Enhance Your Health
Health Tip of the Week: Fiber
Dietary fiber (found in vegetables, fruits and grains) is a type of carbohydrate that the body can't digest. Though most carbohydrates are broken down into sugar molecules, fiber cannot be broken down into sugar molecules, and instead it passes through the body undigested. Fiber helps regulate the body's use of sugars, helping to keep hunger and blood sugar in check.
A high-fiber diet can help reduce your risk of premature death from any cause, likely because it helps to reduce your risk of some of the most common chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Fiber-fermenting microbes are likely part of what makes a Mediterranean-style diet so beneficial for your health, as these bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids associated with a reduced risk of inflammatory diseases.
To boost your fiber, eat more vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Organic whole husk psyllium is a great source of fiber. Add a tablespoon or two to your yogurt or oatmeal. I put a tablespoon mixed in a glass of water each night before bed (it is miraculous!).
Fermented vegetables are another great source. They are essentially fiber rich food preloaded with beneficial bacteria that not only help the body’s digestive system, but also enhances immune system function. Lately, I started to experiment with fermenting foods. I have been fermenting cabbage and making sauerkraut. It is very easy to do and only takes 5 days for the cabbage to ferment. Once done, you are eating an extremely healthy food with none of the manufactured toxic additives.
Thought for the Week
To lengthen your life, shorten your meals. ~Proverb
Chiropractic Thought for the Week
The weight of the average head is 9-12 lbs. 7 small, moveable bones support this weight with help from the spinal muscles and spinal ligaments. Any impact, sudden or jarring motion to the head will have a straining effect on the neck muscles which can cause the neck bones to subluxate or misalign. Once the vertebra are out of their normal joint position, neck pain due to muscle imbalance and possible cervical tension headaches and dizziness are the result. Chiropractors correct the alignment of the cervical spine with chiropractic adjustments to the spinal joints, restoring proper alignment and joint motion. This allows the neck to heal and function normally.
In addition, concussion impact injuries to the skull can cause fixations in the cranial bones. Cranial bone fixations, especially in the sphenoid bones near the temporal area can prevent a normal concussion recovery. In addition to acute concussion medical care and evaluation, chiropractic care of the cervical spine and cranial bone fixation management are essential to concussive recovery.
Pre-concussion screening (testing for previous or current concussions and cervical chiro-subluxation) should be performed on all athletes prior to sports participation. Athletes who participate in collision or contact sports are especially vulnerable to cervical subluxation and said athletes should be checked, evaluated and or adjusted by their chiropractor on a weekly basis. Pre-concussion screening can be accomplished with easy, non-invasive testing that only takes a few minutes in the doctor's office. Ask your Chiropractor or medical doctor if they perform pre-concussion screening tests.