A recent study at Virginia Tech University shows that dieters who drink two cups of water before every meal loose 30% more weight than those that don't.
Drinking the water isn't thought to cause the subjects of the study to burn more fat, but simply to consume fewer calories at meal time. The best information is that for those people in the study that continued the habit, a large percentage were able to sustain the weight loss, and even over time loose a few more pounds.
If you are trying to loose weight, what do you have to loose?
Obesity is a national problem. It leads to many health problems, including some of the most deadly. Diabetes, Cancer, Heart disease, and strokes are just some of the diseases related to overeating and poor diets.
Water, on the other hand, is essential for proper cell hydration and for the elimination of waste through the urine and bowel. The best idea is to avoid chlorine laden water.
So, if you want to loose a few pounds, drink a couple of cups of water before meals. Like many natural remedies for health problems, the potential up-side is fantastic, while if it doesn't help you to loose weight, you still will benefit from the improved hydration.
So, take a good drink before you eat.
Showing posts with label chiropractor in mesa az. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chiropractor in mesa az. Show all posts
Monday, August 23, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Avoiding High-Risk Back Movements
As a chiropractor in Mesa, AZ, I have seen many lower back injuries in my 20 year practice. This experience has taught me that there is quite a bit of consistency in the stories about how the patient hurt their back. At times, the cause is a sudden move, or a slip and fall. Some painful back problems begin with over use, such as a single lifting event, or repetitive lifting and work episodes. What surprises many people, however, is that many painful back episodes occur in the morning, after a period of time of sleep deprivation, and after sitting for a prolonged period of time.
There was a wonderful article in this month's To Your Health Health magazine that talks about high-risk scenarios, and it gives three examples.
1) You get up in the morning after not sleeping very well. Perhaps you are on a business trip and you are not used to the bed. You are a bit stiff, but you ignore it. You sit in a soft chair to enjoy a cup of coffee, or read the paper. Upon getting up, there is a sharp stabbing pain in the lower back
2) The first thing that you do after getting up from bed is go into the computer to check your email. You sit down, and get engrossed in an email, video, or web site. You end up spending much more time than you anticipated. When you attempt to get up out of the chair, you can't stand up straight.
3) You get up in the morning and feel an urge to empty your bowel. You are dehydrated and a little bit constipated, so you spend extra time and you strain a little at the stool. When you start to get up, you feel a spasm in the lower back
My experience is that all three of the above patients, when they come to my office, say that they did nothing, or that they cannot recall doing anything to injure themselves.
In the mornings, we are stiff. Muscles aren't asleep, and all of our joints contain extra moisture, or are slightly swollen. During this time of the day, we are all very vulnerable to back injury.
There are some simple things that you can do in order to minimize your risks of a back pain episode.
1) After a long period of time of sitting, give yourself some time in the standing position before bending over. Automobiles and airliners are the worst. Long trips leave the back tight and stiff. Before bending to get luggage out of the trunk or from under the airliner seat in front of you, stand, bend a bit back wards, and move a little bit, allowing your spine to re-set. Then carefully bend at the hips and knees to lift luggage or objects.
2) When you are sitting, don't slump. Use the small pillows in the airplane to place in the small of the lower back, helping the back to maintain the normal curve down there. Slouching or slumping reverses the curve in the lower back, causing the pads of cartilage, or discs, to bulge backward and placing pressure on delicate nerves.
3) When getting up out of bed, stand up and move around a bit. Avoid sitting for very long, and take a shower before sitting to read or eat.
By following these simple rules you can avoid some painful back episodes. Don't forget to continue the exercises taught to you by your chiropractor, and to get your spine adjusted at least monthly. By being smart and by taking some preventative actions, you can avoid many of the pitfalls that lead to debilitating low back problems.
Keith E. Biggs, DC
(Dr. Biggs is a chiropractor in Mesa AZ. He is also an Acupuncturist. He has been in private practice for more than 20 years.)
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
biggschiropractic @gmail.com
There was a wonderful article in this month's To Your Health Health magazine that talks about high-risk scenarios, and it gives three examples.
1) You get up in the morning after not sleeping very well. Perhaps you are on a business trip and you are not used to the bed. You are a bit stiff, but you ignore it. You sit in a soft chair to enjoy a cup of coffee, or read the paper. Upon getting up, there is a sharp stabbing pain in the lower back
2) The first thing that you do after getting up from bed is go into the computer to check your email. You sit down, and get engrossed in an email, video, or web site. You end up spending much more time than you anticipated. When you attempt to get up out of the chair, you can't stand up straight.
3) You get up in the morning and feel an urge to empty your bowel. You are dehydrated and a little bit constipated, so you spend extra time and you strain a little at the stool. When you start to get up, you feel a spasm in the lower back
My experience is that all three of the above patients, when they come to my office, say that they did nothing, or that they cannot recall doing anything to injure themselves.
In the mornings, we are stiff. Muscles aren't asleep, and all of our joints contain extra moisture, or are slightly swollen. During this time of the day, we are all very vulnerable to back injury.
There are some simple things that you can do in order to minimize your risks of a back pain episode.
1) After a long period of time of sitting, give yourself some time in the standing position before bending over. Automobiles and airliners are the worst. Long trips leave the back tight and stiff. Before bending to get luggage out of the trunk or from under the airliner seat in front of you, stand, bend a bit back wards, and move a little bit, allowing your spine to re-set. Then carefully bend at the hips and knees to lift luggage or objects.
2) When you are sitting, don't slump. Use the small pillows in the airplane to place in the small of the lower back, helping the back to maintain the normal curve down there. Slouching or slumping reverses the curve in the lower back, causing the pads of cartilage, or discs, to bulge backward and placing pressure on delicate nerves.
3) When getting up out of bed, stand up and move around a bit. Avoid sitting for very long, and take a shower before sitting to read or eat.
By following these simple rules you can avoid some painful back episodes. Don't forget to continue the exercises taught to you by your chiropractor, and to get your spine adjusted at least monthly. By being smart and by taking some preventative actions, you can avoid many of the pitfalls that lead to debilitating low back problems.
Keith E. Biggs, DC
(Dr. Biggs is a chiropractor in Mesa AZ. He is also an Acupuncturist. He has been in private practice for more than 20 years.)
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
biggschiropractic @gmail.com
Monday, May 17, 2010
ADHD Linked to Pesticides in Nationwide Study
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children has been linked to exposure to pesticides. Trace levels of pesticides on commercially produced fruits and vegetables may be responsible, in part for the exploding epidemic of ADHD in this country, according to a new nationwide study. In the study, more than 1100 children across the the nation were tested for evidence of certain pesticides in their urine. It was found that those children with above averale levels of the pesticides in their system were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.
The pesticides in question are organophosphates. They work on insects by interfering with the bugs nervous system. In short, they are neurotoxins. These toxins work on brain chemicals that are related to ADHD, so according to the researchers, it is plausible that there could be a connection.
According to my source article, "Detectable levels of pesticides are present in a large number of fruits and vegetables sold in the U.S., according to a 2008 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited in the study. In a representative sample of produce tested by the agency, 28 percent of frozen blueberries, 20 percent of celery, and 25 percent of strawberries contained traces of one type of organophosphate. Other types of organophosphates were found in 27 percent of green beans, 17 percent of peaches, and 8 percent of broccoli."
So, what are we to do? Clearly, it is not a good idea to stop eating fruits and vegetables. We can, however, make better and healthier choices on where we get our produce. Whenever possible, choose organically grown vegetables and fruits. Another good idea is to purchase produce from the local farmers' markets. The organically grown and locally grown fruits and vegetables typically test for lower levels of residual pesticide residue.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Keith Biggs, DC
biggschiropractic@gmail.com
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
Dr. Biggs has been practicing chiropractic and holistic health care in Mesa, AZ for more than twenty years.
The pesticides in question are organophosphates. They work on insects by interfering with the bugs nervous system. In short, they are neurotoxins. These toxins work on brain chemicals that are related to ADHD, so according to the researchers, it is plausible that there could be a connection.
According to my source article, "Detectable levels of pesticides are present in a large number of fruits and vegetables sold in the U.S., according to a 2008 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited in the study. In a representative sample of produce tested by the agency, 28 percent of frozen blueberries, 20 percent of celery, and 25 percent of strawberries contained traces of one type of organophosphate. Other types of organophosphates were found in 27 percent of green beans, 17 percent of peaches, and 8 percent of broccoli."
So, what are we to do? Clearly, it is not a good idea to stop eating fruits and vegetables. We can, however, make better and healthier choices on where we get our produce. Whenever possible, choose organically grown vegetables and fruits. Another good idea is to purchase produce from the local farmers' markets. The organically grown and locally grown fruits and vegetables typically test for lower levels of residual pesticide residue.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Keith Biggs, DC
biggschiropractic@gmail.com
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
Dr. Biggs has been practicing chiropractic and holistic health care in Mesa, AZ for more than twenty years.
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