Bottled Water

Something to remember when choosing where to get your drinking water. Tap water has to pass strict state, federal and local requirements before it gets into your home.

Bottled water does not. And many of them are simply filtered tap water, such as Dasani and Aquafina.

The Natural Resources Defense Council found that about 1/3 of bottled water brands they tested had chemical contaminants above the the state limits.

So the choice is tap which is free and regulated for purity or bottled which is a gamble on the benefits and costs more than gasoline by the gallon.

I haven't even started with the toxic BPA in the plastic bottles.

I say save your money and if you don't like the flavor get a home filter.

Summer Foods and Skin Foods

Summer is officially here and we should eat appropriately. Summer time means more heat and sweating so we need foods that cool and replenish our fluids. It is perfect that watermelon comes ripe in summer. It is the coldest of fruits and full of fluids.
All fruits are cooling so be sure to eat a lot of fruits and drink plenty of healthy fluids.

Some summer foods even help us maintain healthy skin. Watermelon, nectarines and cherries are 3 fruits high in lycopene which helps our skin deal with sun exposure.

Lycopene is also in tomatoes. Cooking them actually concentrates this nutrient so cook some veggies in tomato sauce for a side dish at your next barbecue.

Almonds have been shown to help us fight the sun's rays with their high vitamin e content.

Tuna has selenium a nutrient that preserves elastin (which keeps our skin more youthful), and reduces damage from UV exposure.

Eat smart for a fun, healthy summer.

Essential Oils Thwart Germs - Dr Weil's Daily Health Tips - Natural Health Information Blog

Essential Oils Thwart Germs - Dr Weil's Daily Health Tips - Natural Health Information Blog

Adenosine A1 receptors mediate local anti-nociceptive effects of acupuncture : Nature Neuroscience : Nature Publishing Group

Adenosine A1 receptors mediate local anti-nociceptive effects of acupuncture : Nature Neuroscience : Nature Publishing Group

Sugar and Heart Disease - Dr Weil's Daily Health Tips - Natural Health Information Blog

Sugar and Heart Disease - Dr Weil's Daily Health Tips - Natural Health Information Blog

Sciatic Pain

I had another patient with sciatic pain today. She's had physical therapy, chiropractic care and appointments with her MD. Yet she was never shown one of the most effective exercises that can help her low back.

The exercise is to lift the leg in front of the body bringing the knee up to waist high. Then hold it. Start at holding for 30 seconds and gradually build to 4-5 minutes each leg. As her back gets healthier I'll give her more exercises to maintain that health.

After receiving her 1st acupuncture treatment she felt less pain immediately when getting off the table.

We reviewed diet tips to make sure she didn't eat foods that would irritate the bulging disk in her lumbar (low back). Alcohol and all sugars are the 2 worst offenders.

Acupuncture, exercises, herbs and proper nutrition will greatly reduce and should eliminate her pain.

An Interesting Profession

I have a patient that I have grown close with. Now he is better and doesn't need to come in any longer. He spent about 10-12 minutes after his treatment 'saying goodbye' and thanking me. Before he came to me he was told he was incurable. He couldn't show the emotional level of gratitude he felt but discussed it in an old world way. Being over 80 yrs old he couldn't express himself as some younger people would show it.
We made each other laugh. I hope to see him around town.