If you’re one of the thousands of people who suffer from back pain you probably agree that one of the worst moments of the day for pain and stiffness is upon waking in the morning.  This is often a result of poor sleeping positions.  Believe it or not, say Ontario chiropractors, the way you sleep can often make a big difference in alleviating back pain or aggravating it.  In order to wake up feeling less back pain, wellness practitioners will often recommend these sleeping positions:

Sleep on your side in a slightly curled position and try putting a small pillow between your knees and make certain you neck is well supported by your pillow.

If you prefer to sleep on your back, try sleeping with a small pillow tucked under your lower back and another under your lower legs.  This will help to keep your spine aligned while sleeping.  Again, be certain your neck is well supported.

Sleeping on your stomach is not generally recommended as it is the most unnatural position for the spine.

The type of mattress you choose can also have a huge impact on back pain.  The mattress you sleep on should be firm yet comfortable and configure itself to your body.  A mattress that is too soft will allow your spine to curve too much and a mattress that is too firm can cause increased stiffness.  It can take some time to adjust to a new sleeping position if you have been sleeping a certain way for a long time.  It may feel at first as though the new sleeping position is actually causing increased pain, but this is generally just your back adjusting to being aligned properly.  Give it some time and you will see marked improvement.

As well as sleeping properly, how you get out of bed in the morning can also alter the way your back will feel throughout the day.  When you go to get out of bed, swing your feet over the side of the bed and rest them on the floor while keeping your back straight.  Stretch your back gently and then push yourself to your feet with both hands while keeping your spine straight.  No doubt you get out of bed every morning without even thinking about how you do it, but the way you stand up can actually affect your entire day!

As always, if you continue to have back pain in spite of all your efforts to improve your posture, sleeping and lifting activities, you should consult an Ontario wellness practitioner in case there are more serious underlying problems that require attention.

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Chiropractors have become very famous among sports players.  Once the players started noting the benefits of chiropractic care for injuries as well as for better performance, chiropractor’s offices started getting swamped with athletes looking for durable relief.  Chiropractic care has become a sort of hidden secret for success in sports.

The use of this type of care has been examined thoroughly across National Football League teams in the US.  When asked about chiropractic care use and referral, almost fifty percent of NFL trainers, the head athletic trainers of the National Football league teams, all men, with 17 years or more of experience in the sports field, and who had been in their current position for at least a year, answered that  they had been treated personally by a chiropractor.

A big percentage of NFL teams use chiropractors in an official role, as part of their personnel, but almost all trainers had referred a patient to a chiropractor outside their payroll for evaluation or treatment.  One thing was crystal clear, all of the trainers, 100%, agree that there are players who use chiropractic care without referrals from their team’s medical personnel.

Many of the trainers also agreed that players with suspected spinal subluxations (the technical term for spinal misalignments) must be referred to a chiropractor; but even more trainers agreed that there is a place for a chiropractor in the NFL.  In addition, these trainers understand that the role of a sports’ chiropractor is different from the one of a team physician.

Chiropractic care is not a privilege of football athletes; many other athletes engaged in many different sports count on chiropractic care.  John Stockton is a basketball legend that credits his success, even at the age of forty, to a good chiropractor.  When he was asked to explain why, he answered that although he was not an expert in chiropractic care and what the discipline comprised, he knew it was not just about adjustment. He knew it dealt with balancing muscles and general health.  He continued saying it has been great for him and his family, and that right next to chiropractic care, what kept him being a success was the love for the game and having fun with his family.

This clear evidence shows that everyone who performs a physical activity, be it professionally, for health reasons, or just leisure, will benefit from consulting with a professional chiropractor to get the most out of the sport of their choice.  And if you are in Ottawa, take a look at this Ottawa chiropractor, and get ready to play your best game ever!

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Patti Larson, a mother and author, wrote an article on “Pregnancy Today” magazine about her own experience of being pregnant and receiving help from professional chiropractic care.  “Pregnancy Today” is a nationally recognized magazine that prides itself in being the journal for parents to be.

Patti began by explaining her emotions and her husband’s when they found out they were pregnant.  She was in her mid-thirties and pregnant for the first time, which prompted lots of questions and concerns like: when would she feel the morning sickness, how long would she be able to work, would she be able to bear the pain during delivery and not cry out like a drama queen?  In short, valuable and normal doubts of every first time mom-to-be.

She clarified that she had a healthy diet and slept well, but she was far from being an exercise fan, in other words, she had great intentions but couldn’t commit to an exercise routine.  This is when she wrote about her rescuer, what saved her from suffering unnecessary fatigue, pain, and stress due to her changing body shape and wild hormones: chiropractic care.

Patti explained that she was accustomed to visiting a chiropractor prior to being pregnant, so the logical thing to do was to keep going.  Her chiropractor recommended that she schedule weekly appointments, but that she should increase them if she felt the need.

Her doctor, a chiropractor in Santa Monica, talked about why chiropractic care was so good for Patti during the pregnancy.  He explained that this type of care deals with the functioning nervous system.  When the nervous system is not overly stressed due to environmental aspects, possibly physical, emotional or chemical, the body is able to work in accordance to its particular genetic design.  If a birth is stressful, this will, in turn, cause stress in all the parties involved, and it will stay present until the nervous system’s stress is relieved.  Through chiropractic care, the body is allowed to manage the stress, helping future moms, new ones, and their adorable love bundles, to cope with life much easier.

Chiropractic care can really help during labor, stimulating the body when the due date arrives and passes, and nothing happens, prompting women to start labor in a natural way instead of letting a hospital use drugs to do it.  Patti stated that she not only continued with the care during her pregnancy, but also after she gave birth to her daughter Madeline.

To finish, she explained that Madeline received regular adjustments during her second week in this world and she never suffered from colic, ear infections, colds, or any other type of sickness before she turned one, which is the most vulnerable period for babies.

She confessed that many people are shocked when she tells them that her daughter sees a chiropractor, however, they also agree that she is among the most vivacious and active babies they have met.  Many people call her lucky, but she knows it is all in the adjustment!

So, follow Patti’s advice and confirm it for yourself, talk to a professional Ottawa chiropractor and discover a life without aches.

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Ahhh, blessed youth!  You are invincible, and so is your digestion.  No matter how spicy the food is, a young digestive system can cope with it all, or at least it could, until some years ago.  Today’s diet has proven lethal for digestive enzymes even in young people.  It’s incredible how things change…

After a certain age, or not so certain, eating something and having it turn into nutritious food takes a lot of work.  You see, digestive enzymes and bacteria in your gut convert food into necessary energy, and as a person gets older or more reckless, among other things, those enzymes decrease their production and the bacteria slows down its reproduction.  When this happens, digestive problems arise, and gas and bloating are the norm.  Eventually, the person starts showing signs of a lack of vitamins and even malnutrition.

But don’t despair!  There is a way to improve digestion at any stage in life.  In order to understand how, let’s take a look at what enzymes do:  When you eat, an enzyme, salivary amylase, starts entering the food as soon as saliva is produced and mixes with the food you are chewing.  These enzymes start to break down the food you’re savoring, but only if you are chewing. If you are drinking your meal (like in a protein drink or smoothie) you must take a second to chew it a little bit, or healthy digestion will not have even begun.

When the food arrives to the small intestine, the hormone secretin is produced, and it tells the pancreas to add the digestive enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pancreatin, as the food continues to move through your body.  Other parts of your system will add more enzymes, lactase and lipase.  When a person ages or eats a lot of junk, these enzymes decrease and your digestion pays for it.

To get digestive enzymes back, one option is to eat lots of raw vegetables and fruits, which contain natural enzymes for digestion; however this doesn’t work for everybody, as some people may not eat enough of these, or they lose their benefits during cooking.  Another important action is to take enzyme supplements, specifically natural plant enzymes like the ones used by this Ottawa wellness specialist, which have proven truly effective in restoring the digestive system’s functioning.

But let’s not forget about the bacteria.  In order to gain the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria back, the body needs probiotic supplements, which are available in many health food stores today.  However, in many cases, these are not truly effective due to their manufacturing process or time on the shelves, so, researchers are now investigating a new very promising probiotic called Saccharomyces boulardii.

To conclude, if you have digestive imbalances that are making your life miserable, taking natural digestive enzymes before eating and having probiotics as a dietary complement will certainly improve your digestion and, in addition, make you feel much younger… or your actual age!

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The majority of us know about allergic reactions like runny noses, itchy and swollen eyes, sore throats, and feeling sad or moody, but possibly, you don’t know what allergies really are.

Allergies are actually an immune system reaction to certain plants, foods, or animals.  Our immune system is an intelligent structure that works very hard to keep us healthy.  Sometimes, it decodes an allergen as a harmful disease or virus, and as a means of defense, it initiates an attack in the form of different body reactions.  Allergies are simply the body’s way of showing us how much it cares for our wellbeing and how much it wants to protect us from external invasions.

The most common allergens are:

-    The tiny bugs found in dust: dust mites.

-    The protein found in the dander (dry skin), saliva, and urine, among others, of animals.

-    The pollen from grass, flowers and trees.

-    Those small living creatures that grow in damp places: mold and mildew.

-    Foods like milk, wheat, soy, eggs, nuts, seafood, strawberries, and legumes like peas, beans, and peanuts.

-    Latex, an elastic material used to make gloves and clothing.

Despite the immune system’s good intentions, allergies are very invasive and uncomfortable happenings that may even disable us to function during our daily activities, and in some cases turn out to be life threatening, with symptoms like rashes, vomiting, irritable bowel syndrome, and breathing problems.

Some people are born allergic, causing them to react negatively to the environment around them and creating chronic illnesses in them that truly affect their general health.  In some cases, allergies are hereditary.  This is why, it is important that allergic individuals know what exactly it is that they are allergic to, and for this, they have to consult with a doctor who specializes in allergies.  There are many tests that will tell exactly what substances react negatively in your body and how negative this reaction can be.  Dr. John Brimhall, a chiropractor, developed a technique to desensitize and get rid of allergies and sensitivities, called Allergy and Sensitivity Elimination and Reprogramming Technique (ASERT), used by this Ontario chiropractor with amazing success.

The treatment of an allergy depends on how severe it is and what reactions it produces.  Some require preventive treatment while others can’t be predicted, but, in any case, there is valuable help available. You just have to find the right professional to look after you so that you can enjoy your life fully and feel 100% healthy.

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If you believe your body deserves the best care possible, it’s a good idea to consider undergoing a detox several times a year. Detoxing allows your organs to rest and gives your body a chance to concentrate on eliminating those nasty toxins which accumulate in your system. You might choose to detox for a couple of days or even for a week. Rule of thumb: the longer your detox, the more effective your results. Whichever your preference, detoxing doesn’t have to be a chore. We’ve found the simplest and most natural methods for helping your body detox.

1. Breathe well
It’s believed that up to 70% of the body’s toxins are eliminated through breathing. Many of us have developed unhealthy breathing habits that prevent our respiratory system from working at its best. To counteract this, learn good breathing practices such as taking deep breaths that fill your belly and then releasing slowly. Take the time to breathe well every day until it becomes a new habit.

2. Water
Drink one to two liters of good water each day. This means there is enough to keep you hydrated while flushing out toxins in your system. Some people undertaking a detox may choose to drink only water for the first couple of days, or other fluids like fruit or vegetable juices to provide nutrients too. In some countries, it is normal to spend a day drinking only water to detox.

3. Fiber
Eating plenty of fiber is a good way to help cleanse and kick-start a sluggish digestive system. Toxins that accumulate in this area are picked up by the fiber and then eliminated because the body cannot use fiber as a nutrient. Good foods that contain fiber are most vegetables, fruits and grains like whole wheat bread and brown rice.

4. Exercise
Exercising works in three major ways to help you detox. It boosts and drives your bodily functions (including its ability to detox), it makes you sweat a lot which helps the body release toxins through the pores and it is also a great stress-reliever - stress being another factor which creates a build up of unhealthy toxins in the body.

5. Saunas
Taking a sauna makes the body sweat and opens up your pores - a great way to relax and detox at the same time! Note – Infrared saunas are the best saunas for detoxing.

6. Eliminate processed foods
Processed foods contain a lot of unnatural ingredients that can be harmful to our bodies. Some examples are processed sugars, hydrogenated fats, preservatives and additives. Choose organic foods when possible and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Try eating some ’super-foods’ too, e.g., blueberries, spinach, avocados, and eggs, which are bursting with disease-fighting antioxidants.

7. Cleanse your liver
Your liver is the main organ which functions to detoxify the body. It makes sense to take good care of it too. You can do this by drinking herb infusions like dandelion root and burdock which are said to be cleansing to the liver.

Note: It is always advised to discuss any detoxification process with your Ottawa wellness specialist or doctor beforehand. I always like to stress how important it is to do the right thing, in the right order, and at the right time, especially when it comes to detoxing. When detoxing is done wrong you will be worse off, guaranteed.

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It may come as a surprise, but sometimes the cause of pain and discomfort in the body can stem from an unhealthy or burdened mind. Stress, emotional upset and negative thought patterns can wreak havoc on the body’s nervous system, which in turn can affect the organs, muscles and almost every other part of the body. Ask any good Ontario chiropractor and they are sure to agree that nurturing a positive mind can have a great impact on the body’s nervous system and therefore the rest of the body. It may sound too good to be true, but following these simple tips could be the answer to transforming your health:

1. Choose what you focus on
Recognize you are in control of where your mind’s energy is spent. Make a determined effort to focus on positive things and don’t allow yourself to dwell on negative emotions or thoughts. When you find yourself thinking negatively, come up with ways to redirect your thought patterns, e.g. by focusing on a goal, happy memory or something you are grateful for.

2. Positive affirmations
Plant positive seeds in your mind’s soil. Identify positive affirmations you want to believe, e.g., ‘I have the power to change my circumstances’ or ‘I am a valuable person’, and repeat them to yourself whenever you can. Soon, you will find yourself acting on what you allow yourself to believe.

3. Look for the positive in every situation.
Lost your job? Perhaps your job loss will help you find the career you’ve always wanted. Been dumped by your boyfriend? Maybe you’re better off without a boyfriend that doesn’t appreciate you. Turn a negative into a positive and find the good in bad things that happen to you. Ask yourself what you can take from your bad experiences to turn them into events that make you stronger or a better person. Remember - we can’t determine our circumstances, but we can determine how we react to them.

4. What are you grateful for?
Keep a journal of things you are grateful for. Take the time each day to jot down what you have valued from your day or what you are thankful for. Do the same about yourself. What are your personal strengths? What do you like about yourself? Focus on and remind yourself of these reasons to be happy everyday and you’re sure to chase those negative vibes away.

5. Be inspired!
There are sure to be people who have experienced the same negative events or circumstances that you might have encountered. If you find your particular experiences hard to deal with, buy a book or audio cassette of someone who has walked in your shoes but overcome their problems. Realize there is always hope in any situation and be inspired to go beyond your circumstances.

6. Reminisce
Think about times in your life when you have felt the happiest or most positive. Allow yourself moments to reminisce about these times and put a smile back on your face. Believe that more of these times can be created in your future.

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Any good Ottawa chiropractor will tell you how important it is to your health to take care of your digestive system. Have you ever experienced any of these following a meal: bloating, diarrhea, gas, constipation, heartburn, cramping or nausea? If you have any of these symptoms more frequently than you’d like, you might need to take some serious steps to get your digestive system functioning at its best. Few people are aware that there are seven simple yet effective steps that can make all the difference to their digestive health:

1. Eat foods rich in fiber
Fiber is instrumental in ensuring your digestive system runs smoothly. It’s a food with a surprisingly large range of digestive health benefits - it helps the body eliminate waste, lowers cholesterol, feeds healthy bacteria and reduces your risks of developing irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer too. Find your servings of fiber in fruit, vegetables, nuts, beans and whole grains.

2. Eat good amounts of fish
Fish contain omega-3 fatty acids which are hailed as being highly beneficial to the digestive system. The essential fatty acids can improve certain digestive problems because of their special anti-inflammatory properties. Choose to eat three to five portions of fish rich in this nutrient each week.

3. Cut out fried and high-fat foods
Reduce the amount of fried and fattening foods that you eat. These are hard for you to digest and put extra pressure on your digestive functions. Other processed foods may contain ingredients which irritate the stomach. Instead, choose organic foods when possible - they are simpler and kinder to your system.

4. Take probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal system. They maintain its health by keeping bad bacteria at bay and creating a good harmony in your digestion’s ecosystem. They have been known to help ease conditions like gastroenteritis, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Your probiotic levels will fall dramatically if you are under stress or taking antibiotics. Take a supplement of probiotics for the best support. Doses found in yogurt are minimal at best, and virtually none in flavored yogurts.

5. Develop good eating habits
It’s important to chew your food well to help it break down sufficiently before it reaches your stomach. Chewing is actually the first stage of digestion as enzymes in your saliva break down carbohydrates in the mouth. Other good practices which support your digestion is taking enough time to eat without rushing, avoiding large meals and avoiding eating a meal before you go to bed so your stomach can digest its food while you’re still upright.

6. Exercise regularly
Exercise is great for boosting your body’s natural functions and can improve the natural rhythm of your digestive system, too. It is also great for helping your food move through the digestive tract.

7. Choose healthy hydration
Caffeinated drinks like coffee and acid-producing fluids like soda can cause stomach aggravation, especially to sensitive stomachs. Instead, drink lots of water which prevents and alleviates constipation and generally eases the digestive process.

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