Topic of the Week: Sleep Apnea Affects More Than Your Sleep

We are now deep in the heart of winter, and you have probably already spent a good deal of the season trying to keep cold and flu viruses away by frequently washing your hands, getting lots of rest, and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep your immune system in top shape. One nutrient that is important for battling infections is vitamin A.
This nutrient is based on chemical substances called retinoids and carotenoids. Each performs a number of vital functions in the body.

Immune System
When it comes to viruses and bacteria, vitamin A boosts the strength of mucous to fight these organisms and prevent them from entering the body. Vitamin A is also key in the development of lymphocytes - white blood cells that spur your immune system into action and kill infected cells.


Blood Health
As well as influencing white blood cells, vitamin A plays a role in the development of oxygen carried by red blood cells. Sufficient amounts of this vitamin can also help increase the supplementation is often used to treat iron-deficiency anemia.


Vision
Vitamin A is crucial for eye health, as it helps your vision adjust to darkness and protects many parts of the eye from damage. We are fortunate in North America because vitamin A deficiency is rare compared to developing countries, where this nutrient deficiency is the leading cause of blindness.


Cancer
Vitamin A may play a positive role in cancer by preventing the creation of cancerous cells. But more research needs to be conducted as some of the results from the cancer studies are mixed.
In one study, researchers were surprised to find that vitamin A may actually increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. The research recruited 9,000 smokers and gave each of them 25,000 international units of retinol and 30 milligrams of betacarotene (both vitamin A precursors) daily for four years. At the end of the research period, the incidence of lung cancer was 28% higher in the supplement group compared to the placebo group. However, a study undertaken in China revealed participants who took a daily supplement containing betacarotene, selenium and vitamin E for five years saw a 13% reduction in esophageal and gastric cancers.
An interesting report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that high blood levels of alpha-carotene (converted to vitamin A in the body) were linked to a lower overall risk of death from disease over a 14-year period. Alpha-carotene also seemed to reduce the chances of dying from cancer and cardiovascular disease. The researchers noted that alpha-carotene may be more powerful at blocking cancerous tumors than its chemically similar cousin beta-carotene.


Best Dietary Sources of Vitamin A
How much vitamin A should you get daily? The answer will depend on your age, gender and current state of health. Daily guidelines suggest 900ug (micrograms) for men and 700ug for women (19 years or older). Amounts for infants and children vary by age. Talk to your chiropractor for the amount that is right for you and your loved ones.
The best supplies of vitamin A can be found in yellow, orange and dark green vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, asparagus and yellow squash. Whole eggs, fish liver oil and fortified dairy products are also good sources.


Too Much of a Good Thing
Large doses of vitamin A supplements can be toxic, and depending on the chemical formulation, may increase the risk of birth defects. You should not take supplements without first discussing them with a qualified healthcare professional.
Make an appointment with your chiropractor to review your nutritional habits and discover the ways to eat for optimal health.

Disclaimer: Information contained in this Wellness Express™ newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © Wellness Express™

Quote of the Week:

“One kind word can warm three winter months.”~ Japanese Proverb

Exercise of the Week: Lumbar stabilization (stage 4) – “Plank Up”

Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Start: Lie down on stomach. Then, begin by propping upper body up onto elbows/forearms, with hands together in prayer position. Engage inner abdominal muscles by bringing belly button inward. Keeping spine steady, lift hips and knees so you are resting on toes, creating a straight line from ankles to shoulders.

Exercise: Keeping spine steady, lift one arm and place hand/arm in push-up position. Then, keeping torso as steady as possible, push up so both hands/arms are in final push-up position. Pause, then lower back down to your elbows, keeping your torso steady throughout movement. For next repetition, start with opposite hand/arm. Perform 3-5 repetitions per side. Be careful not to strain lower back.

Core Fitness - What Is It and What Is It Good For?

This newsletter issue for December 2011 is brought to you by Life Wellness Center

Core training is a no-longer-new catchphrase on the fitness landscape. Many doctors, including chiropractors, orthopedists, and even cardiologists, emphasize the importance of core training with their patients. Practically every physical therapist and personal trainer has learned a variety of core exercises to use with their clients. Core fitness has become an advertising buzzword, helping to sell all kinds of health-related products. The overall result is raised awareness of the importance of core strength and the opportunity to engage in a critically important form of healthy exercise....(Click here to continue reading)

What's Happening This Week At LWC!

Quote of the Week:

“If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude”~ Amy Tan

Topic of the Week: GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF CHIROPRACTIC THIS YEAR!

In many traditions and cultures, December is the month of major holidays which include the giving and receiving of gifts. Normally, one would assume this time is only associated with joy and gratitude.



All-too-often, however, this time of year can be associated with a lot of stress! Travel schedules, family obligations and unrealistic expectations placed upon us can create stress that builds up as tension in our bodies. This leaves us more vulnerable to feeling aches and pains in our joints or muscles, or succumbing to the ever-present cold or flu virus.


It is not surprising that stress causes tension. But how is it that tension can actually hurt us? If you have ever been the victim of a stressful situation (who hasn’t?), you’ll probably remember the muscles of your neck and shoulders feeling tight, or maybe you were aware of clenching your jaw or fists? This is a typical physical response to mental or emotional challenges. How this leads to damage in your body can be found in the relationship between muscles and joints: Some muscles tighten to provide postural support, and others contract and relax to generate movement. Each muscle attaches to at least two different bones, generating relative movement around a common joint. For example, the bicep muscle crosses the elbow joint, and when the bicep shortens, the arm is flexed at the elbow. Muscle contraction places an increased physical strain or load on the tissues, but this strain is used to perform a useful function. Movement of your muscles is coordinated by the messages relayed by nerves coming from your brain. When muscles are not needed, nerve signals are silenced and the muscles return to a relaxed, resting tone, ready for when they are next called upon to contract.


When abnormal tension exists in the nervous system (caused by stress), muscles are bombarded by a low-level of nervous system activity – this does not create enough stimulation to cause a contraction, but generates a higher resting tone. This higher tone (muscle tightness) not only places an undue amount of strain on the tissues not being used, but it also leads to a greater compressive load on the joints that are coupled with the muscles in question. This is very unhealthy for the joint, as it could convert minor imbalances to major ones, leading to misalignment and subluxation of the joint. If this happens over time, extra pressure can also lead to accelerated joint degeneration – or osteoarthritis.


Chiropractic to the rescue!
Anyone who has experienced a chiropractic adjustment will know what it feels like to have pressure taken off their joints. Instant relief!


However, did you know that one of the main reasons why Chiropractors adjust your spine is to help restore proper tone in the nervous system? The father of Chiropractic, D.D. Palmer, spoke about this all the time. He described normal tone in the human nervous system responsible for a state of ease in the body, and abnormal tone in the nervous system leading to dis-ease. When the spine has areas of misalignment, this can cause irritation of the nervous system. These areas of misalignment or irritation are called vertebral subluxations.


Having nervous system irritation is like having extra ‘noise’ in the room when you are trying to have a conversation with someone. This makes it harder to hear the message. As a result, you either have to shout to get your point across, or risk not being understood. In the body, when this extra noise occurs in the spine (from subluxations) this can cause miscommunication in the nervous system, which can lead to dysfunction and pain.


With a well-placed Chiropractic adjustment, vertebrae are swiftly and effectively shifted back in place, taking excessive pressure off the joints and removing the excessive ‘noise’ from the nervous system that vertebral subluxations can cause.


That is why scheduling a visit to your Chiropractor just before and just after the holiday season is perfect timing! It can help facilitate a greater sense of ‘ease’ in the body, making it easier to handle the stress that normally awaits you at this time of year. Or, once you have been exposed to and felt the effects of the stress, your Chiropractor can bring your system back to normal. We can not think of a better gift to give yourself this year!


HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!

Disclaimer: Information contained in this Wellness Express™ newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © Wellness Express™

Exercise of the Week: Lumbar stabilization (stage 3) Plank Position

Difficulty: Moderate

Start: Lie down on stomach. Then, begin by propping upper body up onto elbows/forearms, with hands together in prayer position. Engage inner abdominal muscles by bringing belly button inward. Keeping spine steady, lift hips and knees so you’re resting on toes, creating a straight line from ankles to shoulders.

Exercise: Keeping spine steady, lift one leg 6-8 inches. Hold this position for 10-20 seconds. (Option 1).
If this is relatively easy, try bringing the leg horizontal out to one side as far as you can, keeping torso steady. Hold this position 10-20 seconds. (Option #2)
Switch legs, and repeat. Perform3-5 sets of this exercise per side. Be careful not to strain lower back.

Book Signing - Saturday, December 17th at 9:00 AM!!!

The ultimate guide to sticking with your New Year’s Resolution to get fit and stay fit is here!

Join Scott Fjelsted for a short lecture and book signing of his recently published book ForeverFitU; Making Fitness A Lifestyle That Lasts A Lifetime, on Saturday, December 17 at 9 A.M. at the Life Wellness Center in Lakeville, MN!

If you or someone you know has struggled with making fitness a lifestyle, this is a small but powerful tool to help you do so.

If you cannot make the book signing and would like to purchase ForeverFitU for you or as a Christmas gift for someone you know, send Scott Fjelsted an email with your name, address and how many books you want and Scott will send you a signed book(s) in plenty of time for Christmas!

You can also WIN a free copy of Scott's autographed book signed also by O'Neal Hampton, contestant on The Biggest Loser, Season 9!

Quote of the Week

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.”~ Irish Proverb

Topic of the Week: Sleep Apnea Affects More Than Your Sleep

As the obesity epidemic rises around the world, we see how this problem multiplies several serious health conditions. One of these conditions will literally keep you awake at night: sleep apnea. Obese people are at greater risk to develop this condition. It affects about 18 million people in North America and that number is expected to steadily increase.


There are two types. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common, and it occurs when your airway is blocked because soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses during sleep. When this happens, the brain alerts you by waking you. Depending on the severity of the condition, you may wake several hundred times throughout your sleep cycle - even though you may not remember all waking periods.


The less common central sleep apnea happens when the brain does not send signals to the muscles to breathe but the airway is not actually blocked. This condition indicates a problem in the respiratory system.


Without restful sleep, you greatly increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and hypertension.


Sleep apnea can occur in men, women and children. However, several risk factors can boost your chances of developing this problem. These include obesity, over 40 years of age, a large neck size (16” inches plus), nasal obstructions, gastrointestinal reflux, or a family history of sleep apnea. Men are also more likely to develop this condition than women.


When you have sleep apnea, you often...
- Snore loudly
- Gasp for breath while sleeping
- Awake frequently
- Suffer morning headaches
- Experience daytime sleepiness
- Have concentration and memory problems
- Feel depressed


Poor Sleep Equals Poor Health
Many people underestimate how insufficient sleep can harm their health. A study from Sweden found stroke victims with obstructive sleep apnea were more likely to die than those with no history of this sleep disorder.


Yale University published research that revealed patients with obstructive sleep apnea had a 30% higher risk of having a heart attack or dying over a four to five year period. Those patients who were diagnosed with severe sleep apnea had the greatest chance of heart attack or death. This is probably due to decreased oxygen intake caused by the breathing stoppages that occur in sleep apnea sufferers.


Another startling risk is motor vehicle injuries. In research presented at an annual conference of the American Thoracic Society, scientists showed drivers with a history of sleep apnea were twice as likely to have a motor vehicle accident – 250 total car accidents for the sleep apnea group over three years, but only 125 accidents for non-sleep apnea group over the same time.


Diagnosis and Treatment
If you need to be tested for sleep apnea, your physician may refer you to a sleep clinic. There, you will undergo a polysomnogram in which a technician attaches electrodes to your head and body. The electrodes transmit information to a machine that records your electrical signals, muscle activity and oxygen levels. A sleep specialist analyzes the results from the test to determine if you have sleep apnea.


You may be able to treat mild sleep apnea with lifestyle changes. Experts recommend you avoid consuming alcohol, smoking, using sleep pills and sleeping on your back.


Losing weight may also help diminish sleep apnea. Sweden’s Karolinska Institute enlisted 60 overweight and obese men with moderate or severe sleep apnea. The men were placed on a calorie restricted diet for nine weeks. At the end of the study, the men lost an average of 40 pounds and saw significant relief from sleep apnea symptoms.


Dental appliances designed specifically for sleep apnea may be beneficial for some patients.


If your sleep apnea cannot be controlled through lifestyle changes or dental devices, it may be necessary for you to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This machine pumps continuous air through a hose and into your nose. The resulting air pressure keeps your airway clear and prevents sleep disruption.


Nasal and soft tissue surgery can be performed to alleviate sleep apnea. However, surgery does not guarantee a cure. Most physicians recommend less invasive techniques like lifestyle changes and CPAP machines.


If you frequently awake during sleep, you should discuss it with your primary healthcare specialist. Even if you are not diagnosed with sleep apnea, you want to address your insomnia as it can have a profound impact on your current and future health.

Disclaimer: Information contained in this Wellness Express™ newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © Wellness Express™

Exercise of the Week: Lumbar stabilization (stage 2) Plank Position

Difficulty: Moderate

Start: Lie down on stomach.
Then, begin by propping upper body up onto elbows/forearms, with hands together in prayer position. Engage inner abdominal muscles by bringing belly button inward. Keeping spine steady, lift hips and knees so you’re resting on toes, creating a straight line from ankles to shoulders.

Exercise: Keeping spine steady, bend one leg to 90 degrees. Hold this position for 10-20 seconds. (Option 1) If this is relatively easy, try lifting leg higher, and hold this position for 10-20 seconds. (Option 2) Switch legs, and repeat. Perform 3-5 sets of this exercise per side. Be careful not to strain lower back.

Man and Machine

Is a computer like a human brain or is a human brain like a computer? When machines allow us to extend our abilities, are we enhancing our humanness or becoming more machine-like? What are the meaningful distinctions between humans and machines and how do these impact our daily pursuits of health, well-being, and happiness?

One primary practical distinction is that humans initiate spontaneous, unique, non-predetermined actions and machines do not. Advanced machines such as military early warning systems may initiate spontaneous activities, but all of these are predetermined and predefined to a greater or lesser degree. And for any machine responses that are not previously designated and programmed as routine, human interaction is required for initiation of the suggested action.


Generally, even the "smartest" machine only has access to a built-in suite of responses. Noted exceptions include computer programs based on simple rules which emulate living systems. The "cellular automata" generated by these programs demonstrate spontaneous emergent behaviors not predictable from the simple rules themselves. The "artificial life" thus observed is exceedingly complex and can even provide optimal solutions to deep scientific problems posed to the system by investigators.


Cellular automata are examples of complex systems, defined as systems which are critically sensitive to small changes in initial conditions. Complex systems achieved fame in Michael Crichton's novel (and the subsequent Stephen Spielberg film), "Jurassic Park". In the book, the paleobotanist Dr. Ian Malcolm uses the weather as an example of the nature of complex systems. In a scene which has achieved iconic status, Malcolm relates how a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon rain forest can cause a tornado in the American Midwest. Small changes in a complex system's initial state can lead to substantial unpredictable results in the system as a whole.


The human nervous system is such a complex, dynamic system.1,2,3 Small changes in the nervous system's initial state can result in dramatic outcomes. For example, a spinal misalignment (resulting from an innocuous low back muscle strain) can irritate a spinal nerve (a small change in initial conditions) which can lead to chronic indigestion, allergies, migraine headaches, or even high blood pressure down the road.


Most machines are not complex in this way, but they do require regular maintenance and care. As human beings, we are complex systems by our very nature and the importance of regular maintenance and care is that much greater. A healthy spine and optimally functioning nerve system go very far toward ensuring the health of our body-as-machine and our associated happiness and well-being.

Man as a Machine

The machine metaphor is very useful when we are considering aspects of human health and disease. For example, human machines need tuneups just as much and just as regularly as do mechanical machines.

Human machines that are "out of tune" break down. The nature of the breakdown may be minor or major, but it's never a good thing. Most of the time our health is transparent to us - we don't consciously experience our various body parts doing their job. Pain, however, is a notably conscious experience and one which is almost always unwelcome and unpleasant.


Regular chiropractic care is a convenient, efficient, and highly effective method of maintaining your personal human machine at peak levels of performance and structural integrity. Chiropractic care corrects the spinal misalignments that are common denominators in many, if not most, physical ailments and disorders. Chiropractic care directly addresses mechanical problems and helps ensure optimal functioning - optimal levels of health and well-being.

Diva Night II Vendor Spotlight: Apres Velo

Crazy about biking clothing and fashion accessories? Check out one of our vendors that will be at next month's 'Diva Night III': http://us.apresvelo.com/index.htm

Quote of the Week:

“There are lots of people who mistake their imagination for their memory.” ~ Josh Billings

Topic of the Week: Innate Intelligence and its Relation to Chiropractic

Innate Intelligence – a chiropractic principle that supports your overall health and well-being!


When your life began, there were only two cells that came together to be ONE.


That one cell divided, then divided again, and divided again… eventually resulting in the human being that is known as YOU (a collection of about 50-70 TRILLION cells!).


Have you ever wondered how each cell knew where it was supposed to go? How, once a cell divided to become two new cells, that one of them knew it was supposed to differentiate into a heart cell, and the other was destined to become a lung cell? Or, how once all these individual cells grew and divided, that they were able to remain coordinated, with billions of cellular interactions taking place every second? How can all this be accomplished without you needing to be aware of any of it?


The original chiropractor, D.D. Palmer, also wondered about these things. He was fascinated with the human body and human life. From his experience with different healing modalities, he observed how health could be influenced by energy, and energy fields. He posited that all living matter must be guided to grow and evolve by an invisible life force – which he called Universal Intelligence.


It then followed that since we are alive, we must also possess within us a form of this Universal Intelligence – an energy which gives and sustains our lives with ease. He coined this force inside the body Innate Intelligence. As long as this Innate Intelligence is allowed to flow freely through and within us, then the physical matter can be animated and organized into a living, breathing, creative, expressive organism.


How does Innate Intelligence relate to chiropractic?


Universal and Innate Intelligence, in and of themselves, are considered perfect creations. However, once this intelligence has been injected into a physical system, it is unfortunately subject to the imperfect nature of that system. Such is the destiny of Innate Intelligence in the human body. Wherever there is a disruption of this life energy in the body, imperfection is expressed, and dis-ease can result.


D.D. Palmer taught us that Innate Intelligence is communicated to every cell in the body via the nervous system. Therefore, as long as the nervous system is free of interference or disruption, the health and wellness of the organism is sustained (considering the natural life-span of every cell).


The importance of the brain and the spinal cord relative to the life of every human being is confirmed by the body’s anatomy – these are the only two tissues in the body completely encased in a hard skeletal shell of protection! However, all this protection does not come without a cost. Bone is not very flexible – and life without movement is rather meaningless. So, in order to facilitate movement, the spine was separated into 26 movable pieces – 24 vertebrae, plus a sacrum and coccyx.


Because the individual parts of the spine can move, they can also become displaced. When a vertebra gets misaligned, restricted and/or dysfunctional, this is called a vertebral subluxation. Not only can this cause painful irritation of the joints and the nerves associated with that vertebra, but it can also disrupt the natural flow of Innate Intelligence, which can then disrupt the function of any tissue in the body, including the immune system – which leaves a person susceptible to illness.


Fortunately, D.D. Palmer recognized the importance of the spine, and the significance of vertebral subluxations with respect to our health. So important, in fact, that in 1895 – Chiropractic was born.


Although chiropractic and chiropractic techniques have evolved considerably over the last 115 years, all chiropractors hold true as their central tenet:


The human body possesses an Innate Intelligence with infinite wisdom – including the ability to maintain and sustain life – and this Innate Intelligence gives the body a natural state of ease, which can also be termed well-being. Innate Intelligence is communicated throughout the body by the nervous system. If the nervous system becomes irritated, then the communication of Innate Intelligence will be disrupted, causing dis-ease. The most common cause of nervous system interference and irritation is the vertebral subluxation.


Chiropractic is the only health care profession that has, as its central purpose, the identification and removal of vertebral subluxations from the spine in order to restore our natural state of ease and well-being. Anyone who has experienced a chiropractic adjustment can attest to the wide range of benefits that chiropractic provides.


Chiropractic adjustments not only ease your pain and suffering by taking the pressure off joints and nerves – they promote wellness by facilitating the flow of Innate Intelligence!


Disclaimer: Information contained in this Wellness Express™ newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © Wellness Express™

Exercise of the Week: Abdominal Twists on Exercise Ball

Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Start: Assume reverse bridge position with shoulder blades and head resting on exercise ball. Focus on bringing belly button inward, and holding entire body in a straight line – ankles to ears. Arms are positioned straight to the side, palms facing up.

Exercise: Keeping hips elevated, reach one hand to ceiling, creating an upper body twist relative to pelvis. Allow ball to roll slightly underneath you. In ideal finish position, upper body will turn 90o relative to lower body, with only one shoulder touching ball. Pause for 2 counts. Return to starting position, and repeat on opposite side. Repeat 5-10 times per side.

Topic of the Week: Natural Substances Show Promise in Fighting Cancer

New research, much of it released in the last six months, reveals compelling results for natural substances helping in the battle against cancer. While traditional cancer drugs do save lives, many of these medications have serious side effects, which can become so intolerable patients are unable to continue using them. As well, these medications can also destroy healthy cells at the same time they kill cancer cells.

Cheese

It may surprise you to hear that cheese has anti-cancer properties. Although this news was first released in Europe a number of years ago, only recently has the information gained attention in the North American media.

Research from the Netherlands reveals that hard cheeses like Gouda, Emmental and Edam may slash the risk of some cancers. Researchers attribute vitamin K2 found in these types of cheese with an anti-cancer mechanism. While it kills cancer cells, K2 performs another vital function: it stops cancer from creating blood vessels. Without blood vessels to feed it, cancer is prevented from growing and spreading.

Research shows these hard cheeses may help prevent the development of lung, breast and prostate cancer. About 2 slices daily of these cheeses can provide the therapeutic benefits against cancer.

Saffron

This expensive and highly prized spice has been used medicinally in many world cultures for centuries, including as a natural anti-depressant. Saffron is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Now research published in Hepatology shows saffron may have powerful protective properties against liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).

In the Hepatology study, rats were injected with chemicals that induced liver cancer and then were given saffron. The spice slowed cancer cells from spreading and stimulated apoptosis (programmed cell death).

The authors of the research remarked: “This study provides evidence that saffron exerts a significant chemopreventive effect against liver cancer through inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. This report also shows some evidence that saffron protects rat liver from cancer via modulating oxidative damage and suppressing inflammatory response.”

Whole Ginger Extract

Like saffron, ginger has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. It is also one of the most widely used substances in traditional herbal medicine of India and Southeast Asia.

In an article published online in the British Journal of Nutrition, medical researchers looking into the effects of ginger compounds on prostate cancer discovered that whole ginger extract had considerable power to stop cancer cell growth and promote cell death in a variety of prostate cancer cells. The research indicated that consuming 3 ½ ounces of a whole ginger extract daily could deliver this therapeutic effect.

Selenium

This important antioxidant mineral has received a fair amount of study by cancer researchers. For many years, it was believed that selenium played a preventative role against prostate cancer. However, more recent research has disputed selenium’s benefit in this area.

But the journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention released research last year that showed selenium intake was linked to a lower risk of developing bladder cancer. According to the study abstract, the researchers noted “a significant protective effect of selenium, mainly among women, which they believe may result from genderspecific differences in the mineral's accumulation and excretion in women.”

Coffee

We looked at the health benefits of coffee in an earlier edition of Wellness Express™, but new medical research on coffee has just been released in the last few months.

Coffee may reduce the risk of a specific cancer of the breast called anti-estrogen resistant estrogenreceptor (ER) negative breast cancer.

A Swedish study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research revealed postmenopausal women who drank five cups of coffee daily had a lower incidence of ER negative breast cancer compared to women who drank only one cup a day. However, the researchers remarked it is unclear what exact compounds within coffee provide this protective effect. The study showed drinking coffee had no influence on reducing ER positive breast cancer.

There is also good news for male coffee drinkers. The Harvard School of Public Health published a study that indicated men who consumed six or more cups of coffee daily cut their risk of any form of prostate cancer by 20% and they slashed the risk of developing an aggressive type of prostate cancer by a whopping 60%! Now, if you cannot stomach the idea of drinking six cups of coffee a day, you will be happy to hear that even one to three cups of java daily reduces your risk of this aggressive prostate cancer by 30%. The study authors commented the results were identical for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.

Always consult with your chiropractor before using supplements and herbal products.

Disclaimer: Information contained in this Wellness Express™ newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © Wellness Express™

Quote of the Week

“The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.” - C.C. Scott

Exercies of the Week:Abdominal Crunches on Exercise Ball – Reach for Ceiling

Difficulty:

Start: Lie on back over exercise ball so lower portion of ribcage is positioned over center of ball.  Let head rest on ball, and relax hips.  Keep knees wide apart, and position arms stretched out overhead.

Exercise: Engage inner abdominals first by bringing belly button inwards. Then, curl body forward on ball.  As you curl forward, reach hands for ceiling. Return to starting position. Repeat 5-15 times.Easy to Moderate