Looking for a natural alternative to help reduce inflammation? Check out our list of a few of nature’s anti-inflammatory foods to try out.
Turmeric– a great way to flavor curries and different dishes and it contains curcumin which is one of the best natural anti-inflammatories.
Omega 3 oils– you can get these from animal sources like fish, but also from plant sources such as flax. Western diets tend to have much more omega 6, so its important to get enough 3 to keep the proper ratio.
Blueberries– and other dark berries have great anti-inflammatory properties as well as being full of beneficial antioxidants.
Pineapple– containing bromelain, a potent anti-infalmmatory, gives this delicious fruit a spot on our list today.
Green Tea– sipping on green tea throughout the day has been shown to help with inflammation.
If you are experiencing inflammation it is vital to get checked out by a medical professional to rule out serious illness first. But if you are looking to improve your diet, overall health, and keep down inflammation in your body, adding these is a good place to start!
One of the most common complaints we hear from pregnant women is, pelvis pain. The reason? In short, increased maternal hormones and the growing belly can put more stress on the joints and ligaments of the pelvis. That doesn’t explain why some women get pain and others don’t. But there are some ways to help the situation and keep it from progressing. One of those is getting early checks, before it gets too bad, from someone who knows how to help fix the dysfunction. But how do you know that you need to get checked? Here are some obvious and maybe not so obvious signs of dysfunction in the pelvis during pregnancy.
1. Back, hip, or pelvis pain– PAIN, the most obvious sign that something is wrong. But the problem with it? It is usually the last sign of dysfunction!
2. Clicking or grinding in the pubic area– having this with or without pain is a sign that your symphysis pubis joint may be misaligned.
3. Round ligament tightness– feeling a pulling sensation at the front of the belly? Worse when walking or with rotational movements? That could be a sign that one or both of your round ligaments are too stressed. The round ligaments connect to and help support the uterus. In some cases when they start to tighten up, it can be an early warning for pelvis dysfunction.
4. Sitting or standing unevenly– do you sit more on one side of your bum than the other? Or stand more on one leg or the other, rather than on both? This is a subtle early indicator that your pelvis might be out of alignment, again with or without any other symptoms.
5. General feeling of discomfort or tightness in the pelvis– have a feeling that something is not quite right or maybe out of balance? Feeling some tightness when your walking around the pelvis area, but can’t figure out exactly where it is coming from? We know our own bodies better than anyone else, and most of the time if you feel like something is off, it probably is.
Our suggestion, if you are experiencing any of the above, and have a clear bill of health from your doctor, make an appointment to come see us for a thorough check and treatment. Prevention is always better than trying to fix something after it is broken!
With the holiday season in full swing its easy to get caught up in the “madness” of the season. And for many, this time of year seems to be more stressful than joyful. We’re here to give you a few tips to help you have a healthy happy holiday season!
Maintaining a routine is a key element in reducing stress. And it can be very difficult this time of year with parties to attend to, visitors from out of town, and dinners to cook. But if you keep some sense of “normalcy” in your daily tasks it can help take some of the pressure off. These include:
Rest– getting enough sleep is vital to how you will feel during the day. Do you ever get that “on edge” feeling when you haven’t slept enough? You will be more likely to lash out at people and feel more tense in general. Best rule, listen to your body, and take time to rest and slow down if you need it. Recruit others to help you get your tasks done.
Exercise– if you have been exercising, KEEP IT UP!! Don’t let a few visitors stop you from going on your daily run or walk. If you haven’t been exercising, today is a good day to start! Getting some activity is a great way to help manage stress levels, exercising also releases “feel-good” hormones into the body. Take your stress out on the gym, not on everyone else!
Food– this one is tough. During the season of excess, how do you maintain your n
ormal diet? With buns and pies everywhere it’s hard to resist, especially when you are not at your own home. Definitely enjoy having food that is out of the normal for you, but resist the temptation to overindulge. Plus, there are many ways to modify recipes to make them healthier choices that are just as tasty.
Stress wreaks havoc on the body and mind. Do what you need to do to calm down from that state: exercise, meditation, yoga, drawing, spending a few minutes alone. Maintaining a normal routine it can help take the stress of the unknown out of the equation. Remember what this season is all about, and enjoy it, because before you know it, it will be over!
