How Do Chiropractors Work With Patients?

The Real Origin of Chiropractic Care

For fixing issues that we have with our spine, manipulation of this part of our bodies has been going on for a long period of time. Today's version came about due to Daniel D Palmer who first developed chiropractic methods back in the nineteenth century.

Mr Palmer's very first patient was one of his own staff members who had suffered a neck injury seventeen years ago which left him deaf. According to Mr Palmer after he clicked a certain joint back into place the workers hearing came back. Unfortunately because Mr Palmer did not have a license to practice medicine he was jailed and it was now down to his son to take over hence chiropractic care then became more and more popular.

So How Does This Chiropractic Care Work?

The approach a chiropractor takes is he views the body as a whole when patients require treatment of any kind. If any part of your body isn't functioning properly then it's like a machine that will no longer be able to operate at full capacity due to "injury" and may cause the body to no longer be able to run smoothly.

A chiropractor really believes that many facts like accidents, sports injuries, bad posture and of course stress all contribute to the body not being able to operate at its optimal health level. It's fair to say that so many health issues can really be related to having spinal problems.

Take the following example where your nerves may encounter pressure and these are connected to your intestines which can cause you problems like digestive disorders. A chiropractor can manipulate the spot on the spine where these nerves appear from the spinal cord and solve such a condition.

So what's a typical treatment like?

Generally someone's initial visit will require an assessment to be made on their mobility, overall posture, joint movement and also lifestyle. They can carry out certain tests to determine the mobility of each joint and one such test is called the Yeomans test which involves the chiropractor getting his patient to flex his legs one at a time allowing him to calculate its mobility and possible sprains. He may also require his patient to bend over, test their reflexes, raise both their legs and also take their blood pressure. X-rays can also give a more detailed overall picture of any issues.

When it comes to the spine a chiropractor will find the area that is not functioning properly because this can be the cause of swelling and inflammation and result in severe pain and discomfort for a patient.

Chiropractors can apply massage which really helps to free up stiff and aching muscles before they then go onto use manipulation techniques. With manipulation it's a very precise thrust of movement to jolt and loosen that joint again. There are a few general methods that chiropractor's use which they call adjustments. Things have begun to change and in today's world of chiropractic care a lot more manipulations are gentle movements in their application rather than the forceful approach of times gone by.

I suffered for years with severe back pain from a motorbike accident. I had seen lots of doctors and none of them could help me until I went to see a local Chiropractor a friend recommended.  Don't struggle with pain and injury see a chiropractor and get your body back to its optimum health again.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dory_Harvey

The Man Your Doctor Doesnt Want You to Listen To: Joe Mercola Discusses the FDA

Super Foods for Superior Health

Research in diet and nutrition has recently shown that there are many very nutritious foods that have the ability to improve a person's health and well being. Termed 'super foods,' these tasty foods are not just healthy, but contain fewer calories, are packed with antioxidants and seriously taste good too.

What are Some Super Foods?

Some of the tasty powerhouses are foods such as legumes, broccoli, blueberries, walnuts, green tea, pumpkin, soy, oranges, spinach, whole grains, oats, tomatoes, turkey and plain yogurt. Each of these food items may assist to slow and perhaps even stop several ailments and diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and some cancers. Consuming nutritious foods as part of a regular diet can improve health and promote weight loss without the need of fad diets or other unhealthy measures.

Detrimental Effects of Poor Nutrition

Just as eating good foods can create positive effects, eating junk food can have detrimental effects on the body. People who regularly consume processed and fast foods often suffer from low energy and fatigue, bad moods and weight gain. Over time, the body shows signs of malnutrition due to the lack of vitamins and minerals that are needed to maintain healthy tissue growth and a strong immune system.

Feel Better Inside and Out

Eating super foods not only helps the physical body improve and function more effectively, but also improves the mental and psychological well being. When these tasty foods are introduced to the system they work throughout the body to make a person simply feel better inside and out.

Avoid Processed Foods

In this day and age, fast and convenient is sadly the norm. Processed foods which are now a part of the average daily diet are less than healthy and affect not only the physcial body but mental abilities as well.

Many people feel moody and simply in a mental fog during the day. Eating a healthy diet full of super foods may improve feelings of wellbeing and increase personal productivity.

Superfoods such as berries, whole grains and nuts, as part of a regular meal plan, can improve overall health, increase feelings of wellbeing while helping to prevent tissue damange and deter various illnesses and diseases. Adding these foods into the daily diet is not only smart but delicious as well. Therefore, discover ways to take the junk from the daily food consumption and replace it with some of the Superfoods mentioned above. The body, mind and spirit will all be healthier as a result.

Learn more about how super foods can improve your overall health and wellbeing from our Free Report 'Super Foods for Superior Health'. Includes superfoods list and easy superfoods recipes. http://familylivingideas.com/super-foods-recipes-and-food-list/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_Lynn_Frewerd

20 Common Foods With the Most Antioxidants

Antioxidants help defend our bodies from heart disease, cancer, and perhaps even the ravages of age.
 
Although you may know the benefits of incorporating foods rich in antioxidants into your diet, if youre like most you may find yourself hitting a roadblock when it comes to choosing the right foods.
 
To make life and your grocery shopping experience a little easier, we've compiled a list of some of the most antioxidant enriched foods available to you at your local market.
 
Here you go.  Now get HEALTHY!
 
1 Small Red Bean (dried) Half cup 13,727
2 Wild blueberry 1 cup 13,427
3 Red kidney bean (dried) Half cup 13,259
4 Pinto bean Half cup 11,864
5 Blueberry (cultivated) 1 cup 9,019
6 Cranberry 1 cup (whole) 8,983
7 Artichoke (cooked) 1 cup (hearts) 7,904
8 Blackberry 1 cup 7,701
9 Prune Half cup 7,291
10 Raspberry 1 cup 6,058
11 Strawberry 1 cup 5,938
12 Red Delicious apple 1 whole 5,900
13 Granny Smith apple 1 whole 5,381
14 Pecan 1 ounce 5,095
15 Sweet cherry 1 cup 4,873
16 Black plum 1 whole 4,844
17 Russet potato (cooked) 1 whole 4,649
18 Black bean (dried) Half cup 4,181
19 Plum 1 whole 4,118
20 Gala apple 1 whole 3,903
 
USDA chemist Ronald L. Prior says the total antioxidant capacity of the foods does not necessarily reflect their health benefit. Benefits depend on how the food's antioxidants are absorbed and utilized in the body. Still, this chart should help consumers trying to add more antioxidants to their daily diet.
 
SOURCES: The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 9th edition, June 2004. Ronald L. Prior, PhD, chemist and nutritionist, USDA's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock, Ark.

Eat Your Way to a Lower Blood Sugar Level

Blood sugar levels are partly dependent on how your body processes foods and partly dependent upon what kinds of food you eat. Carbohydrates are not all created equal. Quite to the contrary: The chemical make up of different carbs substantially impacts how the body handles them. We may have little or no control over how our body responds to specific foods but we have a great deal of latitude for deciding what we choose to eat.

Tips to Lower Blood Sugar Naturally

Refined white flour and white sugar cause worse blood glucose spikes than unrefined or whole versions of the same foods. The unrefined foods contain more complex carbohydrates, which means the body takes longer to process them. Refined foods are generally more readily turned into blood sugar by the body, which amounts to suddenly dumping high levels of sugar into the blood stream. Even normal, healthy metabolisms can have trouble coping in the face of such a situation and can experience a sugar high or buzz. Similarly, liquid sugar is absorbed at an extremely high rate. Consuming sweet drinks, such as non diet colas, is probably the single best way to cause a blood glucose spike.

So if you want to lower blood sugar naturally, first avoid or limit over processed foods and sweet drinks. Next, eat a high fiber diet. This is known to help stabilize blood sugar. Include foods that are high in pectin, like apples. This naturally occurring food fiber is especially helpful in stabilizing blood glucose levels. (Remember: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away.") Some research has shown a strong link between inflammation and diabetes. Inflammation is known to be caused by excess acidity and an imbalance of fatty acids in the body. With regards to the second issue, most Americans are getting too much Omega 6 and not enough Omega 3 fatty acids. Many people take fish oil supplements to increase their intake of Omega 3 fatty acids. If you are allergic to fish, you can instead switch to cooking with olive oil and consume more walnuts.

As for the issue of excess acidity, you can gradually change your diet to include more alkaline foods. Lettuce and celery are the best alkalinizing foods available. Other options that some people find more appetizing include corn and watermelon. A quick internet search will turn up any number of websites with alkaline and acid food lists. They do not all agree but it is place to start for better understanding what works best for you as an individual.