Want to Lose Weight? Get Some Sleep!

Posted on 09. Apr, 2010 by Santa Barbara Chiropractor in health

As a chiropractor, I’m very interested in the overall health of my patients. As part of a healthy lifestyle we discuss a nutritious diet, getting enough rest, drinking enough water, and getting regular chiropractic care, of course. And, since body weight can affect the stability and function of the musculoskeletal system, as well as impact its organic structures, I am always interested in new studies about weight issues. So, now, let me ask you this:  What could be worse than feeling tired and groggy during the day after not getting enough sleep the night before? Well, craving calories, that’s what! A recent study found that normal-weight young men ate a “Big Mac’s-worth of extra calories” when they’d gotten four hours of sleep the night before compared to when they slept for eight hours.

Let’s face it, as a group, we Americans have been sleeping less and getting fatter over the past few decades. The researchers wrote in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “Sleep restriction could be one of the environmental factors that contribute to the obesity epidemic.” No experimental studies to date have actually looked at what happens to a normal-weight person’s eating patterns when he or she sleeps less.

To read more about this study, go to reuters.com

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Santa Barbara Chiropractor Discusses the Health Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by admin in Santa Barbara Chiropractor

Do you know that chiropractic therapy has been increasing in popularity for years and that it is continuing to increase yearly as the favored healthcare choice for many individuals? As a Santa Barbara Chiropractor, I am very excited that people are making a choice on chiropractic care due to the many added advantages that such therapy can provide. No other medical method is less invasive to the body and, at the same time, is able to promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself instead of masking symptoms with pills.

Let’s face it, wherever there’s a musculoskeletal structure, such as within the human body, there is the possibility of musculoskeletal dysfunction such as upper back pain and neck pain, pain in the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee joints, and ankle and foot pain. No one is immune from misalignment of the spine and joint inflammation, even though numerous health issues are often the effect of sports injuries, accidents, and the aging process. Regardless of the source, just about any type of movement on a traumatized area of the body can not just result in pain or suffering, but temporary disability. And, needless to say, certain musculoskeletal dilemmas, if left untreated, can lead to permanent disability.

It has been said of chiropractic treatment that its “many benefits surpass” merely correcting a specific problem. And, though fixing a particular condition is excellent, in point of fact, someone who comes in to see a chiropractor for lumbar pain, for instance, not only benefits from specific pain relief, but also enhanced circulation, a lowering or elimination of lactic acid, easier travel of oxygen and nutrients within the body, more flexibility, much less general pain and soreness, faster recovery time, a more tranquil feeling, and the reduction of future injuries! Is it any wonder why chiropractic care has become the treatment of choice for so many people?

In combination with offering expert musculoskeletal care, chiropractors also include education and counseling when it comes to improving your total health and wellness. Chiropractors are well aware that in order for you to become healthier and stay that way, it is important for you to decide on a natural, healthy way of life, including consuming plenty of water to keep the body hydrated, following a nutritiousl diet program, and creating a consistent stretching and exercise routine.

Chiropractic care doesn’t exactly work “miracles, ” but it can come pretty close in many areas that may possibly surprise you. For example, chiropractic care helps women that are pregnant give birth more easily. It can strengthen developmental abilities of babies, particularly increasing motor skills, and it can frequently stop scoliosis. Chiropractic adjustments for children will help lessen asthma conditions, ear infections, and even bed-wetting. Along with the positive factors just stated, consistent chiropractic management can help adults to feel more vital and full of energy, which in turn accelerates productivity and life enjoyment. And, ultimately, for aging baby boomers and the growing senior population, not only can chiropractic care assist in lowering age-related disorders and keep seniors more active in later years, it can decrease the balance problems that all too commonly end up in critical injury from falls.

If you are already visiting a chiropractor, that’s great! You have no doubt already experienced most of the added benefits mentioned above. If so, why not enlighten a pal about chiropractic? Don’t let somebody you care about fall victim to the sort of misinformation pertaining to chiropractic care that can keep them from living their life more fully. If someone you care is living with pain, tell that person about your chiropractor in Santa Barbara today! She can help and your loved one will thank you!

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Chiropractic Santa Barbara Wants You to Know That Your Healthy Future Starts Today No Matter What Your Age May Be

Posted on 04. Jun, 2009 by admin in Chiropractic Santa Barbara, wellness

Chiropractic Santa Barbara believes that overall wellness is possible at any age:  Doesn’t it seem that healthy lifestyle information is everywhere you look these days? There are magazines and TV shows all about healthy foods and beneficial exercises. There are even recipes for nutritious meals in the newspaper. But, even though more Americans today are aware that eating nutritious meals, getting exercise, and keeping their body weight down is essential for health and longevity, a new study reported in the June 2009 issue of the American Journal of Medicine has found that the number of middle-aged and older Americans who have adopted a healthy lifestyle has actually declined substantially in the past two decades. Using data from a large government health survey, researchers found that in 2006, only 26 percent of Americans ages 40 to 74 said they ate five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day. That’s down 16 percent from the 42 percent who responded in the 1988 survey! When it came to exercise, the same kind of decline was reported. Only 43 percent said they worked out at least 12 times per month, versus 53 percent in 1988. Not surprisingly, the rate of obesity in the United States went in the opposite direction, from 28 percent in 1988 to 36 percent in 2006.

The findings were based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a regularly conducted government health survey. Researchers focused on surveys conducted between 1988 and 1994 and between 2001 and 2006, which together included more than 15,000 Americans between the ages of 40 and 74. They looked at rates of five lifestyle factors involved in preventing a range of health risks: maintaining a normal weight, getting regular exercise, eating enough fruits and vegetables, not smoking, and drinking moderate amounts of alcohol.

Though the study cannot tell us why healthy lifestyle habits are on the decline, lead researcher, Dr. Dana E. King, of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, said that one reason may be that these changes are just difficult to make. “People’s increasingly hectic lives may be making it hard to fit in regular exercise, or to sit down to healthier, home-cooked meals rather than eating take-out.” He suggested some simple steps can make a difference. “It’s not hard, for example, to take some fruit to work with you, instead of going to the vending machine.” (Parking a little farther away from your destination and walking a bit can help, too.) Most importantly, Dr. King stressed that “it’s never too late” for middle-aged and older adults to make lifestyle changes for the better. In fact, in an earlier study, King and his colleagues found that when middle-aged adults newly adopted a healthier lifestyle — including regular exercise and eating more fruits and vegetables — their risk of developing cardiovascular disease or dying over the next several years fell by as much as 40 percent.

If you think about it, there aren’t many things in life that carry an “it’s never too late” guarantee. So, why not start today, no matter what your age may be? Your healthy future is depending on you!

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