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Get Spicy!

Posted by on 2:42 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

Many people use butter, salt or oil to enhance the flavor of the food(s) they eat. However, butter, salt and oil can help a person put on pounds… Is there a good alternative for flavor enhancement? How about spices and herbs?

If you’re trying to lose weight, spices and herbs can help. Many are anti-inflammatory and can increase your metabolism. Look for extracts that are pure unsweetened extracts. Also consider minced or jarred items containing the item itself with just water and minimal salt– and no added oil. Some good things you can use to spice up your food include ginger and garlic.
Making a stir-fry? Try adding toasted sesame seeds. Heating up soup? Add some bay leaves for flavor.

If and when you like your food HOT and spicy, try adding cayenne pepper, ground white pepper, whole peppercorns (or ground), or ground Jamaican allspice. If you love salt, try using Himalayan pink salt– the small grain variety. And if you just like adding some flavorful additions to your meals, you can add cinnamon, clover, curry powder, or nutmeg.

What are some good herbs that enhance the foods you eat? Basil, cilantro, dill weed, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme are all healthy choices.

Other ways to add flavor to your meals include using leeks/onions, lemon juice, shallots and scallions.

All too often, people reach for “what’s there.” So, if the fridge has butters and oils, and there’s white table salt around, too, they’re going to automatically use them. Why not make a couple changes at your house or apartment? Buy and try a couple spices and herbs and see what you like. You might discover that you absolutely love basil leaves on your pizza or cinnamon on your morning toast. There’s a world of flavor available to people beyond the typical butter, salt and oil mainstays!

Chiropractic Care For Neck Pain

Posted by on 2:40 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

Got neck pain? Maybe it’s your posture… or the fact that you’re looking down at your phone all the time. Maybe you were in a car crash. Or perhaps you don’t have a decent pillow and the way you sleep is causing you chronic pain. Your pain could be due to a number of things, including facet joint sprain, whiplash, degenerative joint syndrome of the neck, cervical sprain injuries or cervical intervertebral disc injuries… all of which are big words chiropractors use, but you’re probably just thinking, “My neck hurts and I want the pain to go away!”

You’re in luck: chiropractors treat neck pain. They can use spinal manipulation or manual therapy to help you feel better. There’s the flexion-distraction technique, whereas a chiropractor uses his or her hands to do a spinal manipulation involving a pumping action on the intervertebral disc. Instead of using direct force this is a gentle way to relieve neck pain. There’s also an instrument-assisted manipulation technique involving a hand-held instrument that can apply force without thrusting into the spine. Or, perhaps, your chiropractor will use a gentle thrusting technique to help restore joint movement.

Chiropractors also use manual therapies to relieve neck pain. They’ll work on diagnosing and treating muscle tension. They might employ manual joint stretching and resistance techniques, therapeutic massage, and/or trigger point therapy in order to relieve tight, painful points on a muscle and/or relax tense muscles in general.

Neck pain can also be relieved using interferential electrical stimulation or ultrasound. Furthermore, your chiropractor will probably recommend therapeutic exercises you can do at home afterward, in order to help improve the range of motion in your neck.

In Forest Lake, Minnesota, the chiropractor to visit for neck pain relief is Dr. Gerard at Lakewoods Chiropractic. Use the contact page to make an appointment: https://lakewoodschiropractic.com/contact-us/

Preventing Vision Loss Naturally

Posted by on 2:38 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

When you’re young you don’t think about vision loss… but then you pass the age of 40, and suddenly people around you are telling you about their vision problems and you’re wondering, “What about me?”

Many adults over the age of 40 have trouble seeing clearly at close distances, typically when reading or working on a computer. As we age, we most likely have a change in our ability to focus. This is called presbyopia and it progresses over time. Common age-related vision changes involve the need for more light in order to see as well as you used to, as well as problems with glare, reduced tear production (dry eyes), and changes in color perception making it harder to distinguish between certain color shades.

No one wants to experience vision loss, right? So what are some tips for preventing vision loss naturally?

Do what you can to manage your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.

Eat “right” to protect your sight! Instead of consuming junk food, sugary sweets and fried foods as mainstays of your “diet,” you should make some changes. Add more fruits and vegetables to your daily intake. Dark leafy greens are so good for you. Eat more spinach, kale or collard greens. Add blueberries to your breakfast routine. And eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna and halibut.

When you “eat right” and exercise regularly, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight. Ideally, you want to avoid being overweight or obese because that can lead to diabetes which can lead to vision loss.

When playing sports or doing activities around the home or yard, wear protective eyewear. Safety shields and goggles, for instance, will help protect your eyes from damage. Also, when you’re outside, it’s a good idea to wear sunglasses, since they’ll protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

If you spend a lot of time looking at a handheld device (such as a tablet or phone), or you stare at a computer screen for hours on end, please take some breaks to give your eyes a rest!

Finally, if you smoke, quit. Smoking does not help your eyesight! It can increase your risk of getting age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage– yikes!

Does Your Child Have TMD?

Posted by on 6:40 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

If a child is experiencing pain near their ear, their jaw and/or the muscles on the side of their face, accompanied by a clicking or popping sound (or restricted jaw movement), they may have TMD. This is a group of conditions involving pain and dysfunction of the “TMJ,” aka the temporomandibular (jaw) joint. Children going through significant stress can experience jaw problems. If they have a dental issue, such as a “bad bite,” or joint problems, such as arthritis, that could be contributing to their TMD… as could trauma to their jaw or face.

The source of a TMD problem could be a disc, muscles, or a joint. Did you know large muscles in the cheeks and temples move the lower jaw? The lower jaw and temporal bone fit together as a ball and socket with a cushioning disc in between. When something’s wrong in this area of the body, a person will often have pain as well as trouble opening or closing their jaw. And yes, even young children can experience TMD issues.

If your child is telling you he or she has muscle pain in the cheeks or temples, it could be TMD. They might be clenching or grinding their teeth every night. If they are, that means they’re not allowing those certain muscles to relax. And they’re putting more and more pressure on their jaw joints.

Can children be treated for TMD issues? Certainly. Chiropractors can help kids feel better. For instance, sometimes a softer diet can help reduce stress put on their joints and muscles. Ice and/or heat applied to the face can help with soreness and inflammation. And if there’s a muscle spasm happening, a chiropractor can help stretch the muscle so it calms down quickly.

In Forest Lake, MN, call Lakewoods Chiropractic at 615-464-0800 to make an appointment and get some relief for the child in your life who is experiencing jaw pain and problems.

Hidden Injuries From Automobile Collisions

Posted by on 6:38 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

When people are involved in a car crash they typically have neck and back pains. But there can also be hidden injuries that aren’t even felt or known about for weeks or perhaps months later.

For example, the force of a collision can cause tissue between the vertebrae of the spine to “balloon out” or rupture. When this happens, the person experiences a herniated disc. This herniation puts pressure on nerves coming out of the spine. What can be the result? Well, a person might have severe pain, as well as loss of feeling and even the loss of control of their muscles, typically in their arms or legs. So, after what seemed like a “mild” car crash, it’s possible that a person could experience numbness in their toes, or worse– have a hard time walking!

Other hidden injuries associated with car crashes include traumatic brain injuries. If your head (and brain) hit something, such as the dashboard, and there’s an injury, you could experience long-term damage to your brain and its ability to function. Your brain tells your body what to do, so if it’s not working well, you can have other problems. Brain injuries can make people forgetful, angry, etc.

What about knee injuries? If a person’s knees strike the dashboard during a crash, they could end up with a shattered patella (knee cap) or other injury such as a torn meniscus.

Shoulder injuries are fairly common after collisions. The seat belt can do its job, but it can also force the body to twist in a manner that results in strains, tears and bruises.

Finally, there’s the psychological impact of being in a crash. It’s not unusual for people to develop a phobia about being in a car again, because they fear they’ll get hit/injured again. They can also experience depression and anxiety, feeling bad about the whole situation.

Is there relief from pain after a crash? Chiropractors can help! In Forest Lake, MN, call Lakewoods Chiropractic at 615-464-0800 to make an appointment and get some relief after a car crash.

Can Food Prevent Dementia?

Posted by on 6:37 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

What is dementia? It’s a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.

A person with dementia might not remember how to do simple tasks, such as zipping up their hoodie or tying their shoelaces. When dementia gets really bad, they might not remember people’s names or even recognize their closest friends and relatives. Many people will tell you they’d rather lose the ability to walk than to “lose their mind.”

As people age, they’re more likely to experience dementia. It’s not unusual for people over 75 to exhibit some signs of this disease.
Are there certain foods you can eat to prevent dementia? Researchers seem to think there are certain foods that’ll help a person’s brain stay healthy, with an emphasis on natural plant-based foods and the avoidance (or limiting) of red meat, saturated fat and sweets.

So what’s the best food to eat to prevent dementia? That would be vegetables– especially leafy greens. Researchers looked at eating logs for older adults for several years to see if any trends were noticeable when it came to those who developed dementia… or didn’t. They learned that people who wanted to prevent dementia ate at least three servings of whole grains a day and green leafy veggies (such as salad) at least six times a week. Other good foods to eat included berries, fish, poultry, beans, nuts and… drinking wine! What were the foods to avoid? That would be red meat, fried/fast food, cheese and pastries.

Oftentimes, when people are younger, they don’t think about the consequences of their habits until years later… That said, if you’re the kind of person who wants to live a healthy and long life, and you’d like to do everything you can to prevent/avoid dementia, you can start now, adjusting your diet to eat more “brain-healthy” foods.

Back Pain May Be In Your Genes

Posted by on 6:35 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

If your parents experience back pain, will you, too? Is back pain “in the genes?” Several studies suggest a connection between back pain and genetics. Research has discovered that the development of lumbar degenerative disc disease, which gives a person chronic back pain, has a strong genetic link. Can back pain run in families? Yes. Research has shown that people with lumbar disc disease, for example, typically have other family members with it as well.

Today, researchers are on the hunt for the specific genes that influence both disc degeneration and back pain. Recently, a new study found three novel genetic variants associated with chronic back pain for loci at SOX5, CCDC26/GSDMC, and DCC. Researchers looked at the genomes of some 158,000 adults of European ancestry, with 29,000 of those having chronic back pain issues. They wanted to find gene variants that were associated with the presence of back pain, and they did. Those variants, such as the one in the SOX5 gene, involve skeletal development whereas there’s a defect in cartilage and skeletal formation. Was this just found in one study? No. There was another that looked at 280,000 individuals, including 50,000 with back pain, and they also found this SOX5 variant association with chronic back pain.

Two other genes were linked to back pain in research studies. CCDC26/GSDMC and DCC were found to be associated with intervertebral disc herniation, back pain, and the development of the spinal cord.

Did you know that back pain affects about 540 million people around the world on any given day? While things like obesity and smoking can bring about back pain, researchers keep learning more and more about the genetics of back pain. If several of your relatives have back pain, there’s a strong chance you could have it, too. Thankfully, there’s relief from chronic back pain at the chiropractor’s office. In Forest Lake, MN, call Lakewoods Chiropractic at 615-464-0800 to make an appointment and get some relief.

Chiropractic: Safe for Babies and Kids

Posted by on 2:28 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

One of the great things about chiropractic care is that it doesn’t rely on pills to relieve pain in a person’s body. For those interested in natural healing, chiropractic is the way to go!

That said, most people think of adults when they think of chiropractors. Is chiropractic care safe for babies and kids? Yes, it is. And it’s not at all unusual for babies and kids to see a chiropractor.

As we grow, our bodies change, especially in the early years. Babies and young children can and do experience musculoskeletal issues from various activities. Maybe they fall down or get bumped. Perhaps a child gets a sports injury. Things happen to little kids. Chiropractors tailor their services to a person’s age, developmental state, and size. Things like soft tissue therapy, joint mobilization or spinal manipulation can help babies and infants feel better.

So why would a parent bring a baby or their young child to a chiropractor? Practically-speaking, chiropractors can help reduce colic pain, relieve ear infections, improve a mother’s breastfeeding, alleviate constipation, and improve immunity. If a baby or child complains of neck or back pain, or they have limited neck/head mobility, chiropractic care can help. Chiropractors also help young ones who have irregular sleep patterns, uneven shoulders, or trouble standing/walking.

Chiropractors help with mobility, immunity, sleep quality, posture, and injury recovery, among other things– and they do these things for people of all ages, from infants to seniors. There aren’t specific risks associated with chiropractic adjustments for children. In general, there aren’t adverse reactions.

In Forest Lake, MN, the place to go for chiropractic care is Lakewoods Chiropractic, located at 255 Highway 97, #2A, near Forest Lake Area High School. Please call 651-464-0800 or email [email protected] for more info or to schedule an appointment.

What is Facet Syndrome?

Posted by on 2:25 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

Most people haven’t heard of facet syndrome, unless they or someone they love has it. Facet syndrome (aka facet joint syndrome) is an arthritic condition of the joints of the vertebrae. Facets, by the way, are what join vertebrae together, providing stability and a person’s normal range of motion.

When a person experiences facet syndrome, they’ve typically got arthritic inflammation in the joints in the spine. A person’s facet joints are in near constant motion– so they can easily degenerate over time, and arthritis doesn’t help! Seniors are particularly prone to facet syndrome– it’s very common for people in their later years.

Did you know that facet joints are made of cartilage that’s lubricated by a fluid-filled capsule allowing the joints to slide smoothly over each other? When the fluid-filled capsule thins out and a person’s cartilage isn’t getting lubricated, joints rub against each other. Guess what happens? Joints react by becoming inflamed and irritated. Bone spurs may grow and nerve damage can occur. A person with facet syndrome feels the pain, and it’s bothersome.

Joint degeneration can happen thanks to good ol’ wear and tear– part of the natural process of aging. That said, other factors that could aggravate facet syndrome include leading a sedentary lifestyle, having poor posture, being overweight/obese, trauma (car accidents, falls, sports injuries), etc.

Facet syndrome can happen anywhere in the spine. Typically, it’s found in the neck and lower back. If you or someone you know might have facet syndrome, chiropractic care can help relieve the inflammation and pain.

In Forest Lake, MN, the place to go for chiropractic care is Lakewoods Chiropractic, located at 255 Highway 97, #2A, near Forest Lake Area High School. For questions about facet syndrome, or to make an appointment to be checked for it, please call 651-464-0800 or email [email protected].

The True Keys to Happiness

Posted by on 2:23 pm in Blog, Chiropractic, Forest Lake Chiro | 0 comments

What are some factors that influence happiness? Most people think if they have a lot of money or possessions that those things will automatically make them happier. And while it’s true that money and things can make life easier, they don’t necessarily make life happier.

Happiness has been studied over the years. Researchers have found that life satisfaction usually increases with age– the older you get, the more likely you are to be happier. Why is this? Well, family and social relationships are key factors that correlate with happiness. Generally, married people report being happier than those who are single, divorced, or widowed. Those with “fulfilling marriages” are particularly happy. Satisfaction with marriage and family life is a strong predictor of happiness. Coupled with having a partner, a person who has several friends and a strong social support network is generally happier than a person with few/no friends and no social network. The more contact with friends and family, the happier people tend to be!

Some other factors that help increase happiness include graduating from college (being well-educated), securing meaningful and engaging employment (having a job you like), and being religious/spiritual (believing in something/someone bigger than yourself).

So what are some factors that don’t show a correlation with happiness, according to researchers? What about parenthood and physical attractiveness? You might think being a parent makes you happier than those who don’t have kids, but the research shows that people who don’t have children are generally happier than those who do! And most people think attractiveness automatically makes people happier, but a person’s objective physical attractiveness is only weakly correlated with their happiness.

If you want to be happier, some good advice is this: love yourself and love others. Those two things truly help! And do what you can to relieve stress and pain in your life. Perhaps a trip to the chiropractor is in order, to help you relax and feel better…