What would you say is the biggest problem facing our children today? It is heartbreaking to know that childhood obesity is the most common nutritional disorder as well as a growing global epidemic in developed countries. It is also considered to be the underlying factor causing a variety of chronic illnesses in the Western World. In the United States, childhood obesity is growing at a dangerous pace; one out of three kids is considered overweight or obese. Recognizing this problem and attempting to tackle it should be a priority as health impact of obesity is staggering, and can cause a wide spectrum of illnesses including but not limited to depression, low self esteem, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep apnea etc…
Childhood obesity becomes important because its likelihood to persist in adulthood is very high and these children become victims of disorders linked to obesity as they grow older. Interactions between genetic, biological, psychological, sociocultural and environmental factors are typically blamed for childhood obesity yet early interventions or preventative educational methods are rarely discussed. As a family wellness chiropractor specialized to work with children and pregnant women, I believe that prevention and education is an essential part of avoiding such disorder in your children and it should start early on. Prior to conception, parents should be aware of risks of high birth weight, maternal diabetes, and obesity in the family. Educate yourself about healthy habits and active lifestyles; learn how to implement and practice that knowledge in your family and especially with your children can help lower the chances of having an overweight and unhealthy family. Here are some recommendations:
‘Best for Baby, Best for Mom’:
There are enormous amounts of research done on the advantages of breastfeeding, one of which is its ability to decrease the chances of obesity in children. Increasing the length of breastfeeding time plays an important role in lowering the risk of childhood and adolescence obesity. One of many benefits of breastfeeding is that babies have an internal and innate ability to control their intake and thus will stop when no longer hungry.
‘Motion is Life’:
Many of our kids lack enough physical activity to warrant the amount of caloric intake they are consuming. Replacing children’s physical activity with video games, computer, and television contributes to this shift of inactivity in today’s world. Encourage kids to be physically active every day. If you eat at home together with your kids and watch TV a few times a week encourage your family and the children to reduce TV/computer time, and go for a walk or bike ride instead and have more home cooked meals available.
‘You Are What You Eat’:
Start good habits early. Offer your children a wide variety of healthy foods, to shape up their food preferences as well as educating them on what is healthy and natural. Let them be involved with healthy food choices while packing your lunch. Unfortunately the days of family meals together, as well as healthy portions of vegetables and fruits are gone, and replaced with fast food, high caloric junk, high sugar, and lots of eating out.
Your parenting style is linked directly to your child’s mind and body health. Main goal as parents or family practitioners should be to encourage healthy behaviors for the entire family, give your kids healthy options with good life style habits, natural food, and activities to promote potential development of obesity and its associated risks in your family. If you are live in Southern California and would like and evaluation of your child's health, or nutritional guidance, give us a call @ 949.922.3465 for a free evaluation.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Back to School Kind of Pain...
As summer ends, fall brings with it fashionable rain-jackets, beautiful weather, as well as heavy backpacks for our children. If you have children, you may notice that it almost seems like they may need a pack mule to carry all of their heavy text books and supplies. If your child is one of them, you could be setting him or her up for future posture problems, irregular gait cycles, scoliosis, chronic fatigue, and a long list of health problems. We often wonder why our young adults slouch, have poor posture, don’t stand up tall, or sit straight. Poor posture habits follow a trend, children carry huge overloaded backpacks, adults have very fashionable-yet-heavy purses or lug briefcases to work, and most of us spend too many hours hunched over a computer.
If your children are suffering from poor posture that is exacerbated by heavy bags, they are not alone. Poor posture is not only habitual, but also is a result of low self-esteem, existing scoliosis or increased spinal curves. Whatever the case maybe in your child, you should also be aware that poor posture can cause degenerative problems in the spine, chronic pain, muscle aches, poor circulation and can affect their breathing. The trouble with heavy backpacks is kids are saddled with them during their growing phase. Visualize a bowling ball strapped to the top of a little pine tree; the pine tree will grow in that same bent over position.
How can you tell if your child is developing posture problems?
Simply look at them from the back and the side. If you are looking at them from the back, see if their head tilts more to one side (remember this would be very subtle), also note if one shoulder is higher than the other. Remember the difference would be very subtle but important to note because it could indicate a problem. Have your kids bend over the knees and see if one shoulder blade comes up higher than the other. Now look at them from the side, and make sure their shoulders are not rounding forward a lot. Also their ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and outer portion of ankle should line up in a straight line on each side.
What kind of problems might poor posture in kids lead to?
Structural problems can lead to chronic pain and tightness in the neck and mid-back. Uneven or asymmetric stress on the spine can cause additional strain to certain parts of the spine as they grow and a degenerating spine is a result of that as they age. Spinal strain can also put pressure on spinal cord, nerves, and central nervous system causing migraine headaches, digestive difficulties, chronic fatigue, asthma, and etc…
What can be done?
Check their backpacks. Unfortunately most kids will not compromise their fashion for rolling backpacks, so here are a few tips to picking a good backpack. First try it on; the straps should feel snug and a close fit to the shoulders. Make sure the backpack is centered and not below the waist, to minimize the uneven pressure on their growing spine. Encourage your children to buckle up the strap around the waist (even-though it’s known not to be the most fashionable). The middle strap will help the backpack fit better and keeps it in place. Check their backpacks to make sure they are only carrying the essential textbooks and remove what’s unnecessary. Limiting the weight of the backpack load to 10% of their body weight is helpful. Last but not least, encourage them to keep their backpacks on both shoulders, and not on one!
Finally do not ignore if they are complaining of neck or lower back pain; as they shouldn’t have any pain. Get your child evaluated here to check their spine and make sure there are no structural asymmetries and to prevent health problems from occurring in the future. Call us at 949.515.4006 Your children’s posture and health are worth the extra attention.
If your children are suffering from poor posture that is exacerbated by heavy bags, they are not alone. Poor posture is not only habitual, but also is a result of low self-esteem, existing scoliosis or increased spinal curves. Whatever the case maybe in your child, you should also be aware that poor posture can cause degenerative problems in the spine, chronic pain, muscle aches, poor circulation and can affect their breathing. The trouble with heavy backpacks is kids are saddled with them during their growing phase. Visualize a bowling ball strapped to the top of a little pine tree; the pine tree will grow in that same bent over position.
How can you tell if your child is developing posture problems?
Simply look at them from the back and the side. If you are looking at them from the back, see if their head tilts more to one side (remember this would be very subtle), also note if one shoulder is higher than the other. Remember the difference would be very subtle but important to note because it could indicate a problem. Have your kids bend over the knees and see if one shoulder blade comes up higher than the other. Now look at them from the side, and make sure their shoulders are not rounding forward a lot. Also their ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and outer portion of ankle should line up in a straight line on each side.
What kind of problems might poor posture in kids lead to?
Structural problems can lead to chronic pain and tightness in the neck and mid-back. Uneven or asymmetric stress on the spine can cause additional strain to certain parts of the spine as they grow and a degenerating spine is a result of that as they age. Spinal strain can also put pressure on spinal cord, nerves, and central nervous system causing migraine headaches, digestive difficulties, chronic fatigue, asthma, and etc…
What can be done?
Check their backpacks. Unfortunately most kids will not compromise their fashion for rolling backpacks, so here are a few tips to picking a good backpack. First try it on; the straps should feel snug and a close fit to the shoulders. Make sure the backpack is centered and not below the waist, to minimize the uneven pressure on their growing spine. Encourage your children to buckle up the strap around the waist (even-though it’s known not to be the most fashionable). The middle strap will help the backpack fit better and keeps it in place. Check their backpacks to make sure they are only carrying the essential textbooks and remove what’s unnecessary. Limiting the weight of the backpack load to 10% of their body weight is helpful. Last but not least, encourage them to keep their backpacks on both shoulders, and not on one!
Finally do not ignore if they are complaining of neck or lower back pain; as they shouldn’t have any pain. Get your child evaluated here to check their spine and make sure there are no structural asymmetries and to prevent health problems from occurring in the future. Call us at 949.515.4006 Your children’s posture and health are worth the extra attention.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Improve your posture, Improve your life...
Your posture is like a double sided mirror. As you may have heard your mom tell you to sit up straight at the dinner table or at your computer desk, it can influence a lot more than just your appearance. Your spine holds your nervous system which in turn controls your entire body. Now imagine your posture being a representative of how your spine and nerves are being stretched. Poor posture will cause an interference with the nervous system and can cause a variety of disease.
Improving your posture is going to take some work especially with the habits of today’s modern living, but in the long run will increase your chances of living a healthier life. If the health of your nervous system is not your priority, you must be warned research has shown that erect posture has also been linked success in the business world and taking off a few years off your real age. So if success or looking younger is your priority, read on.
To discuss what things can be done to improve your posture, the need to understand what good posture is becomes important. Your spine has three major curves that hold your body erect and create an “S” shaped curvature throughout the spine. This “S” curve is designed much like a spring to absorb the compressive load and is able to handle tensile loads by optimally balancing muscles on the front and back of the spine. With a sedentary lifestyle or sitting for prolonged hours, your body adapts to the hunched-over posture your spine will resemble a “C” curve instead of the nice “S.” This not only increases your risk of injury but is also responsible for a long list of symptoms. Are you suffering from headaches, muscle aches and imbalances, tingling and numbness in the extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain or dysfunctions, sciatica, chronic fatigue syndrome, and most importantly, poor posture? The reason may just be that.
If someone is observing you from the side, your ear, shoulder, hip, and ankle should all line up in a straight line. Now this becomes complicated if you have rounded shoulders and a forward head posture. If you are being looked at from the front, your feet must not be turned out or in noticeably. There should be not rotation or tilt in your head, and your chin and belly button, should be in a straight line.
Exercise is the most basic and well known remedy to improving your posture. For those of you who are gym rats, you do take your poor posture with you to the gym. Working out with a good posture is in a sense more important than having good posture while you sit at your desk. When you do exercises that place your spine in more of a “C” type curve, it is making you more prone to injury.
Most people suffer from what is called an “Anterior Weight Bearing” or a forward head posture. In simple terms, your head is more forward than the rest of your body and from the side your ear and shoulder do not line up. To correct this posture, while you are seated at your chair before starting to do hours and hours of work at your desk, you can tuck your chin in and retract your chin back towards your neck and hold that position for three full breaths. You can start at five repetitions, and build up from there. In order to correct shoulders that are rounded forward, you can extend your arms out and up to about shoulder height, bent at the elbows. Imagine a pencil in between your shoulder blades and your job is to squeeze that pencil in between your scapulas. You should feel a stretch along your chest and the front of your shoulders. Hold for three full breaths and repeat 5 times.
Improving your posture and re-creating the normal “S” curve in your spine can increase your range of motion, optimize your nerve function, reduce tension in your neck, shoulders, and jaw, expand your lung capacity, relieve muscle aches and sciatica, and most importantly make you look and feel younger!
Correcting your posture or rebuilding it may take some work, but you have to be aware that if you have a structurally rotated, or translated, or shifted spine, then exercises alone will not improve your posture.
A hand full of chiropractic doctors here in California focus their doctorate studies in Postural Correction. Consult with one if you suffer from poor posture and it is affecting your health. Check out our website for more information: www.nonadjavid.com If you live in Orange County, we offer free spinal screenings as well as free posture analysis in our office in Newport Beach. Call us at 949.922.3465 to make an appointment
Improving your posture is going to take some work especially with the habits of today’s modern living, but in the long run will increase your chances of living a healthier life. If the health of your nervous system is not your priority, you must be warned research has shown that erect posture has also been linked success in the business world and taking off a few years off your real age. So if success or looking younger is your priority, read on.
To discuss what things can be done to improve your posture, the need to understand what good posture is becomes important. Your spine has three major curves that hold your body erect and create an “S” shaped curvature throughout the spine. This “S” curve is designed much like a spring to absorb the compressive load and is able to handle tensile loads by optimally balancing muscles on the front and back of the spine. With a sedentary lifestyle or sitting for prolonged hours, your body adapts to the hunched-over posture your spine will resemble a “C” curve instead of the nice “S.” This not only increases your risk of injury but is also responsible for a long list of symptoms. Are you suffering from headaches, muscle aches and imbalances, tingling and numbness in the extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain or dysfunctions, sciatica, chronic fatigue syndrome, and most importantly, poor posture? The reason may just be that.
If someone is observing you from the side, your ear, shoulder, hip, and ankle should all line up in a straight line. Now this becomes complicated if you have rounded shoulders and a forward head posture. If you are being looked at from the front, your feet must not be turned out or in noticeably. There should be not rotation or tilt in your head, and your chin and belly button, should be in a straight line.
Exercise is the most basic and well known remedy to improving your posture. For those of you who are gym rats, you do take your poor posture with you to the gym. Working out with a good posture is in a sense more important than having good posture while you sit at your desk. When you do exercises that place your spine in more of a “C” type curve, it is making you more prone to injury.
Most people suffer from what is called an “Anterior Weight Bearing” or a forward head posture. In simple terms, your head is more forward than the rest of your body and from the side your ear and shoulder do not line up. To correct this posture, while you are seated at your chair before starting to do hours and hours of work at your desk, you can tuck your chin in and retract your chin back towards your neck and hold that position for three full breaths. You can start at five repetitions, and build up from there. In order to correct shoulders that are rounded forward, you can extend your arms out and up to about shoulder height, bent at the elbows. Imagine a pencil in between your shoulder blades and your job is to squeeze that pencil in between your scapulas. You should feel a stretch along your chest and the front of your shoulders. Hold for three full breaths and repeat 5 times.
Improving your posture and re-creating the normal “S” curve in your spine can increase your range of motion, optimize your nerve function, reduce tension in your neck, shoulders, and jaw, expand your lung capacity, relieve muscle aches and sciatica, and most importantly make you look and feel younger!
Correcting your posture or rebuilding it may take some work, but you have to be aware that if you have a structurally rotated, or translated, or shifted spine, then exercises alone will not improve your posture.
A hand full of chiropractic doctors here in California focus their doctorate studies in Postural Correction. Consult with one if you suffer from poor posture and it is affecting your health. Check out our website for more information: www.nonadjavid.com If you live in Orange County, we offer free spinal screenings as well as free posture analysis in our office in Newport Beach. Call us at 949.922.3465 to make an appointment
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