The Balance of Healthy and Unhealthy Behaviors

They human body is wonderfully designed to adapt to different circumstances.  Many positive changes because of this adaptability are possible.  For example, if you lift weights consistently the muscles you exercise will grow stronger.  If you walk for several miles a day your cardiovascular strength improves.  If you practice mindfulness techniques to manage stress you can actually become a less stressed out person.  Chiropractic care also works because of this adaptability.  If you repetitively reintroduce proper joint motion and muscle function by adjusting areas where normal joint and muscle function has been lost the body will respond by adapting this as its normal state which results in less pain, stiffness, radiating pain and increased nervous system function.

 

This principle is a double edged sword however because it works the other way too.  If you never work out the body stores extra calories in the form of fat.  If you self-medicate via energy drinks, alcohol or drugs to manage stress soon you find yourself needing that fix to maintain the “normal” climate of your body.  Chronic poor posture inevitably puts extra stress on certain areas of the spine which then results in the build-up of calcium as the body makes up for the extra stress and bone spurs form.  

 

It is very true to think of health as a set of balanced weights with one side of the balance being healthy things we do and the other side being unhealthy.  Ideally we would weigh down the healthy side with all of our good habits.  The wonderfully healthy foods we choose to eat.  The 45 minutes of exercise we do every single day.  The total lack of stress in our lives… But reality is that often do have a more even balance or even a balance tipped in the favor of our unhealthy habits. 

 

Remember, the scales can always be balanced

 

By taking control of our health and doing things we know we should such as change how we eat and implement an exercise plan we start to balance the scales.  By doing any act of willfully improving our health we are by necessity taking away from the unhealthy side and over time the balance shifts.  It’s not an all or nothing game and shifting the scales of health in your favor may take time but its time well spent.

 

 

Rooibos Tea: A Summer Super Drink

With the warm days of summer upon us I don’t always feel like hot tea, coffee or other beverages that sound so good on a cold, rainy day or during a snow storm.  I also recently cut way back on coffee and other caffeinated drinks for a change of pace and have been drinking lots of rooibos tea lately which got me thinking maybe I should expand on the benefits of this wonderful tea. 

 

Rooibos is a South African herb that is dried and made into tea.  There 2 varieties, a green and a red one.  The red has been oxidized while the green has not.  While both are packed with nutrients the green has more because of its lack of oxidation but is also more expensive and less easy to find.

 

As I mentioned above Rooibos tea is a nutrient powerhouse. It contains high levels of

 

-iron

-calcium

-potassium

-copper

-manganese

-zinc

-magnesium

 

It is also caffeine free which can make it an attractive alternative to coffee.  Its flavor is semi-sweet with a somewhat grassy twinge.  I really like the vanilla flavored variety provided you can find an organic vanilla flavoring. Here in Eau Claire, WI that means Just Local Foods, who carry a variety of organic teas. 

 

Rooibos tea has also been purported to have many additional health benefits including

 

• Reduces heart disease by providing protection through ACE inhibition

• Contains quercetin and luteolin, which are known to have cancer fighting qualities

• Is an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-mutagenic and anti-spasmodic

• Eases nervous tension, allergies and digestive problems

• Limits uric acid production, which can help gout sufferers

• Soothes asthma and eczema

• Boosts the immune system

• Cures nagging headaches

• Fights insomnia

• Strengthens bones and teeth

• Relieves severe stomach cramps

• Eases hypertension/lowers blood pressure

• Is considered to have anti-aging properties

• Prevents DNA damage

• Suppresses fasting glucose levels

• Improves glucose uptake and insulin secretions after a meal

• Aids in liver tissue regeneration

• Acts as a bronchodilator

• Has no known side-effects

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035923_coffee_rooibos_energy.html#ixzz2Wfw95y7S

 

Rooibos is great iced so brew it up and throw it in the fridge for a few hours before enjoying it how you would normally enjoy any summer beverage!

 

Sources for this article:

http://www.naturalnews.com/Infographic-Benefits-of-Rooibos-Tea.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/035923_coffee_rooibos_energy.html

 

http://www.teavana.com/tea-info/rooibos-tea

The Chiropractic and Diet Connection

Chiropractic care is a natural form of healing that focuses on restoring the proper function of the nervous system.  This is accomplished through adjustments that restore proper joint movement and restoring proper muscle function.  When muscles are not overly tight and joints move properly pressure on the nerves exiting the spine is relieved and the body is able to heal itself without drugs or surgery.

 

Natural chiropractic care works wonders but the muscles and joints being treated are still a part of the body.  They body is subject to increased levels of inflammation which and hamper its ability heal.  Diet is the single most important aspect of reducing inflammation in the body.  The foods we choose to put in our bodies dictate whether we are increasing inflammation in our bodies or decreasing it. 

 

The less inflammation is present in the body the easier it is for the body to heal.  Thus chiropractic adjustments are more effective if the body has less inflammation.  The better the food choices you make the more benefits you will receive from your chiropractic treatments.

Beef Soup with Soup Bones

This recipe uses soup bones.  This is important because the slow cooking process releases collagen into the soup which adds some very healthy fat and helps give the soup a very delicate and delicious flavor.  This is essentially the “old school” way to make soup and you will be able to tell a difference from normal beef stew.   This nourishing soup is excellent for people with digestive troubles or who need an easy to digest meal that is still very high in nutrients.

 

1 lb beef soup bones

1 large onion

3 large carrots

16oz frozen green beans

Redmond Real Salt to taste

1 tablespoon thyme

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 bayleafs

 

Put soup bones, onion, carrot, beans and bay leafs in a slow cooker and fill with filtered water until the food is just submerged.  Cook on high for 5 hours.  Turn off heat. Remove soup bones from pot and separate bone from meat.  Remove excess fat and slice the meat into ½ inch cubes and return to pot.  Add remaining seasonings and stir well.    

Food Freedom Victory!

Follow the link to a great article talking about recent happening in Wisconsin. 

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/05/hershberger-victory-for-private-food-rights-sends-message-that-people-can-and-will-fight-overbearing-regulators/#.UakGI-tAvP0

Organic Vs. Conventional Produce

One question concerning organic produce (which I highly recommend and personally use for about 90% of my own ingredients and cooking supplies) is “is it actually better for you?”  The answer is “usually”.

The reason I say usually is that the quality of a plant used for food is based largely on the quality of the soil the plant is grown in.

 

ORGANIC FARMERS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEIR SOIL

 

If you want to grow certified organic produce you have to go through a process of certifying your land as free of pesticides, herbicides, etc… for several years.  Most actually go through the trouble to fortify the soil with organic material (compost) to enrich its micronutrient content so that when they go to grow that carrot it has more nutrients in it because the soil it grew in had more nutrients available.

 

How rich a soil is in nutrients determines how rich in nutrients a plant is.  Makes sense right?  Give a homebuilder building a house the best materials, good tools and ample time and you will get a nice place to live right?  Give a plant all the nutrients it needs, no toxic chemicals and a nice little plot of soil to grow in and you get nutrient dense food.

 

This is exactly why many studies have indicated that organic food typically has much higher nutrient levels than normal produce.   Actually it’s funny calling todays methods of farming normal because before they were considered normal organic farming was the only real option, only back then it was just called farming.  Anyways, think of organic produce as produce that has just had better access to the resources it needs to grow properly.  It all starts in the soil and good clean, nutrient dense soil makes good clean nutrient dense food!

Garlic Brussels Sprouts with Hummus

2 tablespoon extra-virgin coconut oil

3 cups frozen petite Brussels sprouts

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 small onion chopped

½ cup prepared hummus

1 tablespoon oregano

2 teaspoons REAL salt

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

 

In a large pain heat oil to medium and add Brussels sprouts.  Stir-fry until warm, about 5 minutes.  Add garlic and onion and continue stir frying until onion is semi-crisp.  Stir in hummus and seasonings and cook an additional 1-2 minutes to heat hummus.