Why do Chiropractic Patients Like to Exercise?

For some people, exercising is such an entrenched part of their life that to NOT exercise would be like death!  For most people, exercise either does not happen at all (sedentary lifestyle) or it is a real push to get it done consistently.

Much of what we choose to do in life is determined by what we are passionate about, what is enjoyable, and what we feel comfortable doing.  This is also true with exercise.

For exercise to be a regular and enjoyable part of your life, it must meet the above 3 criteria…. at least to some extent.  So, why do chiropractic patients like to exercise?

Chiropractic helps relieve the body of stressful misalignments of the spine, and restrictions to normal motion (called subluxations), primarily through regular chiropractic adjustments.  Not only does chiropractic help to improve alignment and motion, it also helps improve nervous system function.

With your nervous system functioning better, and less stress on your body, you will have energy freed up, and will feel more at EASE, and less DIS-EASE.  Instead of exercise being a pain, it will start becoming something enjoyable and refreshing to have in your life.

It starts with getting checked.   If you are in the San Gabriel Valley, call our office today, Arcadia Chiropractic Center, at 626.447.4442 to set an appointment with me.  You will receive a thorough exam and any necessary X-Rays.

In my town (Arcadia CA) I regularly refer my patients to a fantastic gym; Move Your Mountain Fitness.  They offer specialized personal training in a comfortable private training studio.  Call 626.447.1049 and ask for Stephanie. Mention you found them through this blog, and receive a free consultation.

Sunscreen – The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY – Clint Eastwood style

Why do you slather all that sunscreen on you, your kid, and your pet (okay, maybe not your pet)?

Let me start with the BAD of sunscreen –
There are many healthy things that happen when you receive sun exposure.  Here, let me name just a few: Enhancing mood and energy through the release of endorphins – stimulating ideal Vit. D production – treating skin diseases, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and scleroderma – protecting against and suppressing symptoms of multiple sclerosis – treating neonatal jaundice – relieving fibromyalgia pain – treating seasonal affective disorder – protecting against melanoma and treating T Cell lymphoma – etc. etc. (thank you Mercola)

Why would you want to PROTECT yourself against the above health benefits by using sunscreen?

I will continue with the UGLY of sunscreen –
The typical sunscreen you use, well, it is carcinogenic.  That means some of the ingredients in that sunscreen are known toxins.  Carcinogens are known to cause cancer!  Two common ingredients are dioxybenzone and oxybenzone.  They are two of the most powerful free radical generators known to man!  Cancer is known to be horrible and sometimes deadly.  Putting carcinogens on yourself and your kid ….. good idea or bad idea?

Let us finish up with the GOOD of sunscreen –
Burns related to over exposure to UV radiation are directly linked to increased incidence of skin cancer.  Sun Exposure = Good, but Sun Burns = Bad.  The worse the burn, the more frequent the burns, and the younger the individual getting burned all correlate to skin cancer.  Wearing clothing and a hat is probably your best defense against sun burns.  Also, there are some sunscreens out there that use natural ingredients.

Do this – throw out any sunscreen you have that is not natural.  Go buy natural sunscreen.  Only apply to your skin in an effort to avoid burns.

How do you shop for a natural sunscreen?  Try going to Sprouts, Whole Foods, or another health food store.  There is a good chance you will find what you need there.  Shopping online?  This appears to be a good website http://www.badgerbalm.com/c-24-natural-sunscreen.aspx, although I haven’t personally used their products.  Right now at my house we have a brand called Episencial.

Have a GREAT Day!
Dr. Luke

Should You Be Counting Calories?

A gentleman informed me yesterday “I know I need to lose weight, I just need to stop eating everything in front of me”.
 

My reply was “Go ahead and eat everything in front of you, just make sure you put healthy food in front of you”.
 
What does eating healthy even mean?  Is it following the food pyramid as outlined by the FDA?  Is it eating in ‘moderation’?  Is it counting calories or ‘points’?
 
Simply put – No, No, and NO!
 
Eating healthy is about the quality of the substances you put inside of you.  The better the quality, the less it matters about the quantity.  Have you ever heard of someone eating too many vegetables?
 
There are a number of aspects foods and drink should have, and should NOT have.  Here are 6 things to AVOID;
 
1.  Preservatives (packaged foods with a shelf life)
2.  Hormones (non-organic meat)
3.  Dye (check ingredient list for dyes)
4.  Pesticides (non-organic produce)
5.  Artificial Ingredients (any product where the word “artificial” is used, such as artificial sweetener)
6.  Antibiotics (non-organic meat)
 
Steering away from the above 6 should help set the stage for better health through smart dietary habits.
 
Eat lots of organic vegetables, organic fruits, organic healthy proteins etc, (juicing works great by the way) and you will be on your way to eating healthy.  The best foods typically have 1 ingredient, and come from a natural source.   Do yourself a favor and don’t bother looking, thinking about or tracking calories.  Instead, when you are looking at a food label, read what is really important….. the ingredients!
 

Life as an Extremist – MLK Jr

“The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be… The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.”  MLK Jr

 
Martin Luther King Jr is known for advocating peace, justice, faith and equality.  There are a lot of people who have advocated, and currently advocate these same principles.  So, what has set Martin Luther King Jr apart from other people today and through history who desire these qualities for themselves and the world? 
 
He was an extremist!  He delivered his message in a radical and powerful way. 
 
We can all learn from his extreme behavior.  How can you be an extremist?  How can you be creative in your extremeness? 
 
Identify your passion and pursue your passion.  Have dreams, visions and goals. 
 
I bet that your passions, dreams, visions and goals do not fall into mainstream society?  Mine do not!  Be prepared to go against the grain.
 
Living a healthy lifestyle actually goes against the cultural grain.  Bravely strive for personal health!  Allow the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr be an inspiration for you!

Proper Running Technique

I was running around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena over the weekend, and let me tell ya’ll, there are A LOT of people walking, running, cycling, rollerblading, etc….. which is great!  People getting outside and exercising; way to go people!!  The fun thing for me is getting to analyze posture and body mechanics for all these people in their given activities. 
 
As a chiropractor, I tend to notice people.  When I observe runners, I typically notice excellent as well as poor running mechanics.  Unfortunately, I notice that the majority of people have deficiencies in their running technique.
 
There are 2 main thought patterns on how to run properly.  The more common and conventional idea is that you should have your particular running style analyzed by a professional.  This could be a physical therapist, a chiropractor, or simply an associate at a running shoe store.  After analyzing your technique, they will likely make recommendations on ways to change and improve your form (or possibly your footwear) and hopefully minimize your risk of injury and improve performance.
 
The other thought pattern has to do with the idea of adaptability.  We human beings have a high capacity to adapt to our own physical needs, environment and limitations.  YOUR body naturally moves the best way it is meant to move! YOUR body does this because residing inside you is innate intelligence. The patterns you develop happen naturally by your natural intelligence and match your unique physical qualities.  If your running form is not text book, that’s okay. 
 
So here is my suggestion if you are a runner, or you would like to get into running: you must set the stage for optimal performance and limit your risk of injury.  Having and maintaining proper spinal hygiene and nervous system function (attainable through chiropractic) is a good base.  Utilizing proper nutrition and hydration patterns (eat clean, nutritious foods and drink plenty of fluids before and during running) is also very helpful.  Most importantly, listen to your body.  We are not all designed to be able to run marathons, and if your body is giving you signals during or after your runs that there is a problem, you need to listen to your body.
 
As far as proper running mechanics, a combination of the above two approaches is ideal.  Utilizing a professional to analyze and give recommendations on your running technique can be helpful.  But, also understand that we have a high capacity for adaptation (which is a good thing), and your particular form may actually be what is most right for you at this time. 
 
Is your running technique proper for you?  This may be a tough question to answer.  Build a good foundation, go run, enjoy running, listen to your body, seek help and support, and make it fun and challenging for you!

Moving On

Death

 
What do you think of with this word?  Do you think of something morbid or sad?  Does is bring up memories of loved ones lost?  Maybe this word elicits fear?  Recently, I was able to see death from a little different perspective with the passing of my 101 year old grandfather in law.  To sum his passing in a single word;
 
Bravery
 
When we pass on from this life, don’t we all want to do so with dignity, knowing full well that the life we lived was filled to the brim with love, adventures and meaning? And that we lived bravely?  I figure the only way to die bravely, is to live bravely.
 
Bravery takes work!  Bravery is rarely easy, and it often can make others angry.  Bravery is not following the herd, it is leading the herd.  Bravery means being courageous, and having the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation.
 
This is interesting for me, as I am in the midst of many transitions with varying levels of change right now.  As I approach change, I want to do so bravely!  There is plenty of room for fear to creep into my thoughts, but I don’t want fear to be a driving force behind my thoughts!  My thoughts lead to action (or inaction).  Action or inaction is my life, right?!
 
How does the topic of death, bravery and fear apply to your health?  What I really want you to think about is the fundamental concept of HOW you do health.  How do you go about making decisions about leading a healthy lifestyle or not?  Are you proactive or reactive?  I want you to live bravely, without fear, and I want that to be the fundamental approach you have each and every day towards your health.  If you can answer this fundamental question (how do you do health?), and it feels good in your gut, and is congruent with who you are and who you want to be, then great!!  If not, you’ve got some serious work to do.  I know you want to live a life filled to the brim with love, adventures and meaning.  So go, live bravely!

Can’t Weight for Christmas!

The average American gains about 1 pound between Thanksgiving and New Years.  When I first read this statistic, I thought, well 1 pound isn’t very much.  The truth about an “average” is that some people don’t gain any weight (or maybe lose weight?), while others gain more than 1 pound.

 
Let’s play out this scenario.  Someone named Jane (sorry to those named Jane) gains 2 pounds of fat this holiday season.  The thing with the holiday season is it is steeped in tradition (some traditions are good, some not so much).  So Jane has a similar holiday experience every year, and gains 2 pounds each season.  If the rest of the year has no significant change in weight, over the course of let’s say 20 years, Jane will have packed on about 40 pounds!  That is not healthy weight gain for Jane or anyone else!  There are many other factors that influence health, and weight is often not very indicative of someone’s true level of health.  But hopefully, this scenario helps paint a picture of what could easily happen for me or you.
 
Here is the reality regarding this 2012 holiday season.  There will be LOTS of deterrents from gaining and sustaining good health.  Here are a few deterrents off the top of my silly head:
 
1. Stress – related to money, busy schedule, gift buying, Christmas parties, etc.

2. Less Exercise – less time for workouts, and colder outside, less attractive to be out exercising.

3. Increase in Unhealthy Food – this is a biggie for folks, as all the holiday treats are very tempting and appealing.  I am sitting at my favorite coffee shop in Arroyo Grande writing this blog entry and looking at their holiday menu which includes – Peppermint Mocha – Pumpkin Latte – and Eggnog Latte.  Yummy, right?!

4. Traveling – those of us traveling during the holidays get out of our regular routines, and it is easier to make unhealthy choices when out of town.

 
I’m sure you can add to this list for your own situation.  Where does this leave us?  Are we hopelessly going to let our health fall apart this holiday season??
 
I have a simple one word solution!  Are you ready?  This will be a mind blowing concept!!
 
Boundaries…
 

You must instill boundaries in all these areas if you would like to successfully navigate this holiday season and show up in 2013 without too many holiday battle wounds.  You must do this for yourself.  I can’t do it for you and no one else can create the boundaries for you that you need.  It is helpful to have an advocate to help you stick with the boundaries you create.
 
Try This:  Spend 10 minutes writing out a list of areas you know will be difficult for you this season, and create tangible boundaries for how you will manage those areas.  Check in with your list at least once a day.  If you break a boundary, don’t sweat it, but get back on track A.S.A.P.  Make weight a non-issue this Christmas season by creating healthy boundaries for yourself.