How Sugar Is Detrimental To Your Health

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Most people now acknowledge just how bad sugar is. The problem is, many are not willing to give it up. The evidence is clear though, over the last three decades chronic disease like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease have grown exponentially in occurrences that correlate strongly with Americans’ ever-increasing intake of sugar. But while this may not be new information, people are still unwilling to make the changes necessary – even with the threat of poor or worsening health (and even death) hanging over their heads.

One of the problems is that it is very difficult to get away from. Pick up almost any product on your grocery store shelves and read the ingredients. Sugar is there most of the time.

It is found in most processed foods including spaghetti sauce, salad dressings, dried fruit, fruit juices, even so-called “healthy” foods like frozen quinoa blends and “diet” frozen dinners. Sugar is everywhere and people are consuming it without even realizing that they are doing so.

Sugar is Addictive

Again, this is not new information, but many people don’t realize just how addictive sugar really is. One research article compared sugar addiction to drug addiction. The authors even went so far as to say sugar is as addictive as cocaine (or more so).

There is strong evidence to support this; sugar does affect a person at the neurobiological level. It activates the brain’s reward center, similar to what drugs do. Regular exposure provokes cravings similar to drug addiction and withdrawal symptoms when it is stopped.

The real problem here is that it is 1) legal, and 2) available for anyone to purchase- even children. In fact, there is a huge push to market sugar to children through heavily sugared cereals, drinks, and snack foods.

The children want it because they saw it on TV, the parents buy it, and the children end up cognitively impaired, obese, and chronically ill. It’s time to start connecting the dots and making significant changes in not only what we eat, but what we feed our children.

But Why is Sugar so Bad?

In its pure form, right out of the sugar cane, the juice has nutritional properties. However, all of that nutrition is destroyed when it is processed and refined as sugar (even “raw,” turbinado, and other forms – it’s still sugar). It becomes something that may be edible, but isn’t really food. It is just a substance with absolutely no nutritional value – but lots of potential for damage.

The moment sugar enters your bloodstream your body begins secreting insulin. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and its function is to regulate sugar in the blood, to keep it balanced. When you overwhelm your body with sugar it keeps producing more and more insulin. A diet that is high in sugar can result in insulin resistance which can lead to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other dangerous conditions.

The more sugar you consume, the harder your body has to work to process it. It gets stored in the liver, leading to a fatty, enlarged liver, high glucose levels, and even affect the function of your organs including your kidneys. If you have conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, the risk of damage to your organs is increased even more.

High glucose levels have also been linked to impaired cognitive function, loss of memory, depression, and anxiety as well as an increased risk of dementia. It can cause difficulty in concentration and the inability to focus or stay on task.

The solution here is to avoid sugar or make low sugar choices. Read labels! Take the time to think about what you are putting into your body and how it will affect you. If you make a conscious effort to reduce your sugar intake, over time your body will stop craving it.

Pericardium 6 and Acupuncture for Fertility/Pregnancy

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Pericardium 6 (PC-6) is an incredibly useful point on the inside of the wrist and is known as the anti-nausea point. Whether the nausea is caused by morning sickness, indigestion or motion sickness, PC-6 is your point! This point is also a command point of the chest, which means it is great at treating palpitations, chest tightness and acid reflux. It is also used in combination with other points in most anxiety treatments. This acu point is found on the inside of the wrist, two thumb breadths below the wrist line and between the two tendons. Many people may have seen “anti-nausea” wristbands which actually just use acupressure on PC-6 to resolve symptoms!

How can acupuncture help with fertility?

Acupuncture is an excellent tool for couples who are trying to conceive (TTC). Whether you are actively TTC or are just starting the journey and want to learn more about your cycle, your acupuncturist can help. Acupuncture improves fertility by regulating the menstrual cycle/hormones, increasing blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, promoting ovulation, and supporting a healthy luteal phase for successful implantation. It also works to increase libido, reduce stress and anxiety surrounding the TTC process, and can increase sperm count and motility.

Acupuncture can support patients who are trying to conceive naturally, as well as those going through the IUI or IVF process. A recent study found that when used in conjunction with Western fertility treatments, acupuncture increases conception rates by 26% (Tel Aviv University, 2016).

Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?

The short answer is YES! Acupuncture is completely safe for the entire duration of pregnancy. However it is important you inform your practitioner if you are pregnant as they will need to tailor the treatment to suit your needs. Acupuncture is extremely beneficial in treating any symptoms you may experience during pregnancy. Most women find it especially helpful during the first trimester when symptoms of fatigue, nausea and vomiting tend to be most severe. This is where the point Pericardium 6 is most useful.

As pregnancy progresses, your acupuncturist will be able to address any symptoms that may arise such as insomnia, body pain, and acid reflux. If the baby is breech presentation, your acupuncturist can utilize a technique called moxabustion to turn the baby. At around 36 weeks, you can begin having labour prep treatments which aim to ripen the uterus and prepare the body for delivery. At 38 weeks gestation you can start doing labour induction treatments which promote a downward movement in the body and can help induce labour. Even after delivery acupuncture can help the body to recover more quickly, and can increase milk supply or resolve mastitis.

Whatever stage of conception or pregnancy you are at, your acupuncturist will be able to create a customized plan to support your needs.

For more information on how acupuncture can help you or to schedule an initial consult contact us at info@ocwc.ca or 780-455-2112

3 Tips Chiropractic Patients Can Use To Increase Flexibility

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Flexibility is something that many people would like more of, but few know how to achieve it. If they do, they don’t do anything about it. This is because flexibility training is often seen as difficult, painful, and time consuming. It is also significantly underestimated. Why bother getting flexible if you aren’t an athlete or dancer? Why do regular people need to improve their flexibility? The answers to these questions may surprise you. You also might find that improving your flexibility is easier than you think.

Why is flexibility important?

Flexibility is a key component of keeping your body fit and healthy. Research shows that people who are more flexible are better able to reach their optimum fitness level.

It can also help to prevent injury and reduce your risk of conditions like arthritis and other chronic diseases. They also have a better range of motion and mobility as they age.

Muscles that are flexible have the potential to become stronger. This can help increase metabolism and improve fitness level.

A body that is more flexible can also carry out day to day activities easier and have less chance of injury. Blood flow is increased and circulation is improved which also helps to prevent chronic conditions like kidney disease and diabetes as well as heart disease.

Stretch for upper body flexibility

This upper body stretch also helps improve your posture. It is also great if you are largely sedentary throughout the day, such as sitting at a desk for extended periods.

  • Stand or sit in a chair, back straight, chin level, feel slightly apart and knees soft.
  • Put your hands behind your head, elbows out, chin tucked.
  • Gently press your head forward to feel the stretch through your neck, shoulders, and upper back; hold for five seconds.
  • Tilt your head back so that your chin is pointing toward the ceiling. Place the heels of your hands on your forehead and gently press to get a stretch through the front of the neck and the arms; hold for five seconds.
  • Bring your head to the start position, chin parallel to the floor, neck straight.
  • Put your right hand on the top of your head and gently press as if you are trying to touch your right ear to your right shoulder and feel the stretch along the left side of the neck and shoulder; hold for five seconds.
  • Put your left hand on the top of your head and gently press as if you are trying to touch your left ear to your left shoulder and feel the stretch along the right side of the neck and shoulder; hold for five seconds.
  • Raise your hands over your head and clasp your hands. Stretch and lift your body, lengthening your spine.
  • Release your hands and bend to the right, using your right hand to grasp your left elbow and gently pull it to the right. Hold for five seconds.
  • Raise your hands over your head and clasp your hands. Stretch and lift your body, lengthening your spine.
  • Release your hands and bend to the left, using your left hand to grasp your right elbow and gently pull it to the left. Hold for five seconds.

Stretch for lower body flexibility

This is a great stretch for women who wear high heels or for cyclists and people who walk, run, or use an elliptical machine.

  • Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you, feet together, knees soft, and back straight.
  • Slowly bend your right knee and lean back if necessary, using your right arm as a support behind you. Place your left hand under your left knee and flex your toes toward the ceiling, feeling the stretch through your calf. Hold for five seconds.
  • Stretch both legs out straight in front of you.
  • Slowly bend your left knee and lean back if necessary, using your left arm as a support behind you. Place your right hand under your right knee and flex your toes toward the ceiling, feeling the stretch through your calf. Hold for five seconds.
  • Roll onto your back with your knees bent toward the ceiling and feet flat on the floor.
  • Gently bring your right knee to your chest, holding it with your hands to get a nice stretch. Hold for five minutes.
  • Return to the start position, on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
  • Gently bring your left knee to your chest, holding it with your hands to get a nice stretch. Hold for five minutes.
  • Return to the start position, on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.

Stretch for flexibility in the back

This stretch is very good for low back pain.

  • Lie on your stomach keeping your legs straight, knees soft, and feet shoulder width apart.
  • Place your hands under your shoulders, palms down on the floor and push your upper body up so that your back is curved with your lower body still on the floor. Tilt your head back for more stretch. Hold for 10 seconds.
  • Lower your upper body back to the mat and slowly roll over to your hands and knees.
  • Keep your knees shoulder width apart and your back straight.
  • While on your hands and knees, tuck your chin and round out your back, pushing it towards the ceiling, feel the stretch through your entire back. Hold for 10 seconds.
  • Return to the start position with your knees shoulder width apart and your back straight.
  • While on your hands and knees, lift your chin, stretching it upwards and drop your back so that your spine curves toward the floor. Hold for 10 seconds.
  • Return to the start position with your knees shoulder width apart and your back straight.

If pain or disconfort is preventing you from progressing with your stretch program, consider visiting a chiropractor in our office. Check out our website @ www.ocwc.ca or give is a call @ 780-455-2112.

Why This 7-Minute Workout Is So Beneficial

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Doctors are always telling us to exercise, exercise, exercise but they don’t really give us many realistic options. Going to the gym is a pain, especially if you are short on time. Exercising at home can be a real pain too. You might be limited for space or tripping over kids – and although no one really talks about it, do you really want your significant other watching you sweat and gasp for air as you struggle through one of those insane workout DVDs? They say walking is good, but if you are in a neighborhood that doesn’t have sidewalks or it is hot as blue blazes outside just how likely are you to get up and do it (not to mention safety can be an issue)? Now suppose you could get all your exercising done in a 7-minute span. Would you do it? Is it even possible?

The answer is most definitely!

7 minutes 12 moves

An article published in the Health & Fitness Journal for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) takes everything we’ve learned about exercise and turns it upside down. Just 12 exercises in 7 minutes is all it takes to get fit, according to these fitness experts.

Nowhere are there heavy weights or fancy equipment, just a wall, a chair, and the person’s own body weight. Say hello to high intensity interval training- it’s about to change your world!

This 7-minute workout is the equivalent of a serious weight training session and long run, but without the weights or the running. That isn’t to say it is easy though. It requires a great deal of effort.

There’s a lot packed into those 7 minutes. It provides many of the benefits that are achieved by disciplined, long term endurance training, it just skips over the long-term part.

Make no mistake though, short does not mean it is easy – or pleasant. In fact, it may be one of the longer 7 minutes of your life.

The good news is, it’s over in 7 minutes. That’s a little more than 5 but less than 10.

It’s worth it though, when you look at the numerous health benefits that exercise provides. Plus, it’s great for people who are super busy and can’t seem to squeeze a workout into their schedules. Say hello to no more excuses!

The Science Behind the 7

These 12 exercises were not chosen at random. The reason it works is actually rooted in some pretty deep science. When you exercise for even a few minutes and are working at or near your maximum capacity (that means you are working very hard), it causes your muscles to experience molecular changes that are much like those that occur after several hours of riding a bike or running.

Interval training takes it a step farther. You engage in an activity that is extremely intense, then you have a brief recovery period, then back to a high intensity activity. That is the basis of this workout.

Each exercise should be done for about 30 seconds with a 10 second recovery period – but there’s a twist that ups the effectiveness even more. The exercises are arranged so that they engage the large muscles in the upper body, then in the lower body.

This alternating focus on muscle groups is important because while the lower body is working like crazy, the upper body can be catching its breath, so to speak. This makes for a much more efficient workout but it is also why the order of the exercises is critical.

The exercises are intense, but are movements that just about anyone can do. Many can also be adapted for people at different fitness levels. If you are looking for a great workout that will work for you but won’t eat up a lot of your time, you just might have found it.

Heavy Backpacks: Their Negative Effects & How Your Kids Can Avoid Them

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Summer is ending and the school year is starting. Time for new shoes, haircuts, homework, and backpacks. As you do your back to school shopping, think about the backpack your child will be carrying. Sure, they load them up with books, but did you know that wearing a heavy backpack for a long time can actually hurt your child?

What are the health risks of a heavy backpack?

Wearing a heavy backpack can strain the shoulders, back, and neck. As the child’s body tries to compensate for the extra weight, such as leaning forward, it can adopt positions that put the spine out of alignment. It can also cause the muscles to fatigue and weaken. This results in poor posture and a misaligned spine.

The longer he or she carries the extra weight, the worse it gets. Over time, the child can experience pain, stiffness, and problems with flexibility and range of motion. This can significantly increase the child’s potential for injury. The effects may include back ache, sore or stiff neck, sore shoulders, and headaches.

How heavy is too heavy for a child’s backpack?

According to the AAP, a child’s backpack should weigh less than 10 to 20 percent of his or her body weight – and no more. However, a Consumer Reports survey showed that the lower end of the range, around 10 percent or less, is preferable. In short, the lighter the backpack, the healthier it is for your child. A good rule of thumb is to observe your child wearing the backpack. If they are stooped or leaning forward, it is too heavy.

Children who are shorter, as well as girls, may be more prone to back pain caused by carrying heavy backpacks. This means that for these children you need to aim for even lighter weights. Children who are overweight may also be at risk for injury. The excess weight already puts a strain on their joints and muscles; the heavy backpack exacerbates the situation.

Children who wear their backpack over one shoulder also increase their risk of injury. This puts all the weight on one side, causing the child to bend or lean in an effort to compensate for the off-kilter weight. This can strain the shoulder and back, eventually causing injury and pain.

Helping your child avoid carrying a heavy backpack.

If you notice that your child cannot stand up straight while wearing the backpack, then it is too heavy. You should inspect your child’s backpack on a regular basis to test the heaviness. When purchasing a backpack, aim for wide, padded straps that are adjustable. It should fit the child well and to be too big. The straps should not be too loose. You want it to fit close to your child’s body and should come to just below the waist – but not too far. Don’t allow your child to carry the backpack on one shoulder, encourage them to wear it on both shoulders. This distributes the weight more evenly.

If your child is carrying a heavy backpack, you may need to talk to their teacher to see what is necessary for him or her to carry daily, and what can be left at home or at school. Work together to find ways to lighten the load and avoid injury. Also keep in mind, your child may not bring your attention to the fact that their backpack is too heavy. It is up to you to observe and intervene for them. To learn more about our office check out www.ocwc.ca

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

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The smell of fresh blueberry muffins in the air. Brings a lot of attention to the kitchen. It can be a challenge to bake healthy snacks that’s not packed full of sugar and fat.

Meg’s Healthy Blueberry Muffins recipe substitutes some common ingredients without loosing any of the flavour. Now that’s something everyone can enjoy!

 

Traditional blueberry muffins recipe contains:

  • 2 cups white flour 
  • ½ cup white sugar 
  • 1/3c. Vegetable oil 
  • ½ c. blueberries 
  • baking powder 2 tsp.
  • 1 egg 
  • 1 c. milk 

 

Meg’s Healthy Blueberry Muffins Recipe:

  • 2 cups white flour  – cut white flour in half and add a whole
    grain/flour such as whole wheat, oatmeal, barley, spelt, brown
    rice, quinoa flours (or a combination of) =
    *Use 1 c. white and 1c. whole grain in recipe
    *might need a bit of extra liquid
    *adds fiber and nutrients
  • ½ cup white sugar – decrease to ¼ – ⅓ c.
  • 1/3c. Vegetable oil – 1/4c.(4 T) Oil is ample. Can add ¼ c. apple sauce or grated apple to make up difference, add moisture due to whole grain addition, and for sweetness given less sugar. Could go as low as 2 T oil and add more apple
  • ½ c. blueberries – can increase to 1 cup for more moisture, sweetness, nutrients, fiber
  • baking powder 2 tsp.
  • Also contains 1 egg and 1 c. milk all good
  • Extra flavor –  add 1 T lemon or orange rind or combo and enjoy some bioflavanoids while your at it 🙂

Baking Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
  • In a large bowl, stir together milk, egg, and vegetable oil, and oil substitute.
  • Add flour, flour substitute, baking powder, sugar, and blueberries; gently mix the batter with only a few strokes.
  • Add your own special touch
  • Spoon batter into cups.
  • Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot.

 

We all know that it may be often difficult to stop at one muffin. Meg’s Healthy Blueberry Muffins recipe is a wonderful way to give your family a healthy snack.

Managing nutritional needs may seem complicated with all of the information out there. What types of food? How should our food be prepared? Having a nutritional coach to help find answers that best meets our individual needs may be the answer.

To learn more about Meg’s nutritonal coaching services click here. We hope you enjoy this recipe for yourself, family and friends.

 

Check Out This Video Of Meg’s Blueberry Muffin Recipe

 

What Chiropractic Patients Want To Know About Text Neck

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Text neck is a very real condition that is caused by staying in a prolonged “texting” position – hunched shoulders and neck tilted forward. As a result, the back, neck, and shoulder muscles become overworked and your spinal structure is actually changed. Many people who spend a lot of time on their mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, develop this condition (and others including “cellphone elbow” and tendinitis of the wrist and hand) and it can be very painful, even causing mobility problems.

What Exactly is Text Neck?

A normal human neck has a slight curve to it that travels along the spine. It is part of the intricate system that supports the head and body. However, a person with text neck will have a straight cervical spine. Their neck will not have that slight curve and that is a problem.

The cause of the absence of the curve is because of the position that the head stays in for such long periods of time. The average adult human head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds. When the head is upright, the neck supports it and the slight curve gives it the stability that it needs.

When you keep your head tilted forward, such as when you are hunched over your smartphone or mobile device, your head is thrust forward instead of sitting over the balanced curve of the cervical spine. The gravitational pull is greatly increased and the neck is already in an unnatural position. This combination places unnatural and damaging stress on your neck. It is like carrying around an additional 60 pounds on your neck.

Symptoms of Text Neck

In the early stages of text neck, a person may feel some tightness in their shoulders, neck, and upper back. This may progress to discomfort in those areas and eventually pain. If left untreated, you can develop pinched nerves and herniated discs.

Your central nervous system begins at the base of your skull, so it extends down your neck and upper back. When you put unnatural pressure on your neck, you are also affecting your nervous system, causing it to malfunction. This can lead to pain throughout your body, stiffness, headaches, low back pain, and problems with your hands and arms.

How to Prevent Text Neck

Text neck is surprisingly easy to prevent. Your first step is awareness. Over two or three days, take some time to be very aware of your body’s position. Carefully examine your posture while you go about all of your daily activities. It is important to remember that text neck is not strictly confined to texting. You can get it any time you have your head bent down for an extended period of time, such as when looking at a laptop screen or even writing for a long time.

The best way to avoid the problem is to keep your devices at eye level. If you have a handheld device, hold it up at the level of your eyes instead of bending your neck to look down. The same goes for your laptop; arrange it so that your screen is at eye level.

Chiropractic for Text Neck

If you are already suffering from the effects of text neck, your chiropractor can help reverse the condition if it hasn’t progressed to disc degeneration (even then he or she can help with associated pain). Regular chiropractic treatments, along with following expert recommendations for screen heights, can help reduce the pain and discomfort. It is smart to address these issues before they become a bigger problem. Your chiropractor can help. Learn more about our clinic @ www.ocwc.ca

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Baking chocolate chip cookies can be a great family activity. So can eating freshly baked cookies! Unfortunately, tastey bakings can often mean high amounts of sugar and fat. Likely more than what you are looking for in the typical diet.

Meg’s Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe substitutes some common ingredients without loosing any of the flavour. Now that’s a win win!

 

Typical traditional recipe contains the following ingredients:

  • White flour 2 cups
  • White sugar 1.5 cups
  • Butter ¾ cup (12 Tablespoons)
  • Salt ½ tsp.
  • Baking Soda 1 tsp.
  • Chocolate chips 1-2 cups

 

Meg’s Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe:

  • White flour 2 + cups – cut white flour in half and add a whole
    grain/flour such as whole wheat, oatmeal, barley, spelt, brown
    rice, quinoa flours (or a combination of) =
    *Use 1 c. white and 1c. whole grain in recipe
    *might need a bit of extra liquid
    *adds fiber and nutrients
  • White/brown sugar 1.5 cups combined -can cut sugar by 1/3-1/2= Use ¾ – 1 c. sugar in recipe
  • Butter ¾ cup (12 Tablespoons) – fat can be cut ⅓ – ½
    Use 6-8T butter in recipe
  • Salt ½ tsp. – can eliminate all together given butter and baking soda contain salt, or cut in ½ using ¼ tsp salt
  • Baking Soda 1 tsp.
  • Chocolate chips 1-2 c. – quality dark chocolate healthiest option as contains less sugar and more nutrients than milk chocolate (more processed and more sugar added). Recommend 1 cup chocolate chips and can add ½-1c. dried fruit for more sweetness, moisture, texture, flavor, nutrients (raisins, craisins, dates, apricots, etc.)
  • Can also add some nuts pecans, walnuts, almonds for crunch, protein, fiber, healthy fats, minerals

Baking Instructions:

  1. Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix flour, flour substitute, baking soda and salt; set aside.
  2. In large bowl, beat softened butter, sugar, sugar substitute with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon about 1 minute or until fluffy, scraping side of bowl occasionally.
  3. Stir in flour mixture just until blended (dough will be stiff). Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
  4. Onto ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart.
  5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown (centers will be soft). Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Store covered in airtight container.

 

We all know that it may be often difficult to stop at one cookie. Meg’s Healthy Chocolate Chip Recipe is a wonderful way to give your family a healthy snack.

Managing nutritional needs may seem complicated with all of the information out there. What types of food? How should our food be prepared? Having a nutritional coach to help find answers that best meets our individual needs may be the answer.

To learn more about Meg’s nutritonal coaching services click here. We hope you enjoy this recipe for yourself, family and friends.

 

Check Out This Video Of Meg’s Recipe

 

How Chiropractic Benefits Cyclists

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Cycling is a great cardiovascular workout, building strength, stamina, and balance. However, it can be tough on the body, especially if you put in a lot of miles. This is true of any activity that is repetitive, though. Certain muscles can become more tense and others that aren’t used become weaker. This can cause your spine to become misaligned. Bending over the handlebars can also cause back pain as well as wrist, neck and shoulder pain and affect your posture if you remain in that position for long stretches or are not using proper form. Chiropractic for cyclists can help combat these effects and keep your body in alignment.

Hip and Knee Pain

Cycling puts a lot of strain on your lower body, particularly the hips and legs. The more developed these muscles get, the tighter they can become if you aren’t stretching before and after your ride (and getting regular chiropractic care).

Inflammation and stiffness of the sacroiliac joint is very common with cyclists. It can cause a significant decrease in range of motion and flexibility, not to mention cause pain. This issue can really affect your ride. The stress that occurs in this area can affect nearby large joints, such as the knees. Chiropractic can release those joints and address any issues associated with it.

Lower Back Out of Alignment

Spending a lot of time hunched over your handlebars can cause your back muscles to become stretched out. When you combine that with hunching over a desk or computer all day, it can leave you with a misaligned spine.

The tight muscles of the lower body, including hip flexors and hamstrings, work against the stretched out back muscles to weaken the spinal support. Once your spine is misaligned, it can lead to back pain, hip pain, and make it difficult for you to ride effectively or comfortably.

Getting good, regular chiropractic adjustments, along with some core strength exercises, stretching, and exercises to increase range of motion, you can get your spine aligned – and keep it that way. It is also worth mentioning that proper bike fit is absolutely integral to keeping your spine and body healthy and aligned.

Numb, Tingling Hands

Numb, tingling hands are very common among cyclists. There are several reasons that this can occur, but the most common culprits are stress on the upper back from riding in a hunched position, or wrist issues that come from the stress of supporting your upper body as you are hunched over, and from holding the handlebars.

Proper bike fit can go a long way in preventing this, as does maintaining proper form and technique while riding. This will help you avoid compression, undue stress, and overreaching so that your arms are in a more natural, comfortable position. Your chiropractor can help alleviate the pain and correct the condition with spinal manipulation and other techniques applied to the joints.

Chiropractic is exceptional for cyclists because it not only addresses structural issues in the body, it also provides whole body care. Your chiropractor may recommend certain exercises and stretches, supplements, and lifestyle changes to help improve your ride and help you live a healthier life. You will combat the strain that the sport puts on your body and learn powerful techniques for avoiding injury.

If you are a regular cyclist, whether you ride competitively, ride with a group, or bike to work, you will find that your body will respond very well to chiropractic treatments. When performed regularly, you will find that your body will get stronger and your posture will be better. You will feel better too. To learn more about our office check out our website @ www.ocwc.ca

Yintang And Acupuncture For Stress An Anxiety

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Yintang is an acupuncture point that is located on the forehead midway between the eyebrows.  It is a wonderful point that calms the mind, reduces stress, and helps relax the sympathetic nervous system.  As such, it is a point that is excellent in treating anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, and headaches.  In combination with other points it can also treat hypertension, sinusitis, allergies and dizziness.  While the location may seem intimidating, having this point needled usually puts patients right to sleep! 

How does acupuncture actually work to reduce stress/anxiety?

In the most basic terms, acupuncture regulates the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.  The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body’s “fight or flight response”, and the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the “rest and digest” phase.  Most people with high stress levels or who deal with anxiety have an overactive sympathetic nervous system, which means their body gets stuck in the fight or flight response.  This results in symptoms like restlessness, insomnia, mind racing, and palpitations to name a few.  If left untreated, there can be more severe long term effects such as high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke.  Acupuncture and TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) regulates your body’s hormones and forces it out of the fight or flight phase, into the more calm rest/digest phase. A study done at Georgetown University Medical Center found that “acupuncture blocks the chronic, stress-induced elevations of the HPA axis hormones and the sympathetic NPY pathway” (Eshkevari et al, 2013).  The acupuncture point Yintang is a cornerstone point for treating stress and anxiety, and will be used in almost all point prescriptions for those (and similar) conditions.

 

How quickly can acupuncture help me?

While acupuncture is not an immediate fix, most patients feel at least some mild relief after their first treatment.  The treatment plan, including frequency and number of visits, is customized to each patient.  Generally, for conditions which are acute (occurring for 6 weeks or less), it takes fewer treatments to see full resolution of symptoms.  For chronic conditions (occurring for 6 or more weeks), it will likely take between 3-5 treatments to see significant, lasting change in symptoms.   A full course of treatment could be between 8-10 treatments depending on the severity of the case.  For each patient, your acupuncturist will create a specially tailored plan based on your medical history and wellness goals.  

 

If you would like to know more about this point or acupuncture in general, contact us today at 780-455-2112 or info@ocwc.ca

Visit our website to learn more about our registered acupuncturist! www.ocwc.ca

References:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/gumc-sos031113.php