8 Fermented Foods to Improve Digestion

May 13, 2019/1 Comment/in Chiropractic Blog, Nutrition /by Dr. Kent Ferguson

Fermented foods are amazing at keeping your digestive tract healthy and avoiding bowel diseases and acid reflux. With numerous benefits, here are the 9 best foods that you can include in your lunches.

1. Sauerkraut

Sauerkrat is prepared by infusing cabbage with water and salt. The mixture is lightly heated to stop it from killing off the beneficial bacteria. The process of fermentation which breaks down the lactose gives this food a sour taste and lends it cancer-fighting capacity.

You can add a few spoons in salads or over a rice bowl for a healthy dose of probiotics to help digestion.

2. Kimchi

Kimchi is a beloved Korean side-dish taken with ramen and meat dishes. It is made by fermenting different vegetables like cabbages, radishes, and tomatoes mixed in sugar and flavored sauces. Kimchi has been found to lower down cholesterol in the blood and help insulin resistance.

3. Tempeh

Tempeh is an Asian food made by fermenting soybeans and is a wonderful substitute for meat. It has an extremely high content of probiotics that fight off bad bacteria in the body and help your body digest even the heaviest of meals.

Soy protein is helpful in cutting down body cholesterol. You can bake tempeh or even steam with as a side dish with noodles and rice.

4. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is richer and thicker compared to normal yogurt. It carries in it beneficial bacteria from lactic acid prepared through the fermentation process. It’s not only a good source of calcium for healthy bones but a single bowl packs a nutritious punch of essential B vitamins, probiotics, and riboflavin.

Regularly consuming yogurt can single-handedly help you lower down blood pressure, supply your body with beneficial bacteria and, help you lose weight.

5. Kombucha

Kombucha is a traditionally fermented tea made from green or black tea with a sour, unique taste. Drinking a cup after a heavy meal can significantly ward off liver toxicity and help digest the meal quickly. Kombucha also aids in blood sugar regulation and strengthens the liver.

6. Miso

Miso is a Japanese seasoning prepared by fermenting soybeans mixed in salt and moldy rice called Koji. It is used to make miso stock and soup, and traditionally goes with breakfast items.

Studies have shown that women who consume miso naturally have lower risks of breast cancer. Miso has a number of health benefits for the heart and blood pressure while supplying your body with ample probiotics to strengthen immunity.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider is a powerful concentration of fermented apples that is a good morning drink to kickstart metabolism. Having it sparingly after meals can help digestion and increase your stomach’s acid reproduction keeping acid reflux at bay.

It helps the liver detoxify and keep body colon clean.

8. Kefir

Kefir is a fermented drink made out of cultured dairy. By mixing kefir grains with milk and yeast, the concoction turns into a viscous beverage that resembles yogurt.

Kefir is an amazing alternative for those who are lactose intolerant, helps digestion and improve bone health by preventing inflammation.

Fermented foods are an excellent addition to your diet and are the secret to living longer.

For more beneficial health information like this, visit www.ocwc.ca . Our Clinic offers detailed nutritional counselling. Give us a call at (780)455-2112 to schedule your appointment with our Certified Holistic Nutrition Counselor.

How Chiropractic Benefits Cyclists

Now that summer is upon us and the chilly winds of winter are gone for at least a few months, more people are taking their fitness and recreational activities outside. Cycling is popular activity that fits both bills. It is a great way to unwind and enjoy the great outdoors, but it is also an excellent form of exercise.

Chiropractic provides excellent benefits to cyclists, whether you hit the trails on the weekend, incorporate cycling as part of your fitness regimen, or commute to work on your bike every day.

Relief from Pain
Faster Healing from Injuries
Better Muscle Tone and Balance
Improved Range of Motion
Enriched Cycling Biomechanics

In short, chiropractic and help make you a better cyclist and help you get the most out of your cycling. It will help keep your body aligned and balanced physically, but it also treats the whole body.

That means that your chiropractor will also make nutritional recommendations and even recommend various supplements if necessary. This will give your energy a boost and improve your performance, while helping you stay healthy and fit. This is how chiropractic helps you have more stamina and endurance.

Chiropractic for Cycling Injuries

As with any type of physical activity, there is always a chance that injuries will occur. Chiropractic helps keep your body balanced and improves your flexibility. This, in turn, decreases your chance for injury.

However, if you are injured, chiropractic can help you recover and heal much faster. You start with a healthy, balanced body through regular chiropractic care, and that helps you bounce back faster if you sustain an injury.

Chiropractic care can also be used to treat injuries. Cycling can cause pain and injury in the ligaments, muscles, knees, ankles, hips, hands, wrists, feet, neck, back, and shoulders.

Regular adjustments can help decrease the likelihood of pain in these areas, but sometimes the soreness can creep in anyway. When that happens, chiropractic treatments have been shown to be very effective in treating pain without pain medication and associated harmful side effects.

Spinal alignment is one of the most common chiropractic techniques, but it goes much farther than that. Adjustments to the legs and feet can help with ankle, knee, hip, and foot pain. Adjustments to the arms and shoulders can help relieve pain in those areas. Special attention to the joints help keep them flexible and functioning as they should.

Chiropractic allows the Body’s Natural Ability to Heal

Chiropractic is completely natural and does not rely on invasive treatments or surgeries. It does not use medications of any kind. It uses nutrition and supplements that rely on the body’s natural ability to heal. It simply realigns the body so that the neural pathways are unobstructed. This allows blood flow to be more efficient and reach the organs much easier.

Chiropractic involves gentle spinal manipulations that realign the body and restore movement in the joints as well as muscle trigger points and soft tissue. It may include electrical muscular current therapies, massage, cold laser therapy, ultrasonic waves, and other therapies in addition to the spinal manipulations.

A chiropractic patient may be advised to rest, ice an area, elevate it, or be given specific exercises to work that area. Chiropractic is not a rote therapy as many traditional medical practices tend to be. It adjusts to each patient, taking into account their unique lifestyle, activity level, nutritional needs, and other elements that influence that particular patient’s healing process.

Chiropractic sees each patient as individual and treat them as such. This is what makes it such an effective treatment for cyclists. The benefits it offers them can not only keep them pain free and participating in their activity; it can also make them better at it.

Visit www.ocwc.ca to learn more about our chiropractors or call (780)455-2112 to book your assessment!

massage massages best massages worldwide

Best Massages From Around the World

April 15, 2019/1 Comment/in Chiropractic Blog /by Dr. Kent Ferguson

Frequent travelers know how hard it can be hopping on one plane to another. With the constant rush of getting everything packed on time to catching the flight can lead to great physical and mental stress. Therefore, it is important to opt for a safe escapade when these travelling individuals land in their destinations. Here is a breakdown of the best massages around the world.

Swedish Massages

Contrary to popular belief, the Swedish massage did not originate in Sweden. Moreover, it was not even invented by a Swede. A Dutch practitioner incorporated basic strokes with French names to create this massage.

This massage is best known for its ability to soothe frictions using stokes, rubs, and kneads and strikes on the human body with different levels of pressure. Moreover, it is ideal for those that exercise regularly or even athletes, as it can loosen the lactic acids in the body and promote blood circulation.

African Rungu

This massage was first introduced in South Africa, but it is rapidly spreading across the region. The Rungu stick is a symbol of the warriors, which is why it is special.

This massage is done with the help of the Rungu stick so pressure can penetrate deeper into the muscles for better and more effective pain relief. The stick is then moved in circular fashion over the problem areas, which releases tension from within the tissues. Moreover, it promotes blood circulation.

Japanese Shiatsu

Although, acupuncture and herbalism is a form of ancient China, the Japanese brought this into their nation, incorporated their own techniques, and created this massage method.

The meaning of Shiatsu is “finger pressure” which means this massage is all about applying the right amount of pressures to the painful areas. There are many variations of this massage (like cupping and acupuncture). However, the goal is to create a balance in the body.

Hot or Cold Stone Massages

There are different variations of this massage available, but its roots come from Arizona.

The thing to remember when opting for this massage is that the temperature of the stone must be chemically connected with the body temperature. Every therapist has their own way of performing this massage, and sometimes it is even incorporated with others for best results.

Thai Massages

This massage has been around for many generations, but has been modified as time has gone on.

For this, there is movement required from the therapist and receiver. It includes high-pressure rubbing and kneading, but in some cases, the therapist has to move on the body to give the best results. Sometimes the sound of bones cracking is also audible!

Ayurveda

Created with intense Indian influence, this head massage has been around for many generations.

In this massage, the therapist uses oils on the head and begins kneading the head, applying pressure on the temples. They slowly move towards the shoulders, neck, and hands. This allows the body to restore its energy and release tensions.

Next time you land, make sure you opt for one of these recommended massages to experience the best time in your destination and so you can stay relaxed.

6 Synthetic Foods That Can Destroy Bone Health (And How to Undo the Damage)

April 8, 2019/0 Comments/in Chiropractic Blog, Nutrition /by Dr. Kent Ferguson

Synthetic or artificially made foods used as additives are far more toxic than we can imagine. Some of them don’t even qualify as foods and barely provide any nutritional value. Heavy metals, food dyes, and pesticides in our foods are not only harmful to our colon health but suck nutrients away from our bones. Most commonly found in beverages, trans-fat foods, and breakfast syrups, there are plenty of synthetic foods hidden in your snacks and drinks that may be slowly killing your bones.

Watch out for the following list of man-made additives, sugars, and oils that can possibly deprive your bones of nutritional health if consumed abundantly.

1. Synthetic Sulfites

Sulfites include sulfur dioxide, calcium sulfites, and sodium disulfite. They are mainly used as preservatives and artificial colors. Although banned from being used over vegetables and fruits, sulfites are still freely used in many foods we eat like processed juices and tea, canned foods, and alcohol.
The main reason why they are deadly for bone health is that they take away Thiamin or Vitamin B1. Sulfites tend to hinder growth and development in bones and contribute to inflammation.

2. Phosphoric Acid

Coke is your enemy. In fact, all carbonated beverages with high amounts of refined sugars can eat away bone matter and deplete your bones of calcium, if taken excessively. Cola-based sodas are proven to significantly decrease bone mineral density, according to researchers at Tufts University.

3. Disodium EDTA

Disodium EDTA is a food additive that is used for flavor and color preservation, mostly found in canned foods and pickles. Primarily used to stop foods from decaying, this substance can deprive your bones of essential nutrients by pulling minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, and manganese away from the digestive tract and out for excretion.

4. Hydrogenated Oils

Hydrogenation can destroy all the Vitamin K in oils, which is an essential nutrient for strong bones. Found in cookies, pastries, donuts and junk food, hydrogenated oils typically used in commercial baking can even block the arteries.

5. Aspartame

An artificial sweetener, commonly found in sodas, aspartame can trigger anxiety, nausea, depression, muscle spasms, and wreck bone health.

6. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Although widely avoided, MSG is still used as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods. MSG has the potential to excessively stimulate our nerve cells, which can lead to dangerous seizures, migraines, and even depression. With so many health menaces, it can possibly reduce bone density as well.
Sadly, even when the glutamate industry knows it’s a toxic substance, they still sell it.

How to Undo the Damage

Luckily, weak bones can easily be strengthened. The first step is of course to ditch all the above-mentioned toxic foods from your diet.
You should ideally eat a bowl of rich greens like broccoli and okra, with lunch or dinner and consume a rich source of calcium in your diet. Dairy foods like milk and cheese are a good source. Spend 30 minutes daily in the sun to allow the body to soak up some Vitamin D.

Doing these simple steps consistently can help your bones regain their lost strength. For more nutritional tips visit www.ocwc.ca .

What Chiropractic Patients Need To Know About Acidity vs. Alkalinity In The Body

April 1, 2019/0 Comments/in Chiropractic Blog, Nutrition /by Dr. Kent Ferguson

There has been a lot in the media lately about alkalinity and acidity in the body, but finding solid, straightforward information isn’t always easy. In short, acidity can cause a number of health issues. There are many benefits of bringing your body into balance.

What is high acidity?

The term acidity describes a condition where the body is affected by the excess production of gastric acids. Under normal conditions, hydrochloric acid is secreted by the stomach, aiding in the digestion and breakdown of food.

However, when this normal process is triggered in such a way that it causes overproduction of the acid, it can result in health problems. Acidity can be caused by irregular eating patterns, fad diets, alcohol consumption, stress, smoking, an unhealthy diet, and a sedentary lifestyle. Symptoms can include:

Indigestion
Burning in the stomach
Belching
Sour taste
Burning in the throat
Constipation
Nausea
Restlessness

What are the dangers of high acidity in the body?

When the body is acidic, it can affect everything from immunity to neurological function to bone health. The Japanese have linked acidity to degenerative diseases like arthritis, cancer, and osteoporosis.

An acidic body is also a very hospitable environment for bacteria and viruses to thrive meaning the person will often get sick more often. When the body is out of balance it becomes susceptible to conditions as simple as dandruff and as complex as diabetes. Interestingly, many people have reversed or gone into remission by simply bringing their body into balance.

What is alkalinity?

In order to understand alkalinity, you need to understand pH levels. This is the measure used to determine how alkaline or acid something is. A pH of 0 is at the acidic end of the scale and means the thing being measured is completely acidic. At the other end of the scale, a pH of 14 is totally alkaline. The neutral point is a pH of 7.

Different parts of the body have different pH levels, meaning that some parts are more acidic while others are more alkaline. For instance, blood typically has a pH that is between 7.35 and 7.45, making it slightly alkaline. The stomach, on the other hand, is highly acidic, registering a pH of 3.5 or lower. Making the body more alkaline is not about making it completely alkaline – you need some acidity, it is necessary for digestion and other processes – it is more about bringing the body into balance.

What are the benefits of alkalinity?

When the body has increased alkalinity, bringing it into better pH balance, it is healthier and has a decreased risk of chronic illness. There is also less likelihood of illness. When the body is in a better pH balance it can result in many benefits including:

More energy
Improved cognitive function
Slowed aging process
Weight loss
Lower cancer risk
Decreased risk of chronic illness
Increased immunity

How can you bring your body into balance?

The best way to bring your body into better pH balance is by modifying your diet. As a rule of thumb, animal based foods like meat, eggs, and dairy tend to be more acidic. A vegetarian diet rich in plant-based foods like vegetables and fruits tend to be more alkaline. While the body does need a diet that includes both acidic and alkaline foods, a diet of processed foods and foods high in fat and sugar can cause too much acidity. By adjusting the diet, eliminating processed foods, and maintaining a healthier, more vegetarian based diet, you can bring your body into balance and enjoy better health as a result.

Visit www.ocwc.ca for more tips on how to get your body feeling and looking better!

Acupuncture Therapy – Myths and Misconceptions Busted

March 25, 2019/0 Comments/in Acupuncture, Chiropractic Blog /by Dr. Kent Ferguson

Every person you ask will give you different information – right or wrong – about acupuncture therapy. This alternative medication has been around for more than 3,500 years. It has proven to be a cure for thousands of people around the world. But with such a therapy, a therapy that is relatively unknown in these parts of the world, many questions arise.

Let’s Bust All the Myths and Misconceptions

1. “We are About Talking Needles – It Must Hurt.”

The thought of needles piercing through your skin can sound intimidating, but the needles that are used are very fine. They are the size of a cat whisker. The initial prick may feel like a mosquito bite, which is not always felt by everyone. In case of discomfort, you need to know that the pain will ease as the acupuncturist starts to adjust the needles. Once the pain has faded, a feeling of peace will take over you. When you being to feel the Qi sensation, it means your body is healing!

2. “There Is No Scientific Reasoning behind It”

Acupuncture therapy has been categorized as folk medicine over the years because its drug free and has a noninvasive nature. Now, doctors around the world are using acupuncture as an alternative method to medicinal treatments. What people disregard is that not all natural alternatives need scientific reasoning. Acupuncture is the most natural way to treat certain problems without having the need to take many different medicines.

3. “If The Results Does Not Show After One Treatment Then It Is Not Working”

People tend to ignore the fact that everyone has different responses to different stimuli. If someone is giving a good response to the first or second treatment, does not mean that everyone will. Some people need to go through the full course in order to feel the effect. Acupuncture’s effects build after every treatment. Not all acupuncturists use the same methods therefore the results may vary.

4. “Acupuncture is Unhygienic”

A popular belief is that acupuncture therapy is unhygienic and it transmits infections to others. Opposing this popular belief, acupuncturists use separate needles for each patient. Many use disposable needles as well, so there is absolutely no chance of being infected. The USFDA checks the acupuncture needles regularly for the licensed practitioners.

5. “It Is Going To Be Addictive”

Another belief by people is that once you start getting acupuncture treatments, you will always need to get them in order to feel good. In reality, the aim of acupuncture is to treat the problem so that you don’t need endless future treatments. For those who have chronic problems, a weekly acupuncture therapy session can do wonders.

6. “It Will Not Fix the Problem”

Acupuncture therapy teaches your body systems to self-heal. The functions of the needle are to stimulate the parts of your body that produce painkillers so it can reduce inflammation, improve digestion, sleeping patterns and fight against illnesses.

Lauren Wig R.Ac. at Oliver Chiropractic Clinic is skilled in treating a variety of conditions. Give the clinic a call at (780)455-2112 or visit www.ocwc.ca to book with her online!

Healing the Gut – 5 Foods to Help with Digestion

March 11, 2019/0 Comments/in Chiropractic Blog, Nutrition /by Dr. Kent Ferguson

The digestive system, also known as the gut is a delicate system of crucial organs that help in food digestion and fighting off diseases. The stomach, a part of the gut system that secretes important enzymes and acids to disinfect our food and absorb essential nutrients while protecting your body from harmful diseases and infections.

A bad or leaky gut is the single-most important cause of just about any problem in the body. Acne is a common upshot of inner inflammation and an excess of bad bacteria. It’s safe to say that healing the gut ultimately heals every illness. Serving as a building block to your health and well being, our digestive system is extremely sensitive. Any food that offsets its balance can cause the body to develop gastrointestinal problems, eventually aggravating to worse health issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Alternatively, eating nutritious food in the right amount while making sure your meals are digested properly can create a healthy environment for the gut to function.

Here are 5 extremely healthy, warming foods that work to stimulate digestion

1. Steamed Veggies

Cut up some colorful vegetables and lightly steam them in a little garlic and butter. You can have a bowl alongside a light meal or on its own. Beetroot, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, and butternut squash are good sources of antioxidants and nutrients that help the gut digest food faster. They can also increase nutrition absorption. You may even bake and pan-roast the veggies to enhance the taste.

2. Oatmeal Porridge

A traditional breakfast dish, a delicious warm bowl of oatmeal can improve your digestive health. The gut bacteria cause the oats to ferment and improve the microbial health of the body. Oatmeal is rich in essential proteins, vitamins, fibers, and phytochemicals that helps remove toxins from the gut.

Sprinkle a few chia and flax seeds along with a little bit of maple syrup for a wholesome breakfast meal.

3. Miso Soup

A Japanese stock, Miso soup is incredibly rich in probiotics necessary to encourage good bacteria in the gut. As a fermented food, Miso produces healthy enzymes for easier digestion. Your intestinal flora can benefit greatly because the probiotics help synthesize essential vitamins like B12 and boost metabolism. However, because it’s extremely salty, you should consume no more than 6g daily. You can ideally choose from white, yellow, and red Miso that’s rich in flavor and color.

4. Lemon Water

Drinking a glass of warm lemon water and honey on an empty stomach reaps many benefits. With whopping amounts of vitamin C, lemons also contain a fiber called pectin that serves as a food for the gut bacteria. Lemon is a good source of probiotics as well that helps improve the microbial ecosystem of our body.

5. Almonds and Walnuts

While eaten on their own they are just as delicious, you can also crush a few almonds and walnuts and sprinkle them over your oatmeal porridge. By encouraging beneficial gut bacteria in the body, these dry fruits strengthen intestinal health.

It’s time to ditch fast-foods and allow your gut to heal with these delicious, warming foods.

For a more detailed approach to maintaining a healthy gut, give our clinic a call at (780)455-2112 or visit www.ocwc.ca to book with our Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant- Alicia Miller. Lifestyle changes are the best!

What Chiropractic Patients Want To Know About Fitness Trackers

March 4, 2019/0 Comments/in Chiropractic, Chiropractic Blog, Health, Weight Loss /by Dr. Kent Ferguson

Exercise is usually a great compliment to chiropractic treatment. In fact, many chiropractors recommend regular exercise to their patients. It helps with pain management and speeds healing as well as give your mood a healthy, natural boost. Where does fitness trackers come in?

Fitness trackers are a popular workout tool that helps people set fitness goals, track their progress, and get healthier. How can they help chiropractic patients though? What can they offer that patients will get more out of their treatments? Find out what you need to know about chiropractic and fitness trackers.

It takes more than the tech to get you fit.

All the flashy, high tech bells and whistles in the world won’t roll you out of bed in the morning and place you on the treadmill. No fancy wristband will get you up and moving, getting exercise and getting fit. The tech is cool. It is fun and exciting, but it won’t get you fit. Only you can do that.

So if you are getting a fitness tracker with the belief that it is going to be some kind of fitness magic bullet, that just won’t happen. It is great as a fitness buddy, a tool, a nifty gadget that may help motivate you and help you achieve your fitness goals. In the end, though, you are the one driving that car. You are in control.

Is a fitness tracker for you?

There are so many fitness trackers on the market with an almost endless list of features. Finding the one that is right for you, or if you could even benefit from a fitness tracker takes a bit of research. Look for features that work for you and the activities you will be pursing.

For instance, if you enjoy water-based fitness activities you might want a waterproof model. There are also data limits, screen sizes (or no screen at all), heart rate tracking options, and whether you want a clip on tracker or one that straps on your wrist.

Before making your purchase, take some time to research all of the features that are available to you then decide what you like and what features would best help you meet your fitness goals.

How to get the most out of your fitness tracker.

Once you have your fitness tracker you will want to make a plan to ensure that you get the most out of it. Try these tips to make your fitness tracker work its best for you.

Identify clear cut goals. When you begin your fitness quest, the first thing you need to do is know where you want to go with it. It is a good idea to record your stats at the beginning and then update them every month or so. This will let you see how many more steps you are taking, how much weight you’ve lost, or whatever else you wish to accomplish.

Set attainable benchmarks. Benchmarks help you along as you work toward your goal. The key is setting them so that they are attainable but still present a bit of a challenge. If weight loss is your key, you might set benchmarks for every two months. For fitness goals, you may set benchmarks for a certain number of steps in a given time or a certain number of workouts each week. When you reach a benchmark, celebrate a little.

Wear it on your non-dominant wrist. The Journal, Medical and Science in Sports and Exercise published a study that revealed participants who wore fitness trackers on their wrists throughout the day found that they were more accurate when worn on the non-dominant wrist. The theory is that the non-dominant wrist moves less, giving a more accurate reading.

Calibrate your tracker to match your stride. Not everyone has the same stride. You may be very tall or very short; you might take longer strides or time steps. Whatever the case, you’ll get the most out of your fitness tracker by calibrating your stride. Most trackers will provide instructions for doing the calibration. It is well worth taking the time to complete it.

Incorporate other apps to boost your fitness efforts. Many fitness trackers will recommend other apps that can help you meet your goals and you can sync them to your tracker. However, you can also look for apps on your own that can help. There are so many different fitness apps out there from food tracking to apps that use your phone’s GPS to provide more accurate measurements on your runs, walks, or bike rides.

The more fit you are the better your chiropractic treatments will typically work. Fitness trackers can help you reach your goals and get the most out of your chiropractic care.

Visit www.ocwc.ca for more health information and fitness tips in our various blogs!

How to Make the Most of Your Massage

February 25, 2019/0 Comments/in Chiropractic Blog /by Dr. Kent Ferguson

The reason why individuals opt for a massage session is so that they can get maximum benefits out of it. However, with a few mistakes made during the session, sometimes it becomes hard to get the most benefits out of this therapy. To make things easier for you, here are the ways you can get the most out of your massage.

1. Be open

When you go in for your massage, it is important to be as open as possible. You need to be communicating with your massage therapist so you can let him/her know what to do. During the entire massage therapy, make sure you are being open and not holding any thoughts back if you want the most out of your massage.

2. Eat in Advance

It is important to eat at least 2 hours before your massage session because you need to let your body digest the food. If you have not digested the food properly, the pressure you apply will feel uncomfortable no matter what the intensity is.

3. Be on Time

To get the most out of your massage session, you need to make sure you are getting there on time. If you get there in a rushed state, it will take longer for you to relax. But if you get there on time, you will be more relaxed resulting in great massage.

4. Communicate

It is important to communicate with your massage therapist. Before the session begins, you need to let your massage therapist know about health information, what you expect out of this massage and the reason why you are getting it. You must let him/her know about any allergies you may have to lotions, powders, or oils so there is no irritation on your skin. If you prefer the music to be on, let your therapist know what type of music you prefer, but if it is bothering you, then ask him/her to turn it off. If you feel any sort of discomfort throughout the course of your massage, make sure you are letting the therapist know so they can be more careful in the future. When the session is over, you need to give your therapist feedback. Let them know any details related to the speed of their hand movements, pressure, anything that did not feel good. Do not feel hesitant in discussing any concerns with your therapist.

5. Facilitate Your Breath

No matter what type of massage you are getting, it is important to facilitate your breathing. People tend to stop breathing properly during their massage, and that is not good. It makes them anxious and tenses the muscles. With tensed muscles and disturbed breathing, there is no way you will be able to get the most out of your massage session.

All these tips will make sure you are getting the most out of a single massage session, but to get the most benefits, you will need to opt for regular massages. If you’re looking for quality, professional massage therapy service, give our office @ call @ 780-455-2112. Check us out at www.ocwc.ca.

5 Tips To Help Support Low Thyroid Function

February 18, 2019/0 Comments/in Chiropractic Blog, Nutrition /by Dr. Kent Ferguson

When it comes to managing your thyroid function there is no one magic bullet. Low thyroid function affects everyone in different ways. Low thyroid function is linked to an array of symptoms like :

Fatigue.
Weakness.
Weight gain
difficulty losing weight.
Coarse, dry hair.
Hair loss.
Dry skin.
Cold temperature intolerance
Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches.

If you or someone you know is suffering from low thyroid function, here are 5 tips to consider.

1.Digestive Habits Improve Thyroid Function

Have good digestive habits like chewing thoroughly and not being distracted while eating. Support the break down of food in your stomach by drinking lemon water. Proteins, vitamins and mineral are broken down for absorption in the stomach.

You may not think to start with looking at your digestion when dealing with low thyroid function, but this is the first place you should start. If you not absorbing important vitamins and minerals that your thyroid needs this can be a major underlying reason your thyroid function is low.

2. Protein & Fats Improve Thyroid Function

Protein is very important for our thyroid function and overall health. Bone broth and salmon are two great sources of protein if you are experiencing low thyroid function.

Eat healthy fats, we have all heard this, but it really is a basic to health. Our bodies can become overwhelmed by polyunsaturated fats and oils that can interfere with our inflammation and hormonal responses in the body. These imbalances in fat can have a direct impact on our thyroid health. Food sources of omega 3 fatty acids and other health fats are, avocados, fish and Chia Seeds.

3. Cutting out gluten Improves Thyroid Function

There is a strong link between both Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease with gluten intolerance.

Reducing or eliminating gluten can be quite difficult for many people. Once gluten has been eliminated from the diet it can take up to six months to have the desired effect our immune systems. That is why gluten elimination should last at least 3 to 6 months

4. Iodine Absorption Improves Thyroid Function

Getting enough Iodine is a good place to start. Great food sources include from fish, sea vegetables and sea salt to the diet on a weekly basis.

Some foods inhibit the absorption of iodine. Foods with this property are called goitrogens. If the problem is low thyroid function then it may be useful to avoid or limit goitrogens in our diets. Examples of foods that act like goitrogens are soy, millet, flax, peanuts, caffeine and canola

The following foods are also goitrogrens. Consider cooking or steaming all foods on this list as cooking breakdown the goitrogens: (all dark leafy green vegetables) spinach, arugula, broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, chinese cabbage, collards, kohlrabi, mustard greens, bok choy, brussels sprouts, turnips, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, sauerkraut, kimchi, horse radish

Many pesticides used to grow our food also can inhibit iodine absorption. Reduce pesticides by buying organic, properly cooking foods and washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly. A great resource is to look up the dirty dozen and clean fifteen for a list of what to buy organic. If you are on a tight budget consider buying organic for any animal-based products.

5. Lifestyle tips Habits Improve Thyroid Function

Get adequate sleep because lack of sleep puts stress on the body. Usually somewhere between 7 to 8 hours per night is best.

Exercise moderately. Both no exercise and excessive exercise are hard on the thyroid gland. Many people with low thyroid function will report continued weight gain. This can be frustrating resulting in a lack of motivation to continue exercising.

No exercise is not healthy on the body but over exercising with low thyroid function can be stressful on the body as well. Consider activities such as yoga, dance or movement classes to keep on track. As you continue to balance your thyroid function you can add more exercise or movement into your life.

Meditation and deep breathing have been shown to help balance the thyroid and adrenal glands. As a meditation and yoga teacher I had to add this in. We often don’t take time to listen to our bodies signals and if we take couple moments each day to listen to ourselves, we may be surprised by how our bodies are sending us the information we need to help ourselves. Only you can listen to yourself in this way, don’t make your body have to send you big signs where you must listen.

Do something you enjoy every day. Take a bubble bath, read, go for a walk. Whatever you enjoy! Don’t deny yourself, we only experience this moment once so enjoy it whenever you can.

If you’re looking for support, give our office a call at 780-455-2112, and our team will help you schedule an appointment.