There is a lot of great marketing out there with food. The hard thing is deciphering through which foods are truly healthy and nourishing for your body. We teach people to look for labels such as grass-fed beef or organic, however, some marketing words can be misleading.
An example of
figuring out if a food is healthy for you or not is to look for labels such as
organic certified and non-GMO. The extra tip to truly knowing what you are
putting into your body is quite simple.
What do you need to do? Read the ingredients.
Marketing can be
true to what they are projecting, but can also leave out additional ingredients
that will either add unnecessary sugars or flavoring that could potentially
affect your health.
3 Main Keys
If you can’t read it, don’t eat it. If you are unsure of what an ingredient is or search online to find out it is a chemical or man-made food you should avoid it. It should also be 5 or less ingredients on the label. Make sure you are able to pronounce or know what every ingredient is.
Stay away from artificial flavoring and added sugars. Even if it’s marketed as “natural flavors” it is important to know there are no regulations on the word natural in ingredients.
The best ingredients will be labeled as organic in the ingredient section. Make sure the majority, if not all, ingredients are truly organic even when marketed as certified organic. Foreign countries organic standards are not strict like America, so if food is from China or Mexico it is not truly organic as labeled.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
Many factors over time can cause both arthritis and joint pain. Putting your body in a stress state due to either nutrition, activity levels, or other stressors will cause your body to become inflamed. When your body has a lot of inflammation, your joints also become inflamed and can be diagnosed as arthritis. Our body’s response to inflammation can result in pain. When our body is in pain, it is signaling that there is something wrong.
The Medical Approach
Typical medical solutions for these issues involve a cortisol shot or a high dosage NSAID (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) to alleviate pain. Although pain may be lifted at the moment, these two solutions cause more health issues down the road including heart issues and gut issues. The medical model desires to reduce inflammation, however, the solutions are synthetic and not dealing with the root cause. Fortunately, our body is powerfully and wonderfully made to heal itself. Here are the top five things to naturally help arthritis and joint pain.
Top 5 Solutions for Arthritis and Joint Pain
1. Movement
A lot of joints become inflamed due to lack of movement. The liquid around the joint needs to be released for new fluid to come in. If there is a lack of movement, joints become dehydrated and can cause degeneration. Add all range of motion movements throughout your entire day.
2. Supplements
These natural supplements assist in reducing inflammation and restore strength in your joints. Turmeric, Boswellia, and ginger are great for reducing inflammation. Omega-3 fish oil, cod liver oil, and CBD oil help alleviate joint pain. MSN, Glucosamine Chondroitin, and bone broth help the structure of your joint.
3. Alignment
Medical professionals say arthritis is genetic. This is false; it can be as simple as having a misalignment. Get consulted by a chiropractor who can find the misalignments throughout the body to remove interference and allow the body to heal itself properly. Not only can pain be removed, but also the core issue itself can be removed as well.
4. Diet
The minimum change you need to make to your diet is to eat an anti-inflammatory diet. This includes removing sugars, grains, and processed foods. The ultimate step following this would be to follow a plant paradox diet. This eliminates gluten, high levels of lectin, and also dairy. These foods can cause high levels of inflammation and digestive issues.
5. Testing
If you have tried tips 1-4 and are still experience symptoms of joint pain, get your gut tested. You can be following the supplements and diet recommended, but due to the condition of your gut, it cannot handle the change. With the westernized diet, it has destroyed our digestive system. After being tested, you can focus on healing your gut. Your gut can be connected to arthritis and joint pain.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
The most common reason people see a doctor is due to back pain in America. Whether patients visit for pain relief or endure back surgery, a common medication prescribed is an opioid. The opioid crisis has become an epidemic in itself. Even for mild cases, most Americans are also used to taking an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Instead of accepting the risk of falling into a medicated reliance, there must be another solution to healing these issues.
Providing Another Solution
Most back pain issues start as a mild ache, but over time create a larger issue. Instead of looking for sources to mask pain, we should focus more on what your body is telling you. When your body has a pain response, it signaling that there is a specific cause needing to be healed. Chiropractic care has shared the great connection between the spine and the rest of your entire body. Instead of undergoing unnecessary surgery, or relying on medications, there is another solution to these five underlying causes of back pain.
5 Back Pain Causes + The Solutions
1. Subluxation
Each joint within the spine needs to have movement. A subluxation occurs when there is an interference to the joints, vertebrae, or disks. We sit 90% of our day from things such as sitting at work, sports injury, sleeping wrong, and more. This creates a stress response, like back pain.
Solution:Go to a chiropractor to get consulted, x-rayed, and then adjusted to remove subluxations within the spine.
2. Inflammation
There can be inflammation within your apophyseal joints. These joints can be jammed. It is most common with anyone who has a pelvic tilt, athletes, or people who sleep on their stomachs. If you have forward head posture, your joints can lock up as well. When these are inflamed, it can cause back pain.
Solution: Strengthen and stretch your hip flexors and hip extensors. Also, eliminated foods that increase inflammation.
3. Disk Issues
This can include disk herniation, a bulging disk, disk degeneration, or broken disk. Inside our fluid-filled disks, there are ligaments. Movement creates the flow of old fluid and new fluid. You can also tear these ligaments over time and loss the proper curve in your spine which then distributes weight on your spine improperly. This will eventually cause back pain.
Solution: Prioritize movement daily, which can also be used as preventative care. Perform a full range of motion exercises.
4. Organic Issues
Kidney issues, like kidney stones, can cause a dull aching pain. Digestive issues, like constipation, can cause back pain. Added pressure while pregnant can also cause back pain. Upper back pain can be signaling gull bladder issues, such as inflammation.
Solution: Consult with your chiropractor on nutrition to heal the gut. Also, getting specific adjustments to the spinal regions connected to these organs.
5. Muscle Strain/Tear
This is the least common issue that stems from back pain. Most people assume this is the issue because of your muscles spasm. Car accidents or sports injuries typically cause this and would be considered as an acute injury as opposed to the other causes.
Solution: Have your chiropractor take x-rays to see all possible reasons for back pain to identify this cause. Rest and adjustments will allow your body to properly heal itself.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
There are many diets and programs spread over the internet, television, and books. When a person chooses to try multiple programs, it is referred to as “yo-yo dieting.” This involves completing a program, but gaining the weight back after the program ends. Each program promises weight loss, but what happens when the program is over? How do you maintain the weight you are looking to achieve?
Create a Foundation
Unfortunately, there are countless ideas and opinions about how to lose weight best. Instead of it being black and white, weight loss is truly dependent on your body. Many factors play a role in weight loss including hormones, calories, diet, exercise, and more. For example, if your hormones are imbalanced and not working properly you will have a hard time losing weight. If you are consuming an immense amount of calories, you will inevitably gain more weight. A true weight loss program needs to be individualized, but a general weight loss can be founded on these five crucial steps.
5 Foundation Tips for Long-term Weight Loss
1. Remove Certain Foods
The main foods you want to remove are sugar, grains, bad fats, and dairy. The majority of many people’s diet contains each of these foods mainly stemming from the food pyramid given to us promoting these food groups. There are many diets such as the Keto and Paleo, but the only diet to focus on is an anti-inflammatory diet. Inflammation is what causes weight gain, imbalanced hormones, and disease. The body creates a natural anti-inflammatory called cortisol. When you eat these foods causing inflammation, cortisol increases, and your body goes into survival mode. When your body is in this stress state, you will gain weight and sustain an imbalance of hormones.
2. Intermittent Fasting
When you do intermittent fasting, it gives your body time to heal and reset. When you limit the window of time you are eating, you eat less and your body uses stored energy (fats) during the fasting state. Working out in your fasting period will also kick your body into burning fat faster. A common way to do IF is fasting 16 hours and eating within an 8-hour window. More benefits from this system of eating include boosting your immune and digestive system, lowers insulin levels, oxidizes your body, and more.
3. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
Movement and exercise are vital for weight loss. This type of workout, however, is beneficial due to its duration in time and health benefits. HIIT does not raise stress levels or interfere with hormones. It also does not burn muscle; instead, it keeps you in a fat-burning mode. Sometimes the type of workouts you do can make your body hold onto weight due to the excess of stress you are putting on your body. HIIT workouts can be as short as 10-20 minutes long and utilize your fat as energy even after the workout is complete.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar helps improve digestion, breaks down food, and improves your microbiome. It is recommended to take one shot of ACV in an 8 oz. glass of water first thing in the morning and can be repeated right before bed. This also stabilizes blood sugar levels and keeps insulin levels down. You can research the many health benefits ACV has along with supporting weight loss.
5. Don’t Eat Before Bed
Make sure the last thing you eat is 3-4 hours before going to bed. When you go to sleep, your body uses glucose to regenerate your body. After your body burns through glucose, it will produce ketones that shift your body into a fat-burning state. Begin by shifting late-night eating habits to drinking tea or ACV because it will not disrupt your fasting state.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
Your body heals itself from the inside out, not the outside in. Your body just needs to remove interference to heal properly. Chiropractic care helps more than just back and neck pain. It is a key factor in improving digestive and overall health. When there are interferences in the spine, your nerves cannot function properly. Interferences, such as losing the curvature in your neck or lower back, create a chain of health issues.
Your Curve Matters
The spine incases the spinal cord, which is the only organ that is completely encased by bone. It is also connected to every organ throughout the body, along with tissues and cells. The spinal cord needs mobility. 90% of the stimulation to your brain comes from the movement of your spine. Our society has become so sedentary that it hinders this important factor. The correct curve of your spine creates a biomechanically sound structure so that gravity can evenly distribute weight throughout your spine. When weight is evenly distributed, you are avoiding disc herniation, degeneration, and multiple health issues.
Why Adjustments Matter
When you adjust the spine, it puts motion into the vertebrae and in return blocks stress responses in that area. When stress is removed, the body can balance itself into a homeostasis state. Adjustments increase your IGA levels. IGA levels are a huge part of your immune system; so when you are being adjusted, you are increasing the health of your immune system. The immune system is only one system that is supported through adjustments. Every area is significantly affected by the movement of the spine.
4 Areas of the Spine + Their Significance to Your Health
1. Cervical (Neck)
Certain health issues that stem from this region can include insomnia, digestive issues, migraines, allergies, and more. When an adjustment removes interference, the functioning of your brain, eyes, ears, vocal chords, thyroid, neck, shoulders, and elbows will increase.
2. Thoracic (Upper Back)
Certain health issues that stem from this region can include asthma, heart conditions, bronchitis, heartburn, and more. When an adjustment removes interference, the functioning of your heart, lungs, gallbladder, liver, stomach, pancreas, intestines, spleen, kidney, and hands will increase.
3. Lumbar (Lower Back)
Certain health issues that stem from this region can include hernias, constipation, menstrual issues, cramps, miscarriages, bed wetting, and more. When an adjustment removes interference, the functioning of your appendix, abdomen, sex organs, bladder, knees, prostate gland, sciatic nerve, legs, and feet will increase.
4. Sacral (Pelvic Region)
Certain health issues that stem from this region can include sacroiliac conditions, hemorrhoids, pruritus, spinal curvatures, and more. When an adjustment removes interference, the functioning of your hip bones, buttocks, and rectum will increase.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
Flu season typically comes around October-December. This is a common phrase thrown around that indicates the rise of flu-like symptoms to occur. The flu is not something that comes around during these months specifically; in fact, the flu has everything to do with the stress state of your body. During these months your body is undergoing the highest levels of stress. Your immune system can become suppressed, which allows your body to be susceptible to a flu virus.
Changing the Norm
The worst thing to prevent the flu is to receive a flu shot. Research from the CDC, Journal of Medicine, and more have shown study after study why this is true. It does not prevent the flu, but it is guaranteed to inject aluminum and other harmful chemicals into your body. These add stress and toxins to your body, which causes more harmful side effects. When your body is under stress it is also remaining in a fight or flight mode. When your body is in this state, the immune system lowers because it is focused on surviving. Stress increases during the holidays not only emotionally, but also chemically based on the foods that are consumed. To avoid compromising your immune system, following these five steps will point you in the optimal direction for health.
5 Ways to Avoid the Flu Season as a Whole
1. Apple Cider Vinegar/Elderberry
These two boosts the immune system. ACV balances stomach acid and helps your microbiome which makes up 80-90% of your immune system. Elderberry is great for the immune system, high antioxidant, and is high in vitamin C. Both these are great for adults and children.
2. Anti-Inflammatory Diet
This change alone could eliminate almost every flu symptom. When you eliminate foods like sugars and grains, you increase the nutrients your body obtains and lower inflammation. This can be the most effective change to avoid getting the flu.
3. Vitamin D3/Vitamin C
These increase your overall immune health. (When taking Vitamin D3, make sure it also contains K2, magnesium, and Vitamin A/E) Rather than taking supplements for Vitamin C, get this source naturally from foods. A great example is squeezing 3 lemons in your water each day. That is equivalent to the daily amount needed for Vitamin C.
4. Probiotics
Unfortunately, the use of antibiotics has killed a large portion of many people’s healthy bacteria. 80-90% of your immune system is in your gut. Our bodies are more microbiome than we are human cells. It is important to give your body good bacteria within the immune system to help fight off illnesses.
5. Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic adjustments increase your CD4 count, which means it increases the health of your immune system. Adjustments also increase your IDA levels which are found within your gut, increasing your immune system and digestive system as well. Adjustments balance stress levels, stimulate the nervous system and allows your body to be in a homeostasis state.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
Often, these pains are being misdiagnosed by either a torn rotator cuff or bursitis. Most of the time, this is not the case. The medical answer is to use a medicine, such as steroids, to reduce inflammation to these issues. On the contrary, steroids end up hurting the body negatively as opposed to eliminating the main cause. Some long term effects of steroid use can lead to weakening ligaments and tendons within the body. Once steroids are in use, many times there is a push to depend on this type of treatment to eliminate the issue. A true health solution will not give a manmade substance as a dependency, but rather tools to eliminate interference for the body to heal itself.
A Different Solution
Although pain may be felt throughout the arm or shoulder, the root is found in the nerves connecting to your spine toward your neck. Rather than breaking up the tissue within the shoulder, the answer can be found in relieving tension in the nerves. Following these steps will bring you closer to healing and avoid suggested treatments that only harm your health.
Three Ways to Eliminate Shoulder, Neck, and Arm Pain
1. Evaluation
This process involves feeling around the area that is causing pain. Doing a range of motion test will show which area is being affected and where interference needs to be eliminated. After this process, x-rays will be taken to see if there are any disks issues, poor posture, or degeneration within the neck. Any of these issues can cause numbness, tingling, or pain. Simple signs of poor posture will show loss of curvature in the neck which contributes to an uneven distribution of weight to your spine. Stress is added to nerves toward the neck due to car accidents, working on a computer, and prolonged sitting. This stress creates irritation, pain, and inflammation to the nerves and disks.
2. Adjustments
These will be crucial in the lower neck with these specific areas of pain. Using traction or decompression machines also alleviate pressure on the spine. Misaligned areas in the neck will be adjusted. Scar tissue will be broken up to increase range of motion. And a specific adjustment to the shoulder will push the shoulder back into alignment. You can feel relief as soon as one adjustment.
3. Retrain the Body
It is vital to retrain your body due to its tendency to follow muscle memory. After being aligned, it is important to focus on your posture. This includes forward head posture, inward shoulders, overly curved back, and text neck. Your posture matters whether you are driving, sleeping, or sitting.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
There is one main cause of all major health lifestyle issues from back pain to cancer. The World Health Organization has stated the main issue of health issues stem from stress. To break this down even further, when our body is undergoing stress it can easily be inflamed. Because we are stressed emotionally, chemically, and physically, our body can undergo chronic inflammation. Inflammation is a way our body repairs and heals itself; however, when inflammation is out of control, we start to see symptoms of our body breaking down.
The Stress Cycle
One of the negative effects of chronic inflammation is an increase of cortisol levels. Cortisol’s natural mechanism in the body is to act as an anti-inflammatory agent. More issues rise when cortisol levels increase that can cause unhealthy balances such as hormonal issues and interfere with your body’s ability to function at its optimal level. Cortisol also can lower your adrenals, which can lead to adrenal fatigue. It can even effect your thyroid which will lower the function of how your thyroid operates. Overall, your immune and digestive system will be in an unhealthy state due to your body’s fixation on the other imbalanced areas throughout the body. The stress in our world today has gone above and beyond. It’s not just the emotional stress, but it is also the physical and chemical stress.
Stress Overload
Our body needs stress in order to function. Stress such as gravity holds the body together and regenerate. When working out, stress increases our ability to grow in mass and strength. Stress is an essential part of health, but when stress is overly produced throughout our body and environment it causes a major chain of unhealthy effects. Statistics show the average person sits 90% of their day which is extremely physically stressful to our body. 90% of the stimulation to your brain comes from the movement of your spine. When you’re positioning your body in a stressful state the majority of your day, you are interfering with your body’s optimal function. This leads to chronic inflammation that start the downward spiral of health effects.
4 Ways to Reduce Inflammation and Stress
1. Anti-inflammatory Diet
Simply shifting your diet to focus on anti-inflammatory foods will drastically change your health. This involves eliminating grains, refined sugars, pastas, and more. But it also includes adding whole, nutrient dense foods that will replenish your body and heal it from the inside out. This includes dark leafy greens, fresh produce, and foods high in omega-3.
2. Supplements
Supplements, such as adaptogens, increase your body’s ability to heal from inflammation. High quality supplements to take include turmeric, ashwagandha, rhodiola, CBD oil, and more. Consult with your natural doctor to find out which ones are best for you.
3. Chiropractic Care
Adjustments remove interference to your spine. Since 90% of all brain stimulation is connected to your spine, this simple investment to your health will show drastic changes over time and even prevent further health complications.
4. Reducing Stress
There are emotional, physical, and chemical stressors that harm your body and increase inflammation. Reducing or removing the stressors you can control are key to eliminating inflammation throughout your body. For emotional stress, find a daily outlet such as walking to clear your mind, create blood flow, and increase movement into your routine. For chemical stress, eliminate foods like sugar that harm your body’s levels such as hormones. Purchase organic cleaning, beauty, and clothing products. For physical stressors, find out what workouts for your body allow growth and rest. Do not overwork your body and replenish it with harmful foods that will keep your body in an inflamed state. The positive side to stressors is that many of them are controllable, changeable, and removable.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
Menstrual cycle issues, PCOS, ovarian cyst, and even breast cancer can all stem from hormone disruptions. Certain times of developmental growth, even within the womb, can be interrupted by specific chemicals that affect our growth and causes certain diseases. Studies have shown over 300 million dollars are spent annually on hormonal issues within our country. Some of the disrupters are due to personal choices, but also products we consume that contain toxic chemicals ultimately manipulating our health.
Taking Charge of Hormonal Issues
When your hormones are imbalanced, everything is affected. Not only do you experience health side effects, but it can also alter your mood and even personality. The range of issues vary; they can be as low as irritability and as high as cancer or autoimmune diseases. These six tips are simple changes you can make for you and your family today. Regardless of where your hormone levels are, you can change them drastically. Connect with a natural health doctor who will assist and guide you through making these changes. Taking one step at a time will begin to transform the performance of everyday living. Your body is worth investing in through time, products, foods, and knowledge.
Top 6 Hormonal Disrupters
1. Plastics (BPAs)
These act like hormones within our body. Eliminate containers made of plastic for food, drinks, toys, and more. Avoid buying plastic products such as baby bottles and pacifiers. BPA free is a better alternative, but there are more chemicals within the plastic that are harmful.Going on the Body Ecology Diet or Plant Paradox Diet will not only eliminate antibiotic foods in your diet, but also heal the microbiome and digest food easier within your gut.
2. Phthalates
These are found in clothing, cleaning products, beauty products, fragrances, and more. Phthalates are highly toxic to the body. Switch your products to 100% organic to avoid using these toxins.
3. Triclosan
This is found in “antibacterial” products. It can be put in anything from soaps, cosmetics, and even toothpaste. It is marketed to prevent bacteria from entering the body. However, when you constantly kill off bacteria it also kills off good bacteria found within the body. This is harmful considering up to 90% of your immune system is bacteria.
4. Birth Control
You are affecting your endocrine system at a synthetic level, which disrupts your body’s ability to balance its own hormones naturally. Long term effects can be infertility, depression, cervical cancer and more. Birth control ultimately lowers hormones and increases health issues. Birth control does not solve health issues; it only acts as a temporary band-aid with additional side effects.
5. Health and Beauty Products
A simple change for these products is to make sure they are organic. Avoid products with long lists of ingredients. With these products, less is more. You want a high-quality product that is not going to affect your hormonal health if you come in contact with it, especially when you are putting it directly on your body.
6. Diet
This is the most important and most impactful way to allow your body to produce balanced hormones. Simple diet tips are to remove refined sugars, soy products, grains, GMO products, and antibiotic dairy products. Grow your own fruits and vegetables or find a close-to-home organic farmer for the best source of food.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
Ultimately when there’s an overgrowth of yeast, it is an issue of the microbiome within the digestive system or body. Our body is 85% microbiome, which includes healthy bacteria and fungus found in our gut. Having a healthy microbiome is the key to longevity and health. This also boosts our immune system which protects the body from issues like yeast infections, candida overgrowth, or skin problems.
The Main Factor
Bacteria have antifungal and antiviral effects. Viruses have antibacterial and antifungal effects. Fungi have antibacterial and antiviral effects. They live in symbiosis together, balancing one another out. Once an antibiotic is taken, it kills the bacteria and increases the growth of fungus. Overgrowth of yeast within the body has a direct correlation to the immense use of antibiotics whether directly taken or pumped through our source of food. Antibiotics are not limited to medications but are also in soaps, baby wipes, creams, and more. The food and products we put into our bodies are vital in the balance of bacteria, fungus, and viruses.
5 Ways to Eliminate Yeast Overgrowth in the Body
1. Gut Healing Foods
Going on the Body Ecology Diet or Plant Paradox Diet will not only eliminate antibiotic foods in your diet, but also heal the microbiome and digest food easier within your gut.
2. Probiotics
Using a healthy source, like the Garden of Life, will nourish your digestive system. Taking a dosage of 400 billion probiotics for 4-5 days then 100 billion for a month will replenish your system. After this, you can take 50 billion as a maintenance.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Taking a spoonful of ACV with water first thing in the morning and right before bed. You can also take a spoonful right before your meals.
4. Fermented Foods
A popular fermented drink is Kombucha. Other great sources of fermented food are kimchi, sauerkraut, kifer, and more. The key is quality of fermented food.
5. Immune Support
Taking supplements like Vitamin D3 with K2 and magnesium. Also, eating things like garlic and ginger are natural support for your immune system daily. You can drink organic cranberry juice or lemons alkalize the body. And high quality bone broth provide health benefits for your overall health.
If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!
Queen City Health Center is a Charlotte Chiropractic and total wellness center for individuals and families. With locations across Charlotte, NC and Matthews, NC, we specialize in helping individuals and families find true health and ways to maximize their lives through nutrition, lifestyle classes, detoxification and spinal correction.
