and even to gain strength and heal quickly.

Consuming the following nutritious foods is a good way to keep the cold at bay.

Warm Foods
No one can say no to a cup of hot cocoa on chilly mornings. There are many benefits of including warm foods in your diet. During cold season when your metabolism slows down, consuming warm foods can help you store up more energy in your body.
Steaming hot foods like soups, broths, and stews also help nasal congestion and can resolve blocked sinuses overtime. Home-cooked meals like porridges and baked casseroles are not only nutritious but leave your kitchen smelling lovely.
Ginger tea is especially good for the flu season as it soothes the throat, eases congestion, and promotes blood flow. Warm cacao milk is rich in calcium and a healthy alternative to sugary chocolate. You can also try making a golden turmeric latte with a pinch of cinnamon for an immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory drink.

Healthy Fats
Eating fats during cold season keeps you warm and insulated. But they have a bigger purpose than just insulation because fats help your body absorb key vitamins like A, D, E, and K. A lack of vitamin D naturally weakens your immunity so you become more susceptible to illnesses.
Healthy fats like nuts, fish, tofu, and roasted meat are good additions in your diet to quickly heal from flu and stay fit. A teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil daily is good tonic to ward off seasonal flu and enhance immunity.

Hydrating Foods
During winters, because the appetite slows down you may not eat much and as a result forget to hydrate yourself as well. Cold seasons are usually spent lazing away in your bed hence even pouring yourself a glass of water may seem like an effort.
Therefore, it’s important to eat foods that are rich in water content to keep you hydrated during flu season. Having sweet juicy fruits, warm milk, and teas are good sources to retain moisture in the body even when you’re not drinking enough water. You can trade coffee with hot cider – an alkaline drink that works to kill viruses and bacteria in the body.

Foods Rich in Vitamin C
Lemons and oranges that are packed with Vitamin C are natural immune-boosting foods to fight flu and colds. You should ideally include citrus fruits like kiwi, tangerines, and pomegranates in your diet for a healthy diet.
Having warm lemon water with a teaspoon of honey can significantly reduce the length of a cold. Take them with foods that are high in folate like eggs, legumes, and leafy greens to effectively treat colds.

Foods Abundant in Zinc
Seafood is a good source of zinc. Eating wild salmon, oysters, and red meat from time to time can strengthen your immunity overtime and protect you against seasonal flu. Oatmeals, baked beans, and almonds are not just high in zinc but are equally warming for your body.

Start adding these foods to your diet right now to ensure that your immune system is ready to take on the challenges that come with colder weather.

Visit www.ocwc.ca for more helpful nutritional tips. Thanks for reading and keep warm!

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How Chiropractic Benefits Those That Suffer From Migraine Headaches

If you have ever had a migraine before then you know that it is much more than a simple headache. The symptoms of a migraine can be debilitating, lasting hours and even days. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, it is the eighth most disabling disease in the world.

According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraine headaches are extremely difficult to treat and even more difficult to control. This is mainly due to the fact that doctors still don’t know exactly what causes it. This leaves it undiagnosed in many patients and often terribly under-treated in those with a diagnosis.

The best many doctors seem to be able to do is prescribe pain medication that has undesirable side effects in an effort to manage the symptoms. However, chiropractic has been shown in several studies to not only effectively manage the pain of migraines, it also helps stop and prevent them.

Anatomy of a Migraine Headache

There are two types of migraines, those with an aura and those without an aura. An aura can appear up to an hour before the onset of a migraine. It is a warning sign that usually presents as a disturbance that is either visual or olfactory. The person may see flashes of light or smell particular odors before the headache begins. About one in six migraines are preceded by an aura.

Once the migraine itself begins, the pain is typically on one side of the head, although this is not always the case. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to noise, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to smell. Some patients experience an inability to concentrate, hot or cold flashes, stiffness in neck or shoulders, slurred speech, loss of coordination, and in rare cases, loss of consciousness.

The migraine can last several minutes, hours, or even days. Afterwards the patient may feel fatigued or washed out. They may be unable to concentrate and either lethargic or extremely energetic.

Studies Show: Chiropractic as a Migraine Treatment

There have been several clinical studies on chiropractic as a treatment for migraine headaches. The results of one study reported that 22 percent of patients who received chiropractic treatment for their migraines reported that their attacks were reduced by more than 90 percent. Additionally, 49 percent reported that the intensity of their migraines was significantly reduced.

Another study randomly assigned people with migraine headaches several different treatments. One group was given Elavil, a daily medication, another group was given chiropractic treatment and a third group received a combination of the two treatments. The results showed that chiropractic was as effective in reducing migraines as the medication and it had fewer side effects. Other studies have also found that chiropractic is as effective as medication for the treatment and prevention of migraine or tension headaches.

Chiropractic for Migraines Headaches

Spinal adjustments are very effective as a treatment for migraines. The whole body approach of chiropractic also utilizes dietary recommendations, including foods to avoid, as well as lifestyle changes.

The patient may be counselled on managing stress, advised to engage in exercise, and given supplements. The treatments may be used to reduce the pain and severity of a migraine once it begins or it can be used to prevent migraines and reduce their frequency.

Chiropractic is a safer treatment with fewer side effects than prescription medications. Chiropractic is quickly becoming the treatment of choice for many migraine sufferers. As the studies show, it works!

So if you or a loved one suffer from migraines, give us a call. Our Doctors of Chiropractic are here to help! (780)455-2112 or visit www.ocwc.ca to learn more about our clinic.

acupuncture benefits start edmonton

5 Reasons to Start Acupuncture Today

Acupuncture therapy is a popular alternative to medicine that helps individuals release pains of all sorts without any side effects. However, when people think about fine needles being inserted into their bodies, they get hesitant in getting it done. The common thought related to this alternative medicine is “it is extremely painful and useless,” whereas it is the opposite.

We have the top reasons why you should start acupuncture today!

1.    Acupuncture Promotes Ultimate Relaxation

In today’s world, being in the state of ultimate relaxation seems like a far fetch thought. It is impossible to feel “unstressed” because individuals claim that they do not have sufficient amount of time for their families, work, or even themselves. Because of this, they tend to start getting chronically stressed, which causes endless damages to their bodies. In this case, the best thing to do is opt for acupuncture because it has the ability to calm the nervous system while it promotes feelings of serenity and relaxation. Individuals that get acupuncture done tend to fall into a deep and peaceful sleep afterwards.

2.    Acupuncture Helps You Get the Best Sleep

Almost 10% of the United States population suffers from insomnia (difficulty in falling or staying asleep). When a person is sleep deprived, quality of life begins to go downhill, which then begins to affect their health. Although, the common resort for many people would be sleeping pills, it is important to understand that these pills can be seriously detrimental to you. They form habits that lead to eccentric sleeping behaviors like sleep eating and walking and long term cognitive decline. Therefore, the best (and safe) resort would be acupuncture. It treats the roots that cause insomnia and leads to better health overall.

3.    Acupuncture can Treat Headaches

Those that suffer from headaches know how crippling they can be. Many individuals that suffer from chronic headaches are under the supervision of neurologists and go through conventional medical treatments for these pains yet do not seem to heal successfully. Luckily, acupuncture is known as the best therapy for treating headaches. Most commonly, people that suffer from headaches are the ones that opt for acupuncture because of the promising results. With the help of regular sessions, the severity and frequency of headaches lessens as well.

4.    Acupuncture Treatments Improves the Mood

Mood disorders like depression and anxiety tend to negatively influence the life of the person that is suffering from them. Although, there are many medications that are known to manage the symptoms of these disorders, in the long term, they do not seem to be safe. Whereas, acupuncture therapy is an effective and safe way of treating these mood disorders and improving the overall mood. People that see an acupuncturist on a regular basis feel a decrease in their depression and anxiety levels while happy moods are heightened.

5.    Acupuncture can Boost the Functions of the Immune System

Chinese medicine believes the “Wei Qi” is a protective energy barrier that is supposed to keep an individual healthy and it is supposed to strengthen the immune system so it protects us from pathogens. Chinese herbs and acupuncture are effective in making the “Wei Qi” stronger so it can prevent diseases while eliminating pathogens from the body for a speedy recovery. If an individual ingests Chinese herbs along with seeing an acupuncturist, they can treat issues like flues, colds, and respiratory disorders.

 

These are the top 5 reasons why you should see an acupuncturist today. If you want to lead a life that is healthy, acupuncture is the answer.

Give our clinic a call at (780)455-2112 to book with our registered therapist. For further information visit www.ocwc.ca .

vegan vegetarian nutrition food

What Chiropractic Patients Want To Know About Vegan vs. Vegetarian Diets

Vegan and vegetarian diets have long been touted as some of the healthiest diets for people of all walks of life. There is a lot of confusion and many misconceptions, though, about the two.

What most people don’t realize is that there are many sub-category diets that fall under vegetarianism, some of which include animal by-products, seafood, and even meat. Understanding veganism and vegetarianism as well as knowing the benefits of these diets can help chiropractic patients stay healthier, get more active, and stave off many chronic illnesses.

Is there a difference between vegan and vegetarian diets?

There are distinct differences between veganism and vegetarianism although many books and even food companies fail to clearly distinguish the two. While it is true that they are very similar diets, the differences are significant.

Vegans do not eat any animal by-products or animal flesh at all. This includes seafood. They also do not use products that use animal testing or that are made from animals including leather products.

On the other hand, vegetarians typically abstain from eating animal flesh, but do often eat animal by-products such as dairy products and eggs. Some also eat seafood including fish, shrimp, and crab. They are also a little more relaxed when it comes to the products they purchase as well.

What is a vegetarian diet?

The vegetarian diet comes in several varieties. The standard vegetarian diet consists of eggs and dairy products but excludes fish and meat. This is also called a “lacto ovo vegetarian.” However, some vegetarians include dairy products but exclude eggs while others include the eggs and exclude the dairy. A “demi-vegetarian” includes seafood.

There are also what are known as “semi-vegetarians” although there is some controversy over whether they should be classified as vegetarian or not.

  • Pollo Vegetarian – includes poultry but excludes other meats and seafood.
  • Pesco Vegetarian – includes fish and chicken but excludes red meat.
  • Flexitarian – includes any kind of meat whenever they want but adhere mainly to a standard vegetarian diet.

What is a vegan diet?

A vegan diet excludes all animal by products and meats. True vegans do not use or wear anything derived from animals (leather, snakeskin, etc.) or that is tested on animals. Most vegans tend to avoid sodas, sugary sweets, processed foods, and ready-meals, while choosing organic, high quality foods.

Still, there are a few variations of veganism too. For instance, a raw vegan combines a vegan diet with a raw diet meaning that they exclude all products and foods of animal origins as well as food that has been cooked at a temperature greater than 118 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Paleo vegan is defined by the types of foods that are eaten. It is still meat and animal product free, but the foods that are chosen are selected from the Paleo diet.

This type of diet centers on certain types of foods that are believed to have been consumed during the Paleolithic era. It includes fish, meat, fruit, and vegetables but excludes grain and dairy products. Of course, for vegan purposes, the meat and fish are excluded.

What are the benefits of vegan and vegetarian diets?

Vegetarian and vegan diets have many health benefits. The tend to be much higher in vitamins C and E, magnesium, folic acid, and potassium. The fat content tends to be more unsaturated.

Vegan diets typically have less cholesterol and unsaturated fat that vegetarian diets and they contain more fiber. This translates to lower blood pressure, lower serum cholesterol, less risk of diabetes and heart disease, and much lower incidence of obesity. While some of these diets may require certain vitamin supplements such as calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, and omega 3 fatty acids, most doctors agree that vegan and vegetarian diets are very healthy when done correctly.

For more helpful information like this or to inquire about our Holistic Nutritional services, visit www.ocwc.ca or call (780)-455-2112. Our staff is happy to help!