Heanth Benefits of Green Tea

Health Benefits of Green Tea 

While several other “superfoods” have made recent headlines for their substantial health benefits, few can claim a list as long as that of green tea. As far back as 4,000 years ago, the Chinese and other ancient cultures were consuming green tea not only as a beverage, but also as a traditional remedy for everyday maladies like indigestion and gas, as well as to control bleeding and benefit the heart. What makes green tea so powerful is a high concentration of antioxidants called catechin polyphenols. Research shows that these compounds not only provide relief for many traditional ailments, but also reduce the risk for many chronic diseases and serious health problems. 

Cancer

 Cancer is the big one and even if it were the only thing green tea was good for, it would clearly be worth including in your diet. Human studies have indicated that the a polyphenol known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) kills cancer cells and also prevents them from growing. Research in Japan indicates that increasing consumption of green tea before and after breast cancer surgery reduces the risk of a recurrence. Even two cups of green tea per day are thought to be enough to reduce the risk of lung cancer by around 18 percent. In addition, a synthetic version of EGCG was given to mice with prostate cancer, resulting in significant tumor shrinkage.

Weight Loss

 For those looking to shed a few pounds, much research has gone into green tea’s thermogenic properties. Studies indicate that the combination of caffeine and other compounds in the tea appears to boost metabolism, burn calories and break down fat. EGCG prevents the storage of fat by actually slowing down the gastric and pancreatic enzymes responsible for converting calories into fat in the first place. It also helps burn fat more efficiently by increasing the body’s natural energy expenditure by as much as 4 percent. When you factor in the appetite-suppressant properties of caffeine, it’s easy to see why so many of today’s diet supplements contain green tea extract. 

 Diabetes

 Concerning diabetes, research has shown that green tea may well be one of the best things that you can include in your diet. Although there are two types of diabetes, the compounds present in the tea appear to have something to offer for each of them. Findings by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) show that EGCG can actually stimulate insulin production in the pancreas, regulate blood sugar levels and absorb glucose in those who suffer from type 1 diabetes. In type 2 sufferers, green tea can significantly lower the frequent blood sugar spikes that often lead to further complications in the eyes, heart and kidneys. In addition, green tea’s thermogenic effects also help to control obesity, which is thought to be a major contributing factor in developing diabetes.

 Cholesterol

Studies regarding the effect of green tea consumption on cholesterol appear to show that it lowers the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is considered the “bad” type of cholesterol, while raising the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is considered “good.” It appears that compounds in the tea block the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract, while simultaneously aiding in its excretion. In addition, green tea keeps your arteries clean by preventing the oxidization of LDL, which can build up as plaque, resulting in an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. 

Although black and oolong teas also have a great deal of health benefits to offer, the simple way that green tea is processed (by steaming the leaves) ensures that it retains a higher concentration of antioxidants, giving it a superior advantage in what it can do for your health. While there are several additional studies being conducted regarding its benefits in other areas such as the aging process, acne and even tooth decay, its effect on cancer and what it can do for the cardiovascular system outperform many of modern medicine’s experimental treatments. In the end, we may very well find out that green tea and other natural medicines of the ancient world hold far more promise in ridding us of some of our most menacing diseases, allowing us to live longer and healthier lives.

This information is brought to you by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located at 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer
PLease call 403-347-3261 to book an appointment today.
www.family1stchiro.ca

Babies cry for many reasons

Your infant crying immediately alerts you that there is something wrong in his or her world.

Is your newborn hungry? Tired? Needing a diaper change? Too Cold? Too hot? In pain?

Many first time parents find this guessing game a challenge but gradually as a routine establishes they learn to recognise what their infant’s cry means and how to satisfy their needs.  But what if you have done everything (including checking with doctor or health nurse) and your infant is still crying? Are there other reasons which cause your infant’s distress?

While Craniosacral therapy is of benefit to all babies it is especially helpful to a crying, upset and distressed baby. In my experience the following are the top three reasons for the distress that leads to your infant crying:

1.    Problems arising from the birth process.

2.    Problems with feeding and digesting.

3.    Problems with sleeping.

Infants may have one, or a combination, of the above problems to cause their crying. Let’s look at each one in turn and explore them further. You may recognise aspects of the problems that relate to your infant and why he/she is crying.

1. The Birth Process.
If there has been intervention during the birth (induction, caesarean section, vacuum or forceps) or a long and heavy labour – this, in some cases, may have an ill effect on the infant’s head and back. The bones of the skull and spine, the nerves and membranes are moved out of their correct position and so cause the infant discomfort.

While these interventions were necessary for the infant’s safe delivery the excess force can override the baby’s natural ability to allow these bones to slip back into their correct position. If this is a problem for your infant you may notice that your infant tends to turn only in one direction, doesn’t like to lie flat, wants to be held in an upright position or that there are obvious bumps, cone shape or depressions on the head. Some mums notice bruising or marks at side of the head.

When these restrictions are released with the subtle touch of Craniosacral therapy - the baby is happier, sleeps and feeds better and so doesn’t need to cry.

2.  Feeding and digesting.
As your infant learns to suck, swallow and breathe - their feeding pattern becomes established. Problems arise when there is a difficulty with any one of these steps. You may notice that your infant is not latching on correctly and is just using the lips to suck. This may cause sore nipples for mum and is not helping with milk flow. Check that you see the whole cheek is moving when sucking and, if breastfeeding, that the nipple is covered and no air is getting in.

In a Craniosacral treatment I would check that the bones in the mouth are free moving and this then corrects the suck. This is done with a gloved finger in the mouth and works on the bones of the palate as the baby is sucking. Often, it is this final correction done by the Craniosacral therapist that completes the process and allows the baby to feed easily.

3.  Problems with Sleeping.
Infants need lots of sleep. Look out for the signs of a sleepy infant (rubbing eyes) and always finish feeding, burping and diaper change before settling baby to sleep. Swaddling your infant provides security and helps him/her fall to sleep but check that they are not too hot. Some infants like to stay close to mum for the first few weeks but it pays to establish a good routine of putting baby into the crib to sleep when you both feel ready.

Some infants may still have difficulty getting to sleep despite mum and dad doing all of the above. Many of these children would have had a difficult birth and go on to develop problems with both feeding and sleeping before I first see them.

When I treat these children I check for any areas of tightness in their body. As these release the baby sighs and relaxes. If the birth has been distressing, we take time to check the effect this has had on the infant, mum (and dad too) if needed. This helps with the bonding process which in turn helps baby to feel more secure and mum to feel more competent. It is common for baby to sleep for a long time after a Craniosacral treatment.  Many parents report that they have had their first night sleep following this Craniosacral treatment.

In summary.
While it is ideal to get your infant’s crying problems sorted out as soon as possible after their birth, it is also possible to address these difficulties at any stage throughout your child’s development. I have found, through working with many upset babies – that Craniosacral therapy is a very gentle and effective way of getting baby more comfortable – and providing mum and dad with a practical way of dealing with the distress that leads to crying.


For more information on chiropractic or craniosacral therapy or to book an appointment please call us at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261.
www.family1stchiro.ca

Headaches and massage

Headaches:

Ending the chronic cycle of headaches is easier than you think. A deep muscle therapy session on the upper back and neck will lengthen the muscles that cause "tension headaches." 

 Remove the knots in the upper back neck, bye bye headaches.

The treatment is 30 minutes and the results are immediate. Call the clinic and let me take care of it. Its that easy.
 
Guy Lacoursiere is located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261 call today to book an appointment.
www.family1stchiro.ca
 

 

Spring Renewal

Spring  Renewal

Spring has sprung!  Well actually it should spring any time now; just as soon as this snow melts.  After this especially long winter most of us are anxious to start enjoying the longer days and spending more time outdoors.   This spring try something new to renew yourself.

Try to make some time every day to spend outside.  It does not have to be a long time.  It does not have to be anything strenuous.  Just take the kids around the block to splash in the puddles.  Or be the first ones to slide down the slides.  Sometimes just 30 minutes can be enough to rejuvenate you for the rest of the day.  It will also help your children sleep better at night.

Plant something.  You can start from seed or go to the garden centre and buy something.   Getting your hands dirty, literally, can be very therapeutic.  Children really enjoy helping and seeing the fruits of their labours.  It is a fun way for the family to spend time together.

Finally, do not forget about taking some time for yourself.  Make some time for a walk, coffee with friends, or get a massage or CranioSacral treatment for yourself.  Your body and mind with thank you for taking care of yourself.  Your family will too.

To find out more about CranioSacral call us at 403-347-3261 Family First Chiropractic. www.family1stchiro.ca

Vitamin K2

We have had a lot of enquiries about whether or not supplementation with Vitamin K2 is necessary when supplementing with Vitamin D3.

There is ample evidence to support the fact that Vitamin K2 is an essential nutrient (we cannot produce it ourselves and the K2 produced by our intestinal flora may not be absorbed adequately), and recent information seems to suggest that deficiency is likely common, especially in those following the food guide or food pyramid.

The problem I have with the recent Vitamin K2 craze is that there is virtually no evidence in the literature and ALL the studies regarding the benefits of Vitamin D3 supplementation do NOT INCLUDE ANY K2. Clearly there is HUGE benefit derived from vitamin D3 supplementation without K2 supplementation. Being sufficient in vitamin K2 is undoubtedly important, whether deficiency is common, and whether supplementation is required and produces benefit is something that, in my mind, requires more research.

If you are eating the Innate Diet or the Paleo Diet you will most likely not require supplementation with vitamin K2 as eating healthy meats, lots of egg yolks, and healthy organ meats will easily provide sufficient intake. In addition fermented foods such as sauerkraut and natto (a fermented soy dish), and cheese (not recommended) are also high in K2.

However, if you are not following this type of diet, or are not following this type of diet regularly enough, then supplementation can be prudent and there seems to be no evidence of toxicity from getting more than the current RDA (which ranges but is about 100 mcg per day).

Despite the seemingly “new” craze for vitamin K2 from the recent Mercola posting, the Weston A Price Foundation wrote a VERY informative article on this topic way back in February 2008 entitled ‘On the trail of the Elusive X-Factor: A Sixty-Two-Year-Old Mystery’. You can visit the website at www.westonaprice.org; the site has a lot of very good information.

HOW MUCH K2 IS REQUIRED FOR SUFFICIENCY?

The RDA for K2 differs from different sources; the average is about 100 mcg per day. Some suggest that you should take 100 mcg per 1000 IUs of vitamin D3 but there is no solid evidence to support this in the literature.

It appears that taking 200 mcg of K2 per day will meet metabolic requirements in terms of activating the K2-dependent proteins which are so crucial for calcium metabolism.

WHICH FORM OF VITAMIN K2 SUPPLEMENT IS BEST?

The form you want to supplement with is the menaquinone-7 or MK-7 which is derived from natto or soy rather than MK-4 which is most often found in the synthetic form in supplements. The extraction process results in the supplement being free from soy protein and you should definitely ensure that you are getting a product that was produced from NON-GMO soy or natto.

DOES DR. CHESTNUT RECOMMEND SUPPLEMENTATION?

Since there is no evidence of danger from toxicity, since it is likely that many will not be getting sufficient amounts from their diet, and as you can obtain the supplement very inexpensively I do recommend supplementation with 200 mcg per day.

My family often eats dozens of egg yolks per week and we usually eat a LOT of healthy meats so we intermittently supplement with K2.

 
 Family First Chiropractic and Wellness is located at  142 Erickson drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261 to book an appointment today
www.family1stchiro.ca

Facts about chiropractic care and back and neck pain!

Facts about chiropractic care and back and neck pain:

• Recent research and reports have concluded that increased use

of chiropractic care can reduce benefit costs and contribute to

improved productivity. As well, patients treated by a chiropractor

for back pain returned to work sooner and had reduced rates of

chronic problems and hospitalization.

• Low-back pain affects 85% of the working population. Health

Canada estimates that musculoskeletal disorders, including back

pain, cost society $16.4 billion in combined direct (treatment and

rehabilitation) and indirect (lost-productivity) costs.

• According to Health Canada, back pain is the second most common

reason for seeing a medical doctor.

• Chiropractors are spinal care experts and the obvious practitioner

of choice when it comes to the treatment of back pain, injury

and related conditions. Close to one million Albertans consult a

chiropractor each year.

• Chiropractors receive the highest patient satisfaction ratings

for the treatment of back and neck pain according to Consumer

Reports, the Health Quality Council of Alberta, and a nation-wide

In 2009, Niteesh Choudry, M.D. PhD, Harvard Medical School

and Arnold Milstein, M.D., MPH, conducted an

analysis of the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic for neck and back pain.

The authors concluded there is reasonable data to show that chiropractic

could be effective and cost-efficient service for relief of pain and reduction

and disability:

• In the case of neck pain, chiropractic manipulation is less costly in

comparison to physician care and exercise, and yields better outcomes.

• In the case of back pain, chiropractic treatment is both less costly and

yields improved outcomes in comparison to physical therapy.

Interesting statistics to consider:

• Neck and Back Pain represented the fourth highest total health and

productivity cost to employers.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) reported

substantial savings, achieved ROI targets and fostered positive

relationships with network partners as a result of chiropractic service

implementation.

Back pain is a leading cause of prescription

and non-prescription drug use, medical

visits, costly and specialized diagnostic

procedures, hospitalizations, and restricted

physical activity. Back claims account for more than 25% of all lost-time

claims reported to the WCB - Alberta.

Dr. Sally Nikolaj, Former Director, Millard Rehabilitation Centre,

WCB - Alberta stated, “Our evaluation of performance data confirms that

timely application of evidence-based chiropractic care represents a very

good investment with respect to return-to-work outcomes, stakeholder

satisfaction and management of related costs.”

Ontario statistics also show that patients receiving chiropractic treatment

return to work in less the half the time than those treated with other

methods. Acute Low Back Injuries: One Year Evaluation, WSIB Ontario,



For more information on chiropractic or to book an appointment with Dr. Stephen Kelly or Dr. Joelle Johnson please call us at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261.
www.family1stchiro.ca 

My personal health story by Dr. Joelle Johnson

Dr. Joelle Johnson is a chiropractor at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness

My story.....

So this is a very hard story to finally write, its been over 20 years in the making and I hope I am finally ready to share my story. We all have a story of what led them in their lives and the lessons learnt (and are still learning).I became a chiropractor in 1999 and I hope that my story has helped me become the best chiropractor that I can be.
March 17th, 1991 changed my life forever..... I have always been a very avid skier and at 19 I was a former racer, a ski instructor, ski coach and in college- specifically in pre-Medicine (funny how your path can meander).
        I was loving the wonderful day skiing with my team- high speed skiing chasing the line between control and out of control skiing 'high' .When on a run I was skiing there fast and I hit some 'chatter' and lost a ski, I remember the feeling as I saw my ski fly off and I knew i was going down and wiping out HARD. It was hard, I fell onto my stomach, spun around several times and  flew into the trees hitting on the side of my right femur onto a poplar tree sideways and tumbling down a steep embankment and finally landing in a pile of stacked trees on the ground. As this was not my first wipe out you do the usual, take a deep breath and try to stand up to shake it off, lick your ego and finish the run. WRONG as I tried to get up my upper body moved and my upper thigh but my knee and lower limb stayed...well a few things went through my head and I was lucky someone saw me go into the tress and I yelled for help as I realised I broke my right femur, in several places. It took a while for the ski Patrol to get there and I slowly saw my thigh swelling to over twice the size. When the patrol finally arrived I was starting to go into shock and I remember them taking an hour or two to get me out of there, cutting several trees down with a chainsaw to get me on a backboard( apparently I landed in the pile of trees straddling another poplar tree).
         I remember asking them to be really careful to not cut my leg with the chainsaw-now its funny to think of but at the time I was serious!. The patrol was amazing, they had to obviously get me out of there alive, into a toboggan and off to the ambulance. It took over 4.5 hours to get me into the hospital in Red Deer from the ski hill which is generally a 15-20 min drive.
           Now the hard part starts... the injury and complications. I had almost every possible complication from a femur possible, except I survived. I finally got in to the hospital and my injuries were assessed it was late into the evening so surgery was planned for the following morning.I remember them telling me the femur was broken so badly my right leg was over 7 inches shorter than the good leg, to stop the quads from spasming and crushing my bone shards they had to put me in traction by drilling a metal pin into my tibia and hanging a weight over the bed to traction the leg.  That was a feeling I will never forget as they drilled into my shin and tapped in the metal bar to anchor it, it might sound horrible but it felt so much better in that traction device.
They neglected to tell me I had also broken my pelvis as well (that fracture was what we call a stable fracture and non life threatening). Did I mention at that time I thought I was invincible and did not wear a helmet? Hence some head trauma, stitches and a nasty concussion, not to mention and cervical trauma and soft tissue damage.
      Very early the next morning several hours after being admitted I felt that an elephant was standing and jumping on my chest, I couldn't breath, move or get any air and I thought I was dying. I was rushed into ICU and placed onto a ventilator for 3 weeks hanging on to life still in the traction device, metal bar in leg with it hanging in the air, weight on the end of the bed. I had thrown several fat/lipid emboli and it was very unsure if I would survive the night or coming weeks. I remember some things from this time- I hated the ventilator and I tried to pull it out many times and had to be restrained-literally my hands tied were tied to the bed rails. I couldn't move because of the pain, every bump, nudge or movement on the bed caused the leg and traction device to bounce and move shifting the bones in my leg. I couldn't cry out because of the ventilator and I couldn't move because of the restraints. It was the hardest thing I have EVER had to go through, imprisoned in a bed by my injury in a drug fog.
      I had many close calls with added infections, respiratory distress, respiratory infections and pulmonary emboli added to the mix. Almost 4 weeks later I was stable enough and  able to do surgery and placed a rod down my entire femur, 4 screws and a few plates as well. To add insult to the injury I had a few more pulmonary emboli and stayed in the ICU a few days longer. In total I was in the hospital/ICU for 6 weeks. I was not able to weight bear on my leg for 3 months and was confined to a wheelchair, then I moved up to a walker and crutches for 9 months and then to a walking cane for another 6 months. I had many many hours of rehab to learn how to walk again, in the pool and on land.It was humbling to learn how to walk , the nervous system and my muscles were not connecting and I found it very difficult to put one foot in front of the other.
I was on many pain medications for the leg, pelvis, and spinal pain as well as injections and medications daily to prevent blood clotting. The pain I still remember vividly-chronic, relenting. I was told there was no way out of the chronic pain except with medication- but that wasn't working. At age 22 I could barely get out of bed with the pelvic, low back, and leg pain. A friend at university told me to try chiropractic care and in 3 weeks my life had changed, the pain had almost gone, I could sleep and I could stop taking pain medications.....WOW. This was a complete miracle in my life, from looking at my future of doom, pain and misery to a bright new beginning. I couldn't believe it and I applied to chiropractic school and was accepted! During school I learnt many many things but the best lesson I have ever learnt is my journey through my major trauma and injury, the power of healing through the chronic pain.Praise God for this injury, I know it sounds strange but it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I would not want anyone to go through the pain that I went through but I am glad it happened to me.....
 But our story was not over....I have had to struggle for many years to keep my spine stable and I was told 1. I would never walk with out a limp, if you see me that is not the case. 2. I would never have children due to the trauma, well we have 3 very busy boys, which leads to the next part of the story.
As I stated the Canadian Ski Patrol helped me immensely with my accident and when I moved back home to practise I joined the patrol and have volunteered helping other injured skiers/boarders for s the past 14 years. I was excited when our boys began to ski as we could spend quality time skiing together. One night our oldest Logan  wanted to come and ski with my while I patrolled that evening. He is a smart, handsome and amazing 7 year old and that evening not more than 20 feet away he fell on some rough terrain and broke his left femur right there in front of me. I was in complete  shock, being the mom, the first aider on the scene and a mom was overwhelming not to mention the flashbacks of my life all a the same time. I knew in my heart how severe this fracture was but wanted to deny my diagnosis of the injury. I called my fellow patrol in, and I want into an almost robot like mode, being the mom and doctor all in one taking care of our precious child. When the fellow patrol got there I told them the injury but tried to talk them out of it- denial mode. As you may know this is a very serious and life threatening injury and we needed to backboard him and transport him down the hill to the ambulance.Another flashback for me, the long bumpy painful ride down the hill with unset broken bones and the bumpy gravel road ride to the city.My poor angel Logan, I wanted to stop it all and let it be me again, I felt like we were in a whirling vortex, my mind was spinning between being a mom and being a doctor. I thought I was in a complete disorganised state of mind but I was told afterwards that I was as cool as a cucumber, never panicked took care of Logan's needs, feelings, called for the ambulance, called Dad to meet us and get help at home and worked the scene.It is amazing how your motherly instinct kicks in when its warranted.
Logan needed to be put onto the backboard and since we had limited people at the scene I needed to help roll him, when we did I felt and heard his femur break in my hands, now I adjust the nervous system and spine for a living as a chiropractor and that feeling and noise coming from your baby boy was horrible to experience. After the fast but painful ride down the hill in the toboggan with me skiing alongside Logan talking to him all the way down we loaded him into the waiting ambulance. While assessing Logan's vitals he remained completely normal, no fluctuations in heart rate, respiration and blood pressure, no signs of shock whatsoever. I hope that me being there with him and staying in control cause him to remain stable.Logan had surgery on his femur with 4 screws and a Spica cast for 12 weeks. The cast was from his ankle to his armpits in a reclined bent knee position, he was in a reclining wheelchair for the next 3 months, then crutches for 4 weeks afterwards.
 Logan showed such strong character and strength in this ordeal and I am so proud of him. I hope that my journey helped for his to be that much easier, as I knew how to deal with the many issues he had to face in the small daily tasks as well as the large ones.

Logan has finally wrote his story and here it is in his own words:
I got this scar from....

One Wednesday, Feb 16, 2012 I was out skiing with my mum at Canyon Ski resort near Red Deer. She was ski patrolling and skiing with me. I had asked mum if we could ski the Lemon Drop. She said "okay". When we got to the lemon drop my mum skied around it. Then I went down and then my left leg hit an ice chunk and I wiped out and all of the pressure was on my left leg.
About 2 seconds later I was yelling and screaming because I had broke my left femur! My mum had skied to me super fast! She asked "what hurts?" and I said "my thigh!" She called the rest of te ski patrollers to come down and she told them to bring a toboggan to bring me down. After they got there they took my skis off and made me roll over onto the toboggan. Then, they wrapped me up in blankets. After, a ski patroller took me down on the toboggan. A ski patrol called an ambulance to bring me to the hospital. After about 10-15 min the ambulance came. They put me on a stretcher and in the ambulance.
After I was in, my mum climbed in. They cut off my coat and pants and looked at my left leg. It was not bleeding but the femur was broken!
When my mum and I got to the hospital the paramedics rolled me off the ambulance and I don't remember anything else until I was on a hospital bed with my left leg wrapped up in bandages. I can't remember anything until the nurses rolled me in for surgery. I fell asleep, the surgery took 6 hours.
After it was finished I had a body cast from my ankle to my stomach! A nurse rolled me into a big room that was divided with curtains. he nurse rolled me into a divided part of the curtains. Did I mention that my mum was beside me the whole time? Anyway the nurse rolled me into one of the small parts of the room. After a day or 2 I got rolled into a different room. It was so cool. It had a big TV and lots of space. A day later my family and some of my friends got me get well cards balloons and gifts. Lots of people came to the hospital to visit me. A day later my dad got me a wheelchair, crutches, and a walker. After he got them I got on the wheelchair and my mum rolled me out of the hospital and into te family van.
Logan Johnson age 7

Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located at 142 Erickson Drive 403-347-3261
www.family1stchiro.ca

One year later Logan and Joelle Ziplined in Jamaica to celebrate