Month: May 2016

Foods that Cause Inflammation

A while back I wrote a post about what inflammation does to your body, so I thought I would expand on that a little bit and talk about foods that cause inflammation.

Your diet plays a huge part in your health and in how your body functions. If you have inflammation going systemically, or everywhere in your body, then that can cause a lot of issues, including chronic pain.

So what are some foods that cause inflammation?

  1. Trans fats: Trans fats can induce inflammation by damaging the cells in the lining of blood vessels.
  2. Sugar: Too much sugar can alert the body to send out extra immunity messengers, called cytokines to cause inflammation.
  3. Refined carbohydrates: flour products (breads, rolls, crackers) white rice, white potatoes (instant mashed potatoes, or french fries) and many cereals are refined carbohydrates.
  4. MSG: Mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor-enhancing food additive that can trigger two important pathways of chronic inflammation, and affect liver health.
  5. Gluten and Casein: allergens like gluten and casein (proteins found in dairy and wheat) may also promote inflammation. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley and any foods made with these grains. Casein is found in whey protein products.
  6. Aspartame: Aspartame is an intense artificial sweetener found in more than 4,000 products worldwide. It is a neurotoxin, which means it affects the brain. If you are sensitive to this chemical, your immune system will react to the “foreign substance” by attacking the chemical, which in return, will trigger an inflammatory response.
  7. Alcohol: Excessive use weakens liver function and disrupts other multi-organ interactions and can cause inflammation.
  8. Saturated fats: It has been shown that saturated fats trigger adipose (fat tissue) inflammation, which is not only an indicator for heart disease but it also worsens arthritis inflammation. Examples include cheese, meat products (especially red meat), full-fat dairy products, pasta dishes and grain-based desserts.
  9. Dairy products: As much as 60% of the world’s population cannot digest milk. Milk is a common allergen that can trigger inflammatory responses, such as stomach distress, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, acne, hives and breathing difficulties in susceptible people.
  10. Red meat and processed meats

If you suffer from chronic pain or inflammation, there are anti-inflammatory diets out there you can try and give your body a chance to function properly and naturally.

Dr. Jess

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2Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.

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Chiropractic adjustments actually change brain function!!

Why do people visit their chiropractor??

Answers to this question are most often things like… Back pain, neck pain, headaches, sciatica…etc. Dr. Jessica and I want the world to understand just how much more a chiropractic adjustment can do for you! We have addressed a number of these things right here on this blog already and will continue to educate on the benefits of chiropractic care and why you and your family should be getting your spines checked regularly!

What I wanted to share with you today is that a chiropractic adjustment actually has a DIRECT effect on your brain! This is crazy awesome and there is more and more research being done on this everyday!

The latest study suggests that the changes that we do see in the brain when we adjust the spine do occur in the prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that is like the conductor. Here are some of the things the prefrontal cortex is responsible for: behavior, decision making, memory and attention, intelligence, processing of pain and emotional response to it, autonomic function, motor control, eye movements, spatial awareness and more!! So what does this mean for chiropractic if each adjustment we make has an impact on this part of the brain?? That we do sooo much more than just treat pain and symptoms, the power of your adjustment goes far beyond that .

As chiropractors we indeed observe a wide variety of changes in the people under our care following adjustments. Along the wide spectrum of claims from those under care are those who say they feel better or focus better and those who notice improvements in movement and coordination. This isn’t a coincidence, your adjustments are causing changes in your brain that in turn result in these amazing changes in your everyday life.

We already know that adjustments cause improvements in sensorimotor function relevant to falls-prevention; better joint-position sense in both the upper limb and the lower limb; improve muscle strength in lower limb muscles; better pelvic floor control; and better ability to carry out mental rotation of objects. With all the amazing research that is being done we are now able to prove how much more chiropractic care can actually do for you and your loved ones.

Pic2Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.

 

 

Is There a Healthier Salt?

We always hear how salt is bad for us, but what if I told you there is a healthyier salt you can use that has tons of health benefits? It’s called Himalayan pink salt.

Salt is actually essential for life, we cannot live without it. But most people don’t know that there are huge differences between table salt and natural health-promoting salt. These differences can have a major impact on your health. If you want your body to function properly, you need a salt with all-natural elements.

Did you know? Table salt is actually 97.5% sodium chloride and 2.5% chemicals, such as moisture absorbents, and iodine. While it is dried at over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, the excessive heat alters the natural structure of the salt.

Himalayan Crystal Salt is by far the purest salt available on earth and is uncontaminated with toxins or pollutants. It contains at least 84 naturally occurring trace elements in their natural mineral form!

What are the benefits of natural Himalayan Crystal Salt?

  • Regulating the water content throughout your body
  • Promoting healthy pH balance in your cells, particularly your brain cells
  • Promoting blood sugar health and helping to reduce the signs of aging
  • Assisting in the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in your body
  • Absorption of food particles through your intestinal tract
  • Supporting respiratory health
  • Promoting sinus health
  • Prevention of muscle cramps
  • Promoting bone strength
  • Regulating your sleep – it naturally promotes sleep
  • Supporting your libido
  • Promoting vascular health
  • In conjunction with water, it is actually essential for the regulation of your blood pressure

Who knew salt could have so many health benefits?!

Dr. Jess

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2Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.