Chiropractic
Stop Gaining Weight by Getting Enough Sleep!
If Your New Year’s Resolution is to Get Fit, Chiropractic Can Help
We know that when one thing is imbalanced, the whole system becomes less effective. The truth is, regular maintenance (getting that tune-up, having that spine adjusted) can play a significant role in overall “fitness.” When all systems are fully supported and functioning properly, we run, work, and play better.
Though it can be difficult to define, physical fitness refers to a state of overall health that includes the ability to perform a range of activities, from a hard workout to working comfortably at a desk, with ease and efficiency. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, there are four interrelated types of fitness that contribute to complete health: muscular fitness, which includes muscle strength and endurance; flexibility, which includes muscle/tendon elasticity and range of motion; cardio-respiratory fitness, which includes the heart, lungs, and blood vessels; and body composition, or the percentage of body fat to nonfat tissues (bones, organs, etc.). Because no one system functions independently, the fitness of each affects all the others.
While it’s important to get adequate exercise, eat right, and treat our bodies kindly to maximize health in all of the above categories, regular alignment or “maintenance” through chiropractic adjustments can be a big step to improving overall fitness. Because chiropractic works toward balancing the body’s systems—bones, muscles, nerves, and organs—through proper posture and alignment, regular chiropractic care allows the whole body to perform at its best, increasing energy reserves as it decreases the stress and fatigue that can result from improper alignment.
Though it may feel like a miracle, the principle of chiropractic is simple. When the body is well aligned, muscles, joints, and ligaments function together with greater ease. Internal organs aren’t hindered—the lungs and heart are better able to do their jobs. Perhaps even more importantly, chiropractic care helps prevent injuries that can result from overtaxing a particular part of the body that may be compensating for those that aren’t functioning as well. Through chiropractic the body gets a tune-up. We’re ready to roll—more efficiently and with a greater sense of well-being.
Let us at Harbor Family help you reach your fitness goals for the New Year!
Your Child’s Head Shape
It is a myth that a child’s odd-shaped head is no issue and that it will fix itself with time. However, odd shape can be the first indication that your child is susceptible to developmental delay. A misshapen head is not merely a cosmetic issue, it is a brain stem issue. If your child’s head looks uneven or you notice flat areas, this can indicate restrictions between the skull and the soft layers that cover the brain and spinal cord. A healthy brain requires good movement of the skull and spine, when this movement is impaired, brain and nerve function are also impaired.
Sometimes children have nerve and spinal distress that results in their head being tilted to one side so that one ear sits higher than the other. At other times a child’s head may be rotated or turned more to one side, so that they display a preference for having their head turned this way.”
Whether your child’s head is odd-shaped or not and whether their head sits unevenly or not it is best to have their skeletal system checked as early as possible by a Chiropractor. Our focus is not aesthetics – their aim is to help increase the neurological function of your child.
*Taken From Chiropracticlife.com
The Spooky Truth About Our Favorite Halloween Candy
Alright, we know candy-stuffed pillows are inevitable this Halloween, but there are some tricky tips on which treats to eat, and which to ditch.
Don’t be afraid of the dark:
“If you’re craving chocolate, then the darker, the better,” says Katie Cavuto Boyle, RD, owner of Healthy Bites. “Dark chocolate has less sugar, is dairy-free, and is rich in antioxidants that have been shown to reduce blood pressure and decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Nibble: Hershey’s Miniatures: Special Dark
Serving Size: 5 pieces
200 calories; 13g fat; 7g saturated fat; 25mg sodium; 24g carbs; 18g sugar; 3g protein
Nix: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures
Serving Size: 5 pieces
220 calories; 13g fat; 5g saturated fat; 130mg sodium; 26g carbs; 23g sugar; 4g protein
No one will think you’re NUTS
“Chocolate that contains nuts may be even better for you, because the nuts contain a variety of nutrients and healthy fats that may displace some of the total chocolate, sugar, etc.,” says Marie Spano, RD, owner of Marie Spano Nutrition Consulting in Atlanta.
Nibble: Dove Silky Smooth Almond Milk Chocolate Bar
Serving Size: 1 bar
190 calories; 12g fat; 6g saturated fat; 20mg sodium; 18g carbs; 16g sugar; 3g protein
Nix: Twix Caramel Cookie Bars
Serving Size: 2 cookies (1 pack)
250 calories; 12g fat; 9g saturated fat; 100mg sodium; 33g carbs; 24g sugar; 2g protein
White is not right
“White chocolate is your least healthy option,” says Boyle. “It doesn’t actually contain any cocoa — only cocoa butter — and it’s packed with sugar and added fat from the extra milk products used.”
Nibble: Kit Kat Snack Size
Serving Size: 3 packs
210 calories; 11g fat; 7g saturated fat; 30mg sodium; 27g carbs; 21g sugar; 3g protein
Nix: Hershey’s Bliss White Chocolate Meltaway
Serving Size: 6 pieces
230 calories; 14g fat; 9g saturated fat; 70mg sodium; 24g carbs; 24g sugar; 3g protein
Look at Chew!
“Caramels contain a high percentage of saturated fat, so if you’re looking for something chewy, you’re better off with a low-calorie candy, like Now and Later, that takes longer to eat,” says Boyle.
Nibble: Now and Laters
Serving Size: 9 pieces
120 calories; 1g fat; 0g saturated fat; 40mg sodium; 28g carbs; 22g sugar; 0g protein Nix: Brach’s Milk Maid Caramels
Serving Size: 4 pieces
150 calories; 4g fat; 3g saturated fat; 90mg sodium; 25g carbs; 15g sugar; 2g protein
Kiss and Tell
Don’t be fooled: A kiss is not just a kiss. There are now seven different types of Hershey’s Kisses, plus a seasonal pumpkin-flavored one, and they each have unique nutritional info. If they all taste the same to you, go for the gold wrapper — they’ve got less fat.
Nibble: Milk Chocolate Kisses filled with Caramel
Serving Size: 9 pieces
190 calories; 9g fat; 6g saturated fat; 75mg sodium; 27g carbs; 23g sugar; 3g protein
Nix: Meltaway Milk Chocolate Kisses
Serving Size: 9 pieces
210 calories; 13g fat; 8g saturated fat; 50mg sodium; 24g carbs; 22g sugar; 3g protein
The Power of Protein
Although protein is a main source of our body’s fuel and energy, not every protein-rich food is beneficial to our health. Protein is most commonly thought of as meat, however this important nutrient comes in many different forms. Not only is it an essential nutrient, it is one of the critical building blocks for cells and tissues throughout our body. Studies show that most women need only about 50 grams of protein per day, whereas men need around 60 to 70 grams (between two and three servings). Most people overeat protein and end up consuming more than 120 grams of protein per day, which is almost twice what we need! It is important to consider the saturated fat and cholesterol content in the protein you are consuming or else you can exceed your daily fat allowance with just a few bites. Skinless chicken breasts are a great choice when considering meats, but most red meats contain cholesterol and too much saturated fat. The healthiest sources of protein include beans, nuts, fish, and low-fat dairy products. Eggs are also a great way to obtain protein, however the yolk contains fat and cholesterol so it is wise to consume the egg white. Protein-rich foods are an imperative part of our healthy diet, so it is important to go for choices that are low in cholesterol and saturated fat but that give our body the protein it needs to function properly.