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Obesity and it’s Connection to Nutrition

Obesity and it’s Connection to Nutrition

by | Jul 6, 2020 | Advice, Nutrition, Weight-Loss, Wellness

What’s the Relationship Between Nutrition and Obesity?

Over the nearly two decades from 2000 to 2018, the obesity rate in the U.S. increased from 30.5% to 42.4%. And severe obesity rose from 4.7% to 9.2%.

There are several causes of this obesity epidemic but one of the most common is nutrition, or more accurately, the lack of it.

Let’s take a look at the relationship between nutrition and obesity.

Nutrition Is a Double-Edged Sword

Your relationship with food is like any other relationship in your life — you can nourish it or you can neglect it. When you respect it and put some effort into it, nutrition can help you live a longer, healthier life.

If you don’t respect it and take the path of least resistance, it can lead to many health-related problems, including obesity.

Obesity Contributes to Many Other Health Risks

Obesity goes beyond simply being overweight. The clinical definition of obesity is based on your body mass index, or BMI. A normal BMI is in the 18.5 to 24.9 range, overweight is 25-29.9, and obese is anything over 30.

Obesity has many side-effects, including conditions such as:

  • High cholesterol
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure

It’s not all about your physical health though. Being overweight can also lead to mental health troubles like depression and low self-esteem.

These health problems can become a vicious cycle. Obesity makes you feel physically unwell, which contributes to feelings of depression. You ease those feelings by eating more of the junk food that led to the obesity problem in the first place, and so on.

Is Proper Nutrition Enough to Deal With Obesity?

Healthy eating habits will make a big difference in how you look and feel, especially if you’ve been eating poorly for a long time. The more extra pounds you’re carrying around, the quicker you can see improvements when you change your diet.

That’s not to say it’s easy. Learning how to eat properly and putting that knowledge into action by following an effective weight loss program will take some effort and willpower.

What’s the Relationship Between Nutrition and Obesity?  

Don’t expect to make the change overnight but a few simple adjustments over a few weeks can make a world of difference.

Improving your nutrition is only one half of the equation though. The other half is exercise.

There are plenty of diets to choose from but weight loss ultimately comes down to burning more calories than you take in. What kind of food you eat to get those calories plays a big part in it too.

You might get the same number of calories from a couple of slices of pizza or a salad and lean chicken breast but we probably don’t need to tell you which of those two options is better for you.

Where to Turn for Help With Nutrition and Obesity

If you want to solve your nutrition and obesity problems, it can be overwhelming. The internet is full of conflicting information and there are thousands of books on the topic, many of which also contradict one another.

How do you pick out the accurate advice and set the rest aside? Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness can help.

We’ll show you how to improve your health through an effective nutrition and wellness plan that will help you lose weight, feel better, and live a happier, more fulfilling life.

Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.

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The Importance of Nutrition

The Importance of Nutrition

by | Jul 3, 2020 | Advice, Nutrition, Wellness

The Importance of Good Nutrition: 4 Reasons to Watch What You Eat

Have you heard the expression, “You are what you eat?”

It was first coined in 1826 by food writer Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. His idea was that the food we eat affects who we become physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Today, the importance of nutrition is clearer than ever before. We live in a country where 42% of adults are obese and conditions like heart disease and diabetes run rampant.

How strong is the connection between good diets and good health? Let’s take a look at some key benefits of healthy eating.

The Importance of Nutrition

The foods you eat today affect how you’ll feel tonight, tomorrow, and into the future. Here are 4 ways your diet can make or break your overall health.

1. Nutrition & Disease

While a nutritious diet preserves your health, a poor diet is the root cause of many diseases and ailments.

Common health problems that result from poor nutrition include:

  • Becoming overweight or obese
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Tooth decay
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Cancer

Good diets, on the other hand, give your body the tools it needs to prevent disease and maintain your health. Limit your consumption of sugar, sodium, and saturated fats while boosting your intake of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.

2. Nutrition & Weight Control

Being overweight leads to an array of health problems, from foot pain to diabetes. The importance of nutrition includes not only what you eat but how much you eat.

The average American consumes over 3,600 calories per day—far more than the recommended 2,000. The majority of these extra calories come from processed and refined foods.

A key focus of good nutrition is weight control by controlling your daily calorie intake. It also involves switching bad fats, like deep-fried foods, to good fats like avocados and olive oil.

3. Nutrition & Brain Health

The benefits of eating healthy aren’t limited to physical effects.

Two-thirds of people who eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily report no mental health problems. A well-balanced diet includes healthy fats, complex carbs, and essential vitamins and nutrients.

These keep your mind sound and your mood stable—and not just today. Research suggests that good nutrition can ward off cognitive decline and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Nutrition & Longevity

We all want to live a long, healthy, and happy life. Our eating habits can have a direct effect on how long we’ll live and how good our quality of life will be.

A pattern of overeating places stress on the body and could contribute to a shorter lifespan. Eating modest portions of nutrient-rich foods while reducing processed foods can have a positive effect on our longevity.

Improve Your Health With a Nutrition & Wellness Plan

The importance of nutrition can’t be overstated.

A healthy diet helps you ward off disease and maintain a healthy weight. It keeps your mind sound and can even contribute to a longer life span.

Why, then, do so many of us struggle with a poor diet? Could it be that you need some expert guidance to improve your eating habits?

Here at Mill Creek, we believe that good nutrition is a vital component in achieving optimal health. Click here to learn more about our customized nutrition and wellness plans.

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Benefits of Nutritional Detox

Benefits of Nutritional Detox

by | Jul 1, 2020 | Advice, Nutrition, Weight-Loss, Wellness

The Benefits of a Nutritional Detox: Your Body Will Thank You

By this point, we’ve all heard about the awesome results a detox can have for your body. But have you considered wading in and trying it for yourself? With so many mental and physical benefits to be had, there’s all the reason in the world to consider a detox process.

Treating your body the right way can help relieve a multitude of difficult problems. For anybody still on the fence, join us, today, as we break down five of our favorite detox benefits for your consideration.

Weight Management

One of the biggest benefits of a nutritional detox is also one of the most obvious. Changing your diet to eliminate toxins from your body allows you to drop all of the things causing weight gain and fat maintenance.

Instead, what you’re left with is a healthier gut biome and a body that isn’t constantly struggling against the substances you are eating. When your diet shifts to detox intake, your weight will also be less likely to fluctuate.

Increased Energy

Looking for an energy boost? Sugary drinks and strong coffee can do a lot of harm to your body, especially over time. On the other hand, the natural energy boost of a whole body cleanse detox has been well documented. And, what’s more, it’s not causing your body longterm harm.

Learning how to detox your body means clearing out all of the sugar and caffeine and other things that cause energy slumps when they run out. Instead, you’re left with a more stable, more sustainable energy source throughout the day.

Clear-Headedness

If you want to deal away with cloudy headedness and absentmindedness, a whole body detox has a lot to offer you, professionally. Many times, detoxifications will include a mental component, as well, waking you up and sharpening your thought process.

Going back to the question of sugar crashes, sudden drops in your energy from a lack of stimulants can also affect your mind. This is part of what makes detoxification such a positive experience. It brings out the best in your body, but also your mind.

Healthier Internal Organs

The whole point of a detox is to help your body flush out the toxins that are inside of it and might be doing it harm. These are your “waste removal” organs, and this cleansing gives them the break they need from the toxins that build up in and around them.

Your body can accumulate more toxins than you might expect. A detox is a good, active way to flush out these toxins so your internal organs can work more efficiently.

Clearer Skin

For thousands of people, the quest for clearer skin can seem like a neverending journey. All of the skincare products can come and go, but if your diet isn’t playing along, skin problems can and will still develop.

Detoxes are a great way to cleanse your skin when all else fails. With as little as a strict detoxification diet, you can see near-perfect results with your skin-clarity. A word of warning: as the detox process works its magic, your skin may flare up initially, before later clearing up, again, after completion. 

Detox Benefits

A detox food plan can take any one of a dozen different forms. What’s important is to get one that helps flush out toxins, encourages natural energy, and benefits your body in ways that matter to you.

Ready to learn more about nutritional detox and its benefits for your body? Check out some of our other blog posts, today, and find out more about our nutritional detox services (as well as many others).

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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

by | Jun 26, 2020 | Advice, Injury, Wellness

Chiropractic Relief for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

If you are experiencing pain in the shoulder, upper chest, or lower neck area and aren’t sure of the cause, you may be experiencing Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.  Especially prevalent in females between 20 and 40 years of age, this somewhat rare syndrome is often overlooked or misdiagnosed when patients present with numbness or tingling in the hands and fingers.  Too often it is dismissed as tendonitis or overuse of the upper extremities.

What is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?

As a group of disorders, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome occurs when the nerves and/or blood vessels that run between the collarbone (clavicle) are pressed on the first rib.  This compression of the nerves causes pain in the shoulders and neck and can cause numbness down the arms to the hands and fingers.

Depending on the structure being compressed, the syndrome manifests in different ways:

  • Neurogenic or neurological—caused by compression of the brachial plexus, a bundle of nerves that originate in the spinal cord and are responsible for muscle control and movement in the shoulder, arm, hand and fingers.
  • Vascular—caused by depressed veins or arteries under the clavicle/collarbone.
  • Nonspecific—defined by chronic pain but a cause can’t be determined.

What Are the Causes of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?

Most often, the causes of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are either anatomical or acute.  If someone is born with an anatomical abnormality, such as an extra rib, this syndrome is sometimes the result.  Conversely, if someone experiences acute injuries suffered from a car or motorcycle accident, or sustains some job- or sports-related injuries, this can also lead to the syndrome.  

Lastly, obesity, poor posture, or pregnancy can create a situation where the nerves or blood vessels become compressed.  Often losing weight or giving birth will correct the pinched nerves or vessels completely alleviating the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

How Do the Symptoms Present?

In Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, the symptoms manifest based on type of compression whether that be nerve related or blood flow related and can be defined as follows:

  • Neurogenic

    • Numbness or tingling in the upper extremities
    • Either sharp pain or aches in the neck and shoulder and sometimes the hand
    • Gilliatt-Sumner Hand – a muscle wasting evident in the fleshy part at the base of the thumb
    • Weakened gripping or holding ability

  • Vascular

    • Blood clots in upper extremities
    • Throbbing or pain near the clavicle
    • Numbness or tingling in the fingers
    • Weak pulse
    • Cold or blue fingers and hands
    • Weakness in arm or neck 

Can Chiropractic Care Benefit Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?

Through a well-considered chiropractic care plan that includes manipulation and massage therapy, as well as syndrome-specific exercises specifically developed to alleviate the compression causing discomfort, patients can expect to make full recoveries in most cases.  In addition, treatment options may include manual trigger-point therapy, stretching, and postural instruction.  And with 90% of syndrome cases being neurologic in origin, chiropractic care is uniquely poised to provide solutions.

When evaluating Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, it’s imperative to have an experienced provider like the professionals at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness.  They have an understanding of the unique aspects of this syndrome, but also use a holistic approach when evaluating and developing a treatment plan for their patients.  This includes delving into all components of the patient’s lifestyle from exercise to nutrition. 

Our dedicated team at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness are available to answer your questions and evaluate your healthcare needs.  Call us — Our goal is your good health!

Elbow Pain

Elbow Pain

by | Jun 22, 2020 | Advice, Injury, Wellness

Your Complete Guide to Elbow Pain

 

Elbow pain, often known as ‘Tennis Elbow,’ is one of the most common nagging injuries that people face. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go away on its own and can make it difficult to participate in your normal activities. 

Fortunately, though, there’s information you can learn that can help you manage and treat this condition.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.

So, What Is Tennis Elbow?

Also known as ‘lateral epicondylitis,’ this condition arises after continuous or strenuous use of the tendons in your elbow. This typically occurs after long-term repetitive motions of the arm or wrist.

Although it has the term ‘tennis’ in its name, this condition isn’t limited to this sport. In fact, it’s common for plumbers, carpenters, etc. to experience the same issues.

Over time, the pain that’s localized to the elbow can eventually spread to the arm or wrist. 

What Are The Symptoms?

The most common symptom of tennis elbow’s general elbow pain. But, you may find that this pain is exacerbated when performing actions like stirring a pot, turning a doorknob, etc. 

Even something as simple as drinking from a cup of coffee may be enough to cause discomfort.

How Can I Treat It?

Fortunately, this condition has a handful of treatment options for you to choose from. The one that’s best for you will likely depend on how severe your tennis elbow is.

Let’s explore a few of the most notable.

Exercises

For minor cases, all you may need to do is perform a few rehabilitation exercises for a short period of time. These involve:

  • Clenching your fist while squeezing a soft object (such as a shirt or towel)
  • Holding very light weight (approximately 2 lbs.) while slowly extending and flexing your wrist
  • Twisting a towel in opposite directions at once (each hand should twist opposite from the other)

These movements will serve to target the area that’s inflamed, strengthening it over time and possibly eliminating the issue altogether.

KT Tape

This type of tape is applied directly to the elbow. It can serve to relieve pressure and increase circulation, notably reducing your recovery time.

This is best applied by a professional, though, and the average person likely won’t get the most use out of it as they could if they did it on their own.

Chiropractic Help

Although many people tend to think of chiropractors as professionals who help manage back pain, they also have plenty of experience in relieving joint pain, as well.

Someone who’s experiencing long-term tennis elbow will often find relief through a visit to a chiropractic office. So, keep this option in mind if basic treatment methods haven’t worked for you.

Managing Elbow Pain From Tennis Elbow Can Seem Difficult

But it doesn’t have to be.

With the above information about this type of elbow pain in mind, you’ll be well on your way toward getting the treatment you need.

Want to learn more about how we can help? Feel free to get in touch with us today to see what we can do.

Schedule Your Appointment Today or Call

(425) 737-5343

Hip Flexor Pain

Hip Flexor Pain

by | Jun 17, 2020 | Advice, Injury, Weight-Loss, Wellness

Understanding Hip Flexor Pain: The Causes and Symptoms of Aching Hip Flexors

Did you know that the average American adult spends up to 6.5 hours a day sitting? 

For teens, that number is even higher. On average, teenagers ages 12-19 spend about eight hours a day sitting. This position keeps our hip flexor muscles flexed constantly, and rarely leaves room for extension of the hip flexor.

This fact could be one of several reasons for hip flexor pain in a wide range of people, both young and old. Hip flexor pain also commonly occurs in people with less sedentary lifestyles who remain more physically active. 

If you’re experiencing pain or strain in this region, you’re likely wondering why. How can you relieve this aching feeling? What can you do to combat it?

We answer all this and more below.

Causes and Symptoms of Hip Flexor Pain

The hip flexors, located near the groin/inner thigh area, can cause noticeable pain that disrupts many day-to-day activities. 

Hip flexor pain is most often caused by people who overuse their hip flexors—in particular, athletes. If you’re actively using your hip flexors (for example, if you’re a runner), you may notice pain there more often than those who don’t use them.

Some common symptoms of hip flexor pain include:

  • Muscle pain, which can be present at all times, or in specific movements, like when bringing the knee up towards the chest (for example, walking upstairs)
  • Muscle spasms
  • Decreased mobility 
  • Acute achiness

Often, people change the way they walk to compensate for pain on one side, which can cause limping or various issues with the side they’re now leaning on for support.

These symptoms can range from mild and annoying to severe and debilitating. 

How to Stretch and Strengthen the Hip Flexor

If you’re noticing pain while the hip is flexed, you can combat it by allowing the muscles to extend instead. This opposite motion allows your hip and inner thigh muscles to lengthen.

You can try various exercises and yoga poses to achieve this, such as:

  • High or low lunges
  • Pigeon pose
  • Three-legged dog pose (raising one leg high, extending through the spine, from a downward dog)
  • Gate pose (essentially, a kneeling side bend)
  • Reclined pigeon pose (an ideal posture for those with especially tight hips)
  • Bound angle pose, commonly called diamond or butterfly

Postures like bridge pose can not only lengthen but also help to strengthen the hip flexor muscles. 

How to Treat Hip Flexor Strain

Other than stretching and lengthening through the hip flexor muscles, you can also allow your body some rest time. If you’re an active person, perhaps you include more recovery days into your routine.

Chiropractors can also help treat hip flexor pain and strain.

They can achieve this by identifying the cause or root of the problem and then through assisted stretching, ensuring the proper alignment. Improper alignment while stretching may cause more strain, but a professional can ensure you’re doing things correctly.

Chiropractors can also determine if the pain is coming from somewhere else, such as the pelvis.

Stay Hip Healthy

Now that you know some common causes of hip flexor pain, as well as solutions, you can begin to get some much-needed relief.

We at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness can help you feel even better with personalized treatments to restore flexibility and mobility. 

New patients, click here to begin the appointment process. We can’t wait to help you get your life back!