Alternative Care Center's Health News, Notes and Quotes

Welcome to Health News, Notes and Quotes. We have selected the following categories and news items below because I believe they can help educate you about the importance of good health and the benefits of chiropractic.

Articles:

Nutrition & Herbs

Keeping Your Body Energized

Healthy eating is more complex than adopting a low-carb, low-fat or high-fiber diet. It’s important to understand how the food you eat affects your body, so you can provide balanced, sustained nutrition to keep going strong. The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates based on their immediate effect on glucose (blood sugar) levels. Glucose is assigned a value of 100, while other carbohydrates are ranked relative to glucose. Essentially, carbohydrates that break down rapidly during the digestive process have the highest GI values. The blood glucose response is fast. On the other hand, carbohydrates that break down slowly and release glucose gradually into the bloodstream have low GI values. The GI index is an important consideration for a number of reasons, particularly with respect to the benefits of consuming low-GI foods: • Low-GI foods keep you fuller for longer. • Low-GI foods cause a smaller rise in blood glucose levels following meals. • Low-GI diets can help you lose weight. • Low-GI diets can improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin. And according to the authors of a 2002 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “sufficient, positive findings have emerged to suggest that the dietary glycemic index is of potential importance in the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases.” Healthy eating requires consideration of much more than just high- and low-GI/GL foods – but the underlying premise is important: providing balanced, sustained nutrition that the body can utilize effectively to generate energy, build muscle, repair tissue, fight infection and perform a host of other vital functions.

Acupuncture & Asian Healing

Top 5 Herbal Formulas for Health and Wellness

Why do the Chinese have a reputation for living long, healthy lives? A long history of using Chinese herbs may play a role. Here are five of the most popular herbal formulas and how they help promote health and wellness in the body. A Basic Formula (Gui Zhi Tang) This was one of the first formulas used to fight off signs of the common cold. It works by pushing pathogens out of the body, primarily through sweating. Digestive Aid (Ping Wei San) This formula works to tonify the stomach and improve digestion and elimination. It is often used when there is stomach upset or bloating, and has been used to help relieve fullness in the chest and abdomen. Liver Support (Xiao Chai Hu Tang) This formula has been used for lingering colds that persist for more than five days with alternating fever and chills. Over the long term, it also has helped improve liver enzymes and general fatigue from chronic illness. Energy Support (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang) This formula helps strengthen weakened and debilitated patients and has been used with various types of prolapses, frequent urination, bleeding problems like anemia, and generalized weakness. PMS and Mental Support (Xiao Yao San) This formula, one of the most popular Chinese formulas used in America, focuses on supporting the mind/body balance. It soothes the mind and promotes blood movement, which also helps relieve pain and cramping.

General Health

Living With Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the oldest known afflictions and can affect virtually every part of the body, from the feet to the knees, back, shoulders and fingers. More than 50 million (about one in six) Americans suffer from arthritis. The most common types are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gouty arthritis. There are natural ways to improve your arthritis symptoms. Dairy products, caffeine, citrus fruits, paprika, salt, tobacco and sugar should be reduced or eliminated from your diet, as these foods may increase joint inflammation. Additionally, nightshades (e.g., red, green, and yellow bell peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, white flesh potatoes) should be avoided because they have a tendency to intensify arthritic symptoms. Foods containing sulfur, such as asparagus, eggs, garlic and onions, are important for the repair and rebuilding of bone, cartilage and connective tissue, and also aid in the absorption of calcium. Other good foods include green, leafy vegetables (which supply vitamin K), fresh vegetables, non-acidic fresh fruits, whole grains, oatmeal, brown rice and fish. Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, a powerful natural anti-inflammatory agent, which works by stimulating the body’s production of prostaglandins. One of the most overlooked approaches to improve the discomfort associated with arthritis is hydration. Depending on your level of activity, a good rule of thumb is to drink half of your weight in ounces. Thus, if you weigh 180 pounds, you should consume 90 ounces of pure, filtered water per day. Arthritis in any form can be a debilitating condition that prevents you from living the life you want. Rather than immediately accepting the dangerous side effects of drugs and risky surgeries, talk to your doctor about natural alternatives to keep your muscles and joints in optimal condition.