Wellness

5 Tips To Help Kick Your Sugar Addiction

sugar-cubes01-smAre you addicted to sugar? If so, you aren’t alone. According to the American Heart Association  (AHA), the average American consumes a whopping 89 teaspoons of sugar per day – about 3-4 times more than the recommended daily allowance.

Sugar adversely affects the body in a number of different ways. It increases a person’s chance of developing diabetes, promotes tooth decay, contributes to fat accumulation and subsequently obesity, and weakens the immune system. continue reading »

How Massage Therapy Can Relieve Your Tension Headaches

massage-therapy-headaches-01-smTension headaches are one of the most common types of headaches, affecting tens of millions of Americans each year. They are characterized by shooting pain in the head, scalp, neck and surrounding area. While most people treat their tension headaches with acetaminophen or similar over-the-counter pain relievers, massage therapy can prove to be just effective, if not more effective.

The Scoop on Tension Headaches

What makes makes tension headaches unique is how they are created. Scientists and doctors are still trying to determine exactly what happens when a person experiences a headache. The brain is an incredibly complex organ with an estimated 100-500 trillion synapses, and the more we study it, the more we realize just how little we know about it.

With that said, doctors have pinpointed the cause of tension headaches as built-up muscle tension – muscles in the head or neck which remain constricted. continue reading »

7 Superfoods That Can Change Your Life

blueberries_blue_berries_393027_lYou are what you eat is an adage that holds more truth than you may realize. Unfortunately, many people today focus their diet around processed foods that are high in sugar, sodium and fat. Diets such as this can increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and more. You can protect your body and health against such illnesses, however, by eating lean meats, fresh vegetables, and by adding the following “superfoods” to your diet. continue reading »

3 Ways To Improve Your Posture

poor-posture-01Do you suffer from poor posture? Whether you’re sitting down at a desk, standing, walking or running, you should focus on maintaining your body’s natural position. This means keeping your head and neck up while avoiding slouching or slumping. The good news is that you can reverse the effects of poor posture by following some simple steps.

Some of the physiological problems linked to poor posture include:

  • Headaches
  • Scoliosis
  • Kyphosis (hunched back)
  • Herniated disc
  • Abdominal pain
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Joint degeneration / arthritis
  • Muscle tension
  • Acid reflux
  • Heartburn
  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) — problems related to the chewing muscles and joints.

continue reading »

How To Dine Out If You Have a Food Allergy

food-allergies-01Food allergies shouldn’t prevent you from dining out with your friends and family. Unfortunately, though, many people with food allergies resort to cooking their own meals to reduce the risk of an adverse reaction. From dairy and nuts to gluten (wheat-based protein) and shellfish, there are certain foods that people must avoid to prevent adverse reactions.

The Growing Problem of Food Allergies

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAA), approximately 8% of the world’s population suffers from some type of food allergy, which translates into roughly 25.4 million Americans. continue reading »