energy Archives - Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

Moms Deserve Wellness Checks Too

August 24, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Summer is a time for relaxation, no schedules, vacations, and poolside gatherings. It’s a time to catch up with family and friends, work on that tan, and catch up with your reading. It’s also a time to let things go. Mom’s especially are guilty of this, but not in the way you might think. There’s no letting go of keeping the kids occupied during the lazy days of summer, or staying on top of going to all the graduation parties, neighborhood barbecues, dinners with friends. Moms forget that summer is for them, too.

Now that school is back in session, it is time for moms to take inventory of themselves. After three months of putting everyone else’s needs first, the time has come for self. Fall is the perfect time for moms of all ages to also schedule back to school wellness checks. To uncover the causes of any pain or discomfort they might have been experiencing over the summer, yet postponed doing anything about it. Maybe it was that lumpy mattress on vacation that caused your back to start aching. Or the extra weight put on from those frozen margaritas and pizza parties. Or even all the time spent on getting your child ready for college over the summer that sidelined your exercise regiment.

No matter what the reason, there are a few simple steps a mom can take to help get herself feeling good and back on track.

Schedule a massage.
Visit your chiropractor to get yourself back in alignment and address any pain or discomfort.
Increase your water intake.
Get outside and walk.
Set an earlier bedtime to offset the earlier morning schedule.
Call another mom and schedule time during the week to workout together.

Every time you schedule a wellness check for your kids, schedule one for yourself too. Taking steps to relax and de-stress will have a tremendous impact on your energy levels, mood, and stamina. Even if it’s scheduling a massage once a month. Investing in bettering yourself is the best gift you can give your family.

The Problem With Sugar Substitutes

June 23, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Sugar is bad, right? It seems we know this, but do we really understand why? We also tend to believe that the sugar-free or sugar substitutes are not bad for us, too. In fact, it’s a better option for us to choose sugar-free when possible. The reality is that both are bad for us and cause unhealthy side effects to our bodies if we consume them. Understanding this impact on us is important to making more informed choices about the food we eat.

People often wonder if there is a difference between the different types of sugar. It can become a bit confusing as there are 7 major types on the market today:

white granulated sugar – highly refined; multi-purpose; most common type of sugar
caster sugar – very fine granulated sugar; more difficult to find
confectioners sugar – even finer sugar; used to make icings
raw sugar – larger crystals; few minerals
brown sugar – contains 5% molasses; trace amounts of calcium, iron and potassium
fructose powder – sweeter than sugar; metabolized differently; does not trigger hormones that regulate appetite
glucose powder – source of instant energy; labeled as “dextrose”;

Calorie-wise there is no difference between sugars, plus in any form offers little in terms of health benefits. For these reasons, the USDA suggests limiting sugar intake in our diet. To confuse matters even more, we find there is sugar-free options and sugar substitutes. Are they better for us? The short answer is no.

With our society in an obesity epidemic, one of the goals is to cut calories. Because sugar is filled with empty calories, this is the most logical place to start. We begin by switching to the diet version of our favorite soda, then opt for the sugar-free vanilla iced coffee rather than the regular. Granted the calories have lowered, but what have we really replaced them with? Both artificial and natural sweeteners. The FDA has approved 5 artificial sweeteners – saccharin, aspartame, neotame, sucralose, an acesulfame.

And only one natural sweetener, Stevia. Researchers are concerned about the long-term effects of consuming large quantities of sweeteners. Studies indicate that daily consumption of diet soda increased the risk of developing metabolic syndrome by 36% and a 67% increase in developing type 2 diabetes. Which coincidentally was exactly what these artificial sweeteners were meant to help in the first place.

When it comes to sugar, choose the natural route, stick with the natural sugar found in fruit. Opt for unsweetened tea, black coffee, and fruit infused water. However, if you just can’t ignore your sweet tooth, remember to use moderation. Be smart about the calories you put in your body. Because not every calorie is equal.

Why a Car Accident Is Never Minor

January 26, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Why do we minimize pain? It seems that no matter the situation, from truly minor to extremely major, we brush it off and move on as if nothing happened. Watch any sporting event and observe how players experience serious physical contact yet get right back in the game again. Or the people on the side of the road after a car accident, declining the trip to the emergency room because they “feel fine.” Feeling fine does not mean our body is fine. If that was the case, then we would know the moment a cancer cell becomes a threat to our health.

A police officer was referred to DCW after experiencing a minor crash during a high speed chase that he walked away from. On the surface he appeared uninjured. Yes, there is no immediate trauma that requires emergency attention; however, what about the micro-trauma inside the body from the impact?

The average car weighs 4,000 pounds, or 2-tons. In the case of the cop, he was pursuing a suspect in his car and traveling fast. This energy of motion is called kinetic energy. The faster the motion the higher the energy. While there are many safety features in a car to protect us like seat belts, air bags, and shatterproof glass, we are still delicate flesh traveling inside a metal container. Upon impact, the car is designed to absorb as much kinetic energy as possible. However, the faster the car is moving the less time the car has to absorb the energy. So, where does it go then? To us. Our body absorbs it.

To ensure that our body is functioning as it should after any car accident, a visit to the chiropractor is a must. Why? Because symptoms may not present themselves until several weeks later. Minor misalignment in the spine can affect different parts of the body and can cause significant problems later on. Be proactive and see your chiropractor after a car accident, no matter how minor. This approach will save you unnecessary pain and suffering, not to mention money.

Exercise Is Key to Healthy Aging

November 4, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

There is a stereotype that exists regarding senior citizens or the elderly. The image that typically comes to mind when we hear one of those words is more than likely a grandparent. This person is sitting in a chair, resting or watching television. Perhaps there is a cane or walker nearby. How many of us would think of a grandparent running a 5k? What about playing tennis or bike riding? The reality is that the lifestyles of the older population can run the gamut. But as we age, we play an active role in determining how well we age by how active we remain.

Essentially we are in the driver’s seat when it comes to controlling our aging process. We cannot avoid getting older and the physical changes that take place such as graying hair, wrinkles, and thinning hair. However, we can slow down the overall aging of our body through something as simple as exercise. Yes, it is true!

There are many benefits to the body and aging through exercise:

improved memory and thinking
improved spacial memory
formation of new neural pathways, brain cells, and blood vessels
decrease of inflammation
decrease in stress and anxiety
better moods, sleep, circulations and digestion
improved bone density
improved muscle mass, strength, and power
better balance
higher energy levels

Studies show that older adults that continue to exercise and remain active can be just as competitive as their younger rivals, except, of course, at the elite level. At a fundamental level, we know the importance of exercise regardless of our age. We know the significance of being fit and maintaining a healthy diet. Yet, we continue to engage in unhealthy lifestyles. The question is why? Is it because we feel we can put it off until a tomorrow that never comes? Do we feel okay so therefore we are physically okay? What about excuses we give ourselves that we simply don’t have time, we are too busy? What needs to change within us to accept responsibility for our health? The decision of course is up to you. How one ends up aging comes down to a series of decisions that are made each and every day, starting right now.

Seeking a Cure

August 2, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Not having the answer to a problem can be frustrating and unnerving. Something as simple as misplaced keys or cell phone can send our day into a tailspin. However, something bigger like a lost child at an amusement park or an unexplained pain or lump can bring us to our knees. The simple fact of not knowing the where or why is a feeling we never want to experience. However, it is times like these that we would do anything to get the problem resolved favorably. Probably the easiest example to explain this scenario is when it comes to our health or the health of someone we love. There are countless stories of individuals who went to great lengths to find a cure to an ailment from traveling across country to see a doctor, to participating in a clinical trail, or seeking a cure through holistic care.

The problem with this approach to life is the assumptions made. We assume we have all the answers right now. Common sense tells us that this couldn’t be further from the truth. How can we know what we don’t know? Remember that old saying your mom probably said when you were going up, “never say never”? She meant, never say you will never do or think or say something. Wisdom tells us that life is full of surprises. Circumstances present themselves that cause us to say or do or think something we never thought we would.

There is a vast majority of the population that has either outright said or implied that they would never see a chiropractor. And all too often, it’s those same people who end up at a chiropractic office. But it’s only after they’ve tried other options and spent countless dollars. It is our goal at Damron Chiropractic & Wellness to change that. We believe that chiropractic care should be one of the first options a person chooses, not the last. We believe that a lot of money can be saved if more people choose the option they said they would never choose. Once people learn the benefits of chiropractic care from:

eliminating pain,
resolving the cause of the symptoms,
restoring proper functioning,
providing preventative health care,
lowering the incidence of corrective surgery,
increasing energy,
and lowering stress,

they realize that they may have let a few assumptions get in the way of the truth.

Metabolism and Weight Loss

November 26, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

As individuals, we are so unique that even our metabolism is vastly different than anyone else. Metabolism, or the way we use the calories we consume to sustain life, is central to our overall health. Understanding how our body works in terms of metabolism and weight loss will prevent needless frustration and keep your goals realistic and attainable. So what exactly is metabolism? What factors can affect it? And how can we determine what our metabolism is?

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, metabolism is “the sum of chemical reactions that take place within each cell of a living organism and that provide energy for vital processes and for synthesizing new organic material.” Essentially, metabolism is the process by which the food we eat is converted to fuel. This fuel, or energy, gives us the ability to perform each and every function, from the ones we perform intentionally to those our body simply does for us like breathing, circulating blood, and tissue repair.

There are three factors that can affect our metabolism:

The number of calories we need to maintain life.
The number of calories we use during physical activity.
The number of calories we consume each day.

A key component of metabolism is how your body uses proteins to build muscle and how it uses nutrients for fuel. The first is called anabolism, the second catabolism. If you eat far more than you burn each day, your body will be forced to store the excess energy which, in time, will increase your weight. You will also begin to accelerate your aging. The extra weight puts a tremendous burden on each system of your body simply because it needs to work harder to do even the most basic things like breathing. This, in addition to your age, height, gender, and body composition, also affects the rate of your metabolism.

You can determine your metabolism through both a resting and active assessment that includes a respiration test. This can be a useful tool in determining your baseline and help create your personalized plan to improved health. It can also tell you which you burn more of, fat or carbohydrates, for fuel, plus your ideal heart rate zone that promotes weight loss.

Understanding the unique needs of your body will prevent you from compare yourself and your progress to others. This journey towards wellness is for you alone. Honor who and what you are, and give your body the tools it needs for success.

Moms Deserve Wellness Checks Too

The Problem With Sugar Substitutes

Why a Car Accident Is Never Minor

Exercise Is Key to Healthy Aging

Seeking a Cure

Metabolism and Weight Loss

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Dr. Greg Washam, Chiropractor

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