Sprouts are a 'living' food, with incredible nutritional value.

Sprouts, also called “living food,” are one of the most nutritionally complete foods you can eat. The Chinese became aware of their nutritional value many centuries ago, and for good reason – sprouts are rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and proteins that are essential to your diet:

• Broccoli sprouts contain a high percentage of cancer-fighting agents – in fact researchers have discovered that 3-day sprouts contain 20-30% more of cancer-fighting antioxidants than the broccoli you buy in the supermarket
• Sprouts are easily digested and aid in the digestive process
• Sprouts are fresh, easy to grow and harvest and are inexpensive
• Growing your own sprouts provides you with organically grown salad greens – no pesticides or toxic chemicals to worry about!
• Sprouts you can grow yourself can help keep your immune system functioning in tip-top condition

The best types of sprouts to grow include alfalfa, wheat grass, barley grass, buckwheat, garlic, chives, baby sunflower, Chinese cabbage, purple turnip, and curly kale.

There are on-line resources you can visit to help you get started. Do a search on “sprouting seeds.” You can also visit a health food store to obtain sprouting seeds and a wealth of information and advice on how to grow your own sprouts. Make sure the sprouting seeds are certified organic. Also, be sure to refrigerate your sprouts after picking them – although they are best eaten the day you pick them!

If you have pain in your back, do not do this exercise.

• While holding onto a table or the back of a chair with your good arm, bend forward a little and let your injured arm hang straight down.
• This exercise does not use the arm muscles. Rather, use your legs and your hips to create movement that makes your arm swing freely.
• Using the momentum from your hips and legs, guide the slightly swinging arm back and forth like a pendulum (or elephant trunk), then in circles that start small (about the size of a dinner plate) and gradually grow larger each day as pain allows.
• Do this exercise for 5 minutes, 5 to 7 times each day even while your shoulder is still tender from an injury or surgery.
• As you have less pain, try bending over a little farther to do this exercise. This will increase the amount of movement at your shoulder.

Your posture when seated can have a significant impact on your overall health.

We have become a society of “sitters.” We sit in front of our computers, in front of our televisions, at our desks, in cars and planes, in chairs reading… we sit and sit some more, day in and day out. Believe it or not, the way you sit can have a great impact on your health and well-being.

What can sitters do to avoid some of the health issues linked with sitting?

• Adjust your chair and computer monitor, so that you are sitting as straight as you can. Ergonomic chairs are available to help maintain better posture
• Make sure your back, neck, head and eyes are all facing forward in a straight line
• Sitting in the same position for any length of time causes fatigue; shift your body weight from time to time and monitor your posture; make sure your chair is adjusted to the proper height.
• Use a footrest to relieve pressure on your legs and thighs.
• Get up periodically to walk, stretch your legs, and give yourself a break!

Many jobs require long periods of sitting. If you have one, and you experience frequent back pain, be sure to mention it the next time you’re in our practice. Getting up and moving around every so often, even for two minutes, or doing some “desk” exercises may help alleviate the strain on your neck and back. We can help!

New Year, New You!

Want to ring in a healthier 2012?

Start the year healthy by scheduling an appointment for a complete physical exam.

This year you mean it – you’re going to commit to making lifestyle changes to improve your well-being. With good health at the top of your priority list, now is the time to schedule a physical exam so that you know what to work on in 2012.

Your full physical by a Board Certified Primary Care M.D. will include:
- Blood pressure screening
- EKG test
- ABI test (blood pressure in your legs)
- Hormone profile
- Cholesterol, glucose and other tests as determined by your exam
- Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement
- Body fat measurement with goals for ideal weight range

Physical exams can identify risk factors and help ward off the development of a possible chronic illness. Don’t forget: prevention occurs before you have signs or symptoms.

Did you know most insurance plans cover a yearly physical exam without a co-pay? Call us today and we’ll verify this for you.

Eliminating the cause of your headaches, not just masking the pain, is the goal to keep your headaches from coming back.

• Tension-type headaches, usually brought on by emotional factors such as depression, grief, job and family stress, and anxiety.
• Migraines, usually accompanied by sensitivity to light and nausea/vomiting. These may result from diet (caffeine, chocolate, processed foods), hormonal changes, changes in altitude (flying), tiredness or stress.
• Cluster headaches, usually occurring on one side of the head, are often triggered by alcohol, heavy smoking or histamines produced by the body.
• Hormonal headaches may occur along with other PMS symptoms or during and after a woman’s monthly period. This type of headache may also occur more frequently in birth control pill users and during pregnancy and menopause.

Many people run to the store to purchase any type of pain-reliever that promises a “quick fix” for the relief of the symptoms of the pain. But often, these types of drugs produce a “rebound effect” which actually contributes to still more headaches, with more pain medication needed, and so it goes…

Alternatives to drug-therapy include aerobic exercise, to relieve stress and tension, herbal therapy, acupuncture and you guessed it… chiropractic adjustments.

If you know someone who numbs their body with drugs, urge them to consult our practice so we can determine the underlying cause of their headaches. Headaches may be common, but they’re not normal. Today’s chiropractic care can be helpful at reducing and/or eliminating the frequency and duration of headaches, without the undesired side effects of medications.

People often eat sweets instead of other foods that are more nutritious and, as a result, their overall nutrition suffers.

Here are ten reasons to avoid refined (white) sugar:

1. Sugar contributes to tooth decay because it decreases the effectiveness of a particular type of white blood cell that “eats”  harmful bacteria.

2. Sugar causes the body to release more adrenalin, which may explain hyperactivity in young children.

3. Calcium loss in urine occurs when a person consumes a soft drink containing sugar.

4. Ingesting sugar makes the pancreas work harder to produce insulin. Diabetes results when the overworked pancreas can no longer eliminate sugar from the blood stream.

5. Bleached with chlorine, when white refined sugar is exposed to certain organic compounds it converts to dioxin, which is a lethal compound.

6. Sugar can hinder weight loss because high insulin levels (see number 4 above) cause the body to retain any excess carbohydrates as fat.

7. Sugar increases the likelihood of chronic fatigue.

8. Sugar increases mood swings, irritability and anxiety.

9. Sugar compromises the immune system because it lowers the efficiency of white blood cells for a minimum of five hours after ingesting the sugar.

10. Eating sugar can decrease helpful high-density cholesterol (HDLs) and result in an increase in harmful cholesterol (LDLs).

Need to sweeten your food? Raisins, dates or honey are safe and simple alternatives. They’re easily available in many forms and can be the perfectly natural way to satisfy any sweet tooth!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Champion Medical Services! 

Please note our holiday office hours, beginning next week:

Both Midtown & Downtown offices
Open: Tues. Wed. Thurs. (12/27, 12/28,12/29) from 11am-5pm
Closed: Mon. 12/26, Fri. 12/30 & Mon. 1/2

Regular hours will resume starting January 3rd, 2012.  Click here to see our normal office hours.

We wish you a wonderful holiday and a healthy, successful New Year.  

Yours In Health,
Champion Medical Services Team

Pilates and chiropractic care are a powerful combination.

Pilates combines strength and flexibility training, using exercises that tone and condition the entire body. Particular attention is paid to building and developing the area of the body called the “powerhouse,” the core region of the body that includes the abdomen, pelvis, lower back and buttocks.

Pilates also creates a powerful mind-body connection, developed through proper breathing technique and concentration on smooth body movements to achieve better mental and physical health and reduce stress.

Some of the benefits of Pilates include:

• Increases flexibility and agility
• Develops muscle strength, without “bulking” up
• Reduces stress
• Provides effective rehabilitation for injuries
• Flattens abdominals and strengthens back muscles
• Provides a gentle, low-impact, whole body workout
• Increases energy, invigorates the body
• Strengthens the mind-body connection
• Alleviates back pain
• Improves body posture and movement

Pilates and Chiropractic Care

Pilates is a body conditioning routine that helps build flexibility and long, lean muscles, strength and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing to relieve stress and allow adequate oxygen flow to muscles, developing a strong core.

Having a properly adjusted spine is essential to achieve optimal results with Pilates fitness.  Remember: structure dictates function. Not only do core exercises help hold spinal adjustments, but chiropractic care is also helpful when starting a new workout routine.

It is important to check your structure to make sure your body is well-balanced and that you avoid any injuries that could occur due to a postural imbalance. Imagine a car driving down the street with abnormal alignment. To avoid a potential “crash,” get a thorough examination to make sure you are in proper alignment, making you the best and most functional that you can be.

Many gyms offer Pilates classes and Pilates tapes are available in many places that sell videos. You might want to rent one and try it out before investing in it. It only takes a few weeks to produce a noticeably toned body and it may very well be the workout that works for you!

Laser therapy is embraced by professional and Olympic athletes worldwide. The devices are FDA cleared, easy-to-use, and very effective.

At Champion Medical Services, we take pride in offering our patients state-of-the-art technology. Our Midtown office location is equipped with the world’s most advanced healing modality for pain relief. The MR4 Laser Therapy device, featuring exclusive Multi Radiance Technology, is clinically proven to reduce pain and accelerate healing, providing natural relief without the drugs, side effects or invasive surgery.

Laser therapy is used throughout the world to treat acute and chronic pain, maintain wellness and improve health and athletic performance. The hand-held device emits a painless light that is applied according to specific protocols for the given injury. A breakthrough in pain relief and healing, the MR4 Laser effectively treats a variety of conditions, including:

Laser therapy is a cutting-edge approach to pain management. The cells in our body use a substance called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to bring in oxygen. When there is a lack of ATP, our cells cannot use oxygen effectively. Laser therapy helps to increase levels of ATP in the cells, transforming them to stable and healthy state.

• Back Pain
• Sciatica
• Arthritis
• Neck Pain
• Tendonitis
• Carpal Tunnel
• Tennis Elbow
• Fibromyalgia
• Rotator Cuff Injuries
• Disc Herniation
• Muscle Strain/Spasms
• ACL/MCL Sprains
• Hip/Knee Pain
• Heel Pain
• Sports Injuries
• Headaches
• TMJ

In just a few quick treatments, patients experience dramatic relief from chronic pain conditions and accelerated healing of soft tissue injuries. If you’re in pain, don’t give up. Schedule an appointment at our Midtown office and ask us how laser therapy can help provide you with natural pain relief.

For more information about the MR4 Laser, visit www.multiradiance.com.

Does a simple yawn produce clicking, pain or muscle tightening? Could be a TMJ issue that chiropractic care can often help.

It hurts when you talk, yawn or chew. The pain can be constant or intermittent and varies in intensity at times, but the condition can really drive you crazy. If you have Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, called TMJ for short, you know exactly how this feels. Your temperomandibular joints connect your lower jaw to your skull, right below both ears, and they consist of bones, muscles, and nerves.

Symptoms of TMJ include a locked jaw (the inability to open your mouth), popping and clicking sounds with jaw movement, chewing problems, headaches, facial pain, earache, and dizziness. Treatment options may include:

• Resting the jaw, keeping the teeth apart as much as possible to avoid wearing them down. Soft foods that require reduced chewing are recommended, as are liquids. Chewing gum and hard crunchy foods (i.e., candy, raw vegetables, and nuts) are best avoided.

• Ice/heat application – to reduce inflammation and pain and relax muscles.
• Stress management techniques, such as biofeedback and talk therapy, as TMJ is often stress-related.
• Prosthesis to wear while sleeping to prevent teeth gnashing and grinding.
• Dental correction of abnormal bite – orthodontics (braces), dental restorations and realignment of bridges and crowns may correct dental abnormalities that contribute to TMJ

For many, chiropractic care has proven to be helpful in alleviating the symptoms of TMJ.

The TMJ has a distinction of being one of the few that is both synovial (freely moving) and containing a disk. It is controlled by cranial nerve V, but runs along the same pathways as several nerves of the neck, so TMJ syndrome can also cause neck pain and vice versa.

We can locate spinal misalignments and conduct appropriate range-of-motion and mobility tests. We can often create a care plan that does not rely on the use of medications or surgery to correct your condition. We emphasize a return to full mobility and a multi-disciplinary approach if needed.

The most common causes of TMJ are thought to be misalignment of the teeth, emotional stress, bad postural habits, whiplash or physical trauma, misalignment of the spine, or disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Check out the results from a pilot study that was done – from the Chiropractic Journal of Australia, Vol. 26 Number 4:

A pilot study was done in which 12 patients were assessed by dentists in private practice as having TMJ Syndrome. These patients were randomly assigned to a chiropractic treatment or placebo treatment (remote trigger point therapy) group. Patients in the chiropractic group received weekly chiropractic adjustments for six weeks to correct cervical spine dysfunction. Those in the placebo group received weekly trigger point therapy to muscles. The results showed both groups demonstrated positive changes. A subjective, graphical comparison of results suggests that spinal adjustment may have some superiority over the trigger point method.

Anyone experiencing TMJ symptoms should see a dentist or chiropractor for help.