Urine For A Real Treat!

Urination is a normal bodily process that occurs as a natural consequence of metabolism but what exactly is the process. Urine is the excess liquid wastes eliminated by the body. Humans eliminate liquid wastes in one of two ways, urination and perspiration (sweating). There is an entire system in the body dedicated to the elimination of soluble wastes. This system is called the urinary system. The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. When food, liquids and drugs are taken into the body, they first pass through the digestive system, where they are broken down for absorption. The nutrients and chemicals then circulate through the blood stream. The body then sends excess liquid and nutrients that are not needed to the kidneys for filtration. The excess includes chemicals from drugs and medications. That is why so many drug side effects concern the kidneys and may eventually lead to kidney damage. The kidneys spend their entire life filtering waste products such as drugs. The fluid that remains after kidney filtration contains a variety of compounds, but is mostly made of a substance called urea. Urea is actually odorless until it mixes with the water left over in the kidneys and then it has an ammonia type smell. The urea, water and other compounds are what forms urine. The urine passes from long tubes called ureters that are connected from the kidney to the bladder. The bladder is a small sac that contains all of the urine. When the bladder is full, nerves in the lining of the bladder send a signal through the spinal nerves to the spinal cord, up to the brain. Your brain then lets you know that it is time to empty the bladder. (On a side note, the nervous system (brain, spinal nerves and spinal cord) not only controls this important response, but also controls the function of the kidneys and, for that matter, the function of every other system in the body.) Once the bladder is full and it is time to void, the urine flows through a small tube called the urethra. The urethra connects to the outside of the body via the genitals and that is how urine is eliminated. Despite what you may think, urine by itself is not toxic to the body. It does have some components that can be irritating to the eyes and skin but, overall, it is not harmful. Water treatment plants can process urine and extract suitable water for drinking. From a healthcare perspective, urine is an extremely important window into how the body is functioning. An in depth urinalysis can reveal hidden problems with a person's overall health, not to mention show drugs a person has taken into his or her body. Another urinalysis, which can be done on a daily basis, is simpler in nature and does not require going to a lab for. I'm speaking, of course, about assessing the color of your urine. Why is this important? Well, as we talked about in a previous post, hydration is an essential part of enhanced health. Urine can be a fantastic indicator to assess your level of hydration. A rule of thumb we give our patients is the more yellow your urine is by mid-afternoon the more dehydrated you are and the more clear your urine is the more hydrated you are. Pretty simple. We hope you found this post insightful and hopefully you'll never look at urination the same again!

Supplement Essentials For Greater Health!

As structural and family chiropractors we are often asked about certain topics which tend to resurface periodically due to the ever evolving world of nutritional research. Each week we learn about the health benefits of certain vitamins, foods and other nutritional supplements. Some weeks the news tells us foods or products are good for us and other weeks it tells us that those same products may not be as good for us as we thought. Having been guiding patients for over 8 years now, we have been able to narrow down a list of nutrition absolute do's and don'ts for health and disease. Researchers have studied the following suggestions thoroughly over the years, and it is an unchanging fact that they are basic for the optimal health of you and your family. In addition to a good quality Whole-Food Based Multivitamin, here is our personal list of additional and, often, essential nutritional supplements (in no order of importance):

Vitamin D3.

D3 is the wonder vitamin of the new millennium. Shown to enhance immunity and strengthen bones by helping calcium become more absorbable, vitamin D3 has shown promise in preventing cancers, cardiovascular disease, regulating blood sugar and working as an anti-inflammatory aid. D3 has also shown itself to be helpful in improving cognitive function. Experts in Vitamin D research believe the ideal dosage is 35 units per pound of bodyweight, depending on sun exposure. If you are outside a lot in the spring, summer and fall, you need less Vitamin D3 due to your body's ability to manufacture D3 from the sun. 

Omega 3 Fatty Acids.

Omega 3 fats are the essential fats found in fish, krill and flax seed oil. These fats have extreme anti-inflammatory properties. It is important to realize that inflammation is an important marker in all disease, from cancer and heart disease to arthritis and muscular skeletal issues. Omega 3 fats are also essential for brain function and healthy nerves. Daily dosages have been shown to reduce neuropathy symptoms and calm children with ADHD. Experts agree that liquid oil is the best source of Omega 3 fats due to its absorbability. 

Probiotics.

Probiotic supplementation has shown indisputable promise in helping the body to be healthy. The human digestive tract contains millions of normal, healthy bacterial cells, which it uses to maintain the health of the body. Today's average diet, stressful lifestyles and drug usage destroys the intestinal bacteria. When this degradation happens, the immune system doesn't function normally and frequent illnesses and sicknesses can occur. Recent research has even shown that probiotics can positively influence our DNA and have an effect on genetic markers that influence disease. Probiotics are the bacteria that are present in yogurt, keiffer and other fermented foods, such as sauerkraut.

As far as essential health ingredients go, the bottom line is that an effort to include these three supplements (in cojunction with your multi) in your daily diet will give you an outcome for greater health in the lives of you and your family. 

Exercise and It's Many Benefits!

As most of us know, regular exercise is essential for improving and maintaining overall health. Regular exercise not only helps you to maintain or lose body weight, exercise is extremely important for enhancing the performance of all of your bodily systems. For instance, exercise helps to regulate blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Exercise increases the body's metabolism, immune system capabilities, cardiovascular function, brain & neurological function, and bone density. In addition, exercise has a positive effect on a person's mental outlook. The body produces certain hormones during exercise that elevate mood and emotional well being. Not to mention that exercise is the perfect way to reduce the negative effects of stress. The biggest problem with exercise is, not so much exercise itself (exercise is as simple as walking), it is allotting the time to do it. Fitting an exercise program in an already hectic and busy day can seem impossible. Juggling kids and house work, long hours at work and doing errands and chores always seem to put exercising on the back burner. According to Cedric X. Bryant, PhD, Chief Exercise Physiologist of the American Council on Exercise, one of the best times to exercise is first thing in the morning. "Starting your morning with physical activity, you set the day's pace," Bryant says. "Morning exercisers tend to stick with their exercise habit," he says. "By doing the bulk of exercise first thing in the morning, you get your exercise in before other distractions can intrude. We can all relate to that because once the day gets going, it's hard to get off the treadmill called life." According to Bryant, research suggests that morning exercise improves sleep, a benefit that could also promote weight loss. One study of overweight women between the ages of 50-75 showed that those who engaged in consistent morning exercise (about four hours a week) slept better than those who exercised less. In addition, exercise in the morning has a profound effect on the body's metabolism. Studies show that the body will continue to burn an excess of calories hours after the exercise session, promoting further weight loss. Often the biggest concern among people who do not exercise is that they have too much to do in the morning before getting out the door. They feel they don't have time to fit in an exercise session. The solution to that problem is to wake up 30-40 minutes earlier, just for the exercise routine. Get out of bed, freshen-up and exercise. The first few sessions may be tough, and you will be more tired at the end of the day, but guess what? You'll sleep better through the night and may even end up going to bed a little earlier. A little more quality sleep, coupled with your new exercise routine can only mean one thing... a healthier, happier life!

5 Things to Look for When Choosing a Family Chiropractor

Not all chiropractors are created equal, and the health of your spinal column and nervous system is a really big deal. Don’t make the mistake of choosing the first chiropractor in the phone book, or of not doing ample research before deciding on which professional you will allow to adjust and align your spine. Instead, keep in mind these five things to look for when choosing a chiropractor:

1. Referrals and recommendations. 

Roughly six to twelve percent of the population is receiving regular chiropractic care at any given time. That means it should be easy to find these people and ask them how they feel about the chiropractors you are considering. Ask potential chiropractors if they can refer you to speak with any of their satisfied patients; Reputable chiropractors will be able to point you to a few. You may also ask your family doctor, friends, and family for recommendations and work from that list.

2. Reasonable costs. 

Sure, chiropractors may charge differently for different services, and you should not ever choose a chiropractor based solely on affordability. However, if you call around, you will find that some chiropractors charge fees that are just plain out of the ballpark. Also, don’t forget to ask about what is included with the cost you are quoted, as well as what additional charges you may incur through a routine visit.

3. Chiropractic techniques. 

Different chiropractors use different techniques, and you need to choose one who uses techniques you can be comfortable with. For example, some chiropractors work with their hands and have a gentle touch, while others prefer using instruments. Ask chiropractors which methods they use, before you lay on that table.

4. A well-rounded approach. 

The goal of any competent, reputable chiropractor will be to get you well, and as soon as possible. That naturally means fostering your care from a variety of angles. If a chiropractor seems unwilling to work with other professionals involved in your health care, and closed off to the idea of you supplementing your treatment with other healthful activities, then you should find another chiropractor.

5. Strong working relationships. Good chiropractors work with other professionals in the health field to keep up on industry changes, as well as to maintain important connections that could better the treatment of their patients. As previously mentioned, this quality is best proven by positive referrals from other doctors, therapists, and healthcare practitioners.

Choosing a good chiropractor isn't all that difficult, as long as you are willing to do some research and some legwork. Use these tips as a starting point when sizing up your options!

Fatigue: A Condition Caused By The Lack of Caffeine... Or Is It?

The adrenal glands are walnut sized glands that sit on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands primarily produce three main hormones, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and adrenaline. Glucocorticoids help the body convert food into energy. Minerlocorticoids help keep your blood pressure in the normal range. Adrenaline is in charge of the blood flow to your heart, muscles and brain. Because they manufacture these three hormones, your adrenal glands are responsible for maintaining metabolism, managing blood sugar levels, regulating inflammation in the body, balancing the body's salt and water, maintaining pregnancy, producing sex hormones and controlling the body's response to stress. Eighty percent (80%) of Americans, at one point in their lifetime, suffer from a condition called adrenal fatigue. One of the main functions of the adrenal gland is its ability to help the body cope with stress. Conversely, too much stress can cause the adrenal gland to break down and suffer fatigue. The most common factors that "stress out" the adrenal glands are anger, fear, anxiety, guilt, depression and other negative emotions, overwork, excessive exercise, sleep deprivation, shift work, surgery, trauma or injury, chronic inflammation, infection, illness or pain, temperature extremes, toxic exposure, nutritional deficiencies and/or severe allergies. When the adrenal glands become depleted, hormone production levels decrease. This decrease then can lead to many different conditions, which affect the body of each individual in different ways. Some of the most common symptoms and signs of adrenal fatigue include: fatigue and weakness, especially in the morning and afternoon; suppressed immune system function; increased allergic reaction; muscle and bone loss and muscular weakness; depression; cravings for foods high in salt, sugar or fat; hormonal imbalance; skin problems; autoimmune disorders; increased PMS or menopausal symptoms; low sex drive; lightheadedness; subluxation (spinal dysfunction); decreased ability to handle stress; trouble waking up in the morning, despite a full night’s sleep and, lastly, poor memory. Detection and diagnosis of adrenal fatigue is fairly simple. There is an inexpensive test that you can purchase online and perform at home, called a salivary cortisol test. This test is more accurate than the blood test called ACTH, which most medical doctors prescribe. The ACTH test only recognizes extreme underproduction and over production of adrenal gland hormones, while the salivary cortisol test recognizes more particular hormone production. If you do suffer from adrenal fatigue, it can take your body 6-24 months (depending on severity) to right itself when you take the proper steps to restore adrenal function. These steps include listening to your body and resting when you feel tired, sleeping-in when needed, exercising regularly (but not extremely), eating a healthy whole-foods diet, avoiding stimulants such as coffee and soda, maintaining a properly functioning nervous system with chiropractic and, most importantly, maintaining proper blood sugar levels. You can achieve regular blood sugar levels by eating wholesome, nutritionally dense, small meals at consistent intervals throughout the day. The adrenal glands are extremely important to your health and well being. By taking the steps needed to improve their performance, you can eliminate and prevent many illnesses.