Conger Chiropractic

Keep your kids pet-allergy-free by getting a dog or cat. Raising little ones in a pet-friendly home may help ward off allergies.

tconger — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:18:40 +0000

Getting a new pet is probably the last thing on your mind when you have a baby on the way, but it could be your child’s best defense against allergies. It may sound counterintuitive, but having a family pet may be the best way to keep your little ones from developing allergies to dogs or cats later in life. Research suggests that children who are exposed to animals during their first year of life are less likely to encounter allergies later. What’s more, in what can only be described as a win-win situation, pregnant women with pooches are 50 percent more likely to get the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise — thanks to Fido’s inexhaustible energy and bladder.

-The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/04/24/Daily-Wellness-Tip-4-24-12.aspx

Funguses love warm, wet places. Protect your feet from infection by changing out of damp socks and keeping your feet dry and clean.

tconger — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:04:52 +0000

Public bathrooms and showers are the perfect breeding grounds for fungus — but they’re not the only place you can pick up an infection. Any place that’s warm and wet is an inviting hotspot for fungal infections. Wearing heavy shoes that don’t breathe, such as work boots, hiking boots or snow boots, can make your feet sweaty and warm. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends wearing 100 percent cotton socks and changing them whenever they’re damp to avoid foot and nail infections. Make sure your shoes have plenty of wiggle room, so your toes have space to breathe. Take off your shoes and socks when you’re at home to let your feet air out. Also, never walk barefoot on wet public floors, such as bathrooms, locker rooms or showers. Wear sandals or flip-flops instead. And always dry your feet thoroughly after showering.

-The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/04/20/Daily-Wellness-Tip-4-20-12.aspx

The way you refuse a tempting treat can help build willpower. Instead of saying “I can’t,” say “I don’t” or “None for me, thanks.”

tconger — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:02:07 +0000

If you have a hard time saying no when offered a slice of chocolate cake, resist temptation with the simple phrase “I don’t.” Most people turn treats down by saying, “I can’t.” According to research in the Journal of Consumer Research, these innocuous two words signify deprivation and helplessness, and can weaken our willpower. Using the term “I don’t,” on the other hand, makes us feel more in control and affirms that it’s our choice to be healthy. People who were taught to respond by saying “I don’t,” had greater success in turning down temptations, and felt more positive about their decisions.

-The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/04/13/Daily-Wellness-Tip-4-13-12.aspx

Sweet on soft drinks? Sugary beverages up your risk of heart disease. Wean yourself off the habit with a sugar-free flavored seltzer.

tconger — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:03:50 +0000

Feel like there’s no harm in a daily soda if the rest of your diet is sound? You might want to rethink that philosophy. A 22-year study of nearly 43,000 men found that drinking 12 ounces of a sugar-sweetened beverage a day increased the subjects’ risk of heart disease by 20 percent. The study, published in the journal Circulation, also found soda swillers to have increased levels of inflammation and harmful fats in the bloodstream. The American Heart Association currently recommends consuming no more than 450 calories’ worth of sugar-sweetened beverages a week — that’s fewer than three cans. Before you reach for a can of diet soda, know that some research has found a link between sugar-free soft drinks and heart disease as well. Do your heart a favor and develop a taste for water instead.

-The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/04/12/Daily-Wellness-Tip-4-12-12.aspx

Fiber does more than keep you regular. It may also banish belly fat. Boost your soluble fiber intake with fruit, veggies and beans.

tconger — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:58:12 +0000

Want to flatten that spare tire around your waist? It’s easy! Just eat more soluble fiber and engage in regular physical activity. According to a study in the journal Obesity, you can zero in on visceral belly fat by exercising and chowing down on fruits, vegetables and beans that are high in soluble fiber. The study found that for every 10-gram increase in soluble fiber a day, visceral fat was reduced by 3.7 percent over five years. You can reach that amount by eating two small apples, one cup of green peas and half a cup of pinto beans. Meanwhile, working out vigorously for 30 minutes two to four times a week (think jogging or speed walking) slowed down the rate of fat accumulation by 7.4 percent over the same time period.

-The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/04/09/Daily-Wellness-Tip-4-9-12.aspx

Work out the kinks in sore muscles after strenuous exercise with a good rubdown. Massages can help ease post-workout pain and inflammation.

tconger — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:50:09 +0000

If you overdid it at your new group-cycling or boot-camp class, you may want to make your next stop the massage parlor. Getting a rubdown after your workout can help reduce muscle inflammation and pain and keep you from hobbling around the following day. This is especially good news for people who don’t take over-the-counter pain relievers. According to the study, massages help stimulate cellular changes that deactivate inflammatory proteins, resulting in less pain. Regardless of the reason, we’re just happy for an excuse to get pampered — and if that makes us hit the gym first, that’s just icing on the cake.

-The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/04/05/Daily-Wellness-Tip-4-5-12.aspx

To ease pain and boost pleasure, look for the good in people. Trusting that others have good intentions may help you feel better.

tconger — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:36:38 +0000

Kindheartedness can go a long way toward helping people feel better. Research published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science found that good intentions can soothe pain, increase pleasure and even make food taste better. For instance, the study found that a batch of cookies tasted more delicious when people believed they were made with love. Likewise, a nurse’s tender loving care made patients feel less pain. Extend good feelings to others by showering them with compassion. According to the researcher, believing in the benevolence of others can also help us take more pleasure in many everyday gestures.

- The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/03/30/Daily-Wellness-Tips-3-30-12.aspx

How to snack sensibly: Prepare single-serving snacks, like our sweet and satisfying Apple Crisp recipe for one, to avoid overindulging.

tconger — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:17:46 +0000

There’s nothing like a freshly baked batch of cookies right out of the oven to ruin your best intentions. But even the healthiest treats can wreak havoc on your waistline if you go overboard on calories. That’s why we recommend keeping control of your portions by baking for one. Our delicious and nutritious Apple Crisp recipe makes just enough for a single serving, so you won’t go back for seconds. Because it’s loaded with apples, oats and walnuts, you can feel good about your indulgence. The fiber in the apple and oats, and the omega-3s in the walnuts, will decrease your risk of heart disease while helping you feel satisfied.
Ingredients:
1 apple
1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon rolled oats
Cinnamon and nutmeg, to taste
Preparation:
1. Chop one medium apple and microwave until soft.
2. Sprinkle with walnuts, rolled oats, cinnamon and nutmeg.

- The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/03/27/Daily-Wellness-Tip-3-27-12.aspx

Low-fat diets are no better for you than high-fat ones, because quality is more important than quantity. Stick with good fats from plants.

tconger — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:26:12 +0000

Anyone who is trying to get healthy will tell you that they’ve cut fat from their diet. While it sounds like a worthwhile pursuit, dozens of studies have shown that low-fat diets end up being no better for you than moderate- or even high-fat diets. The reason: Low- or no-fat processed foods are often higher in sugar, flour and salt than their full-fat counterparts. Nuts and avocados may be high in fat, but they’re good for your heart and make a healthier and more filling snack than low-fat-but-sugar-laden granola bars. Instead of looking only at the fat content, put a wide-angle lens on your food choices. The least processed foods tend to be better for you, as are items free from sugar and flour. When it comes to fat, focus on the type you’re eating and nix anything that’s high in saturated fat, like full-fat dairy, red meat, baked goods, and deep-fried foods. Choose fish, nuts, seeds, lean cuts of poultry, olive oil, canola oil and other plant-based oils. Avoid any and all trans fat. And, remember, even though you do need fat in your diet, it is the most calorie-dense nutrient out there, weighing in at nine calories per gram (or 120 calories per tablespoon).

- The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/03/20/Daily-Wellness-Tip-3-20-12.aspx

If push-ups from your knees are too challenging, build upper-body strength by doing wall push-ups instead.

tconger — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:21:42 +0000

Who says you have to get down on all fours to do a push-up? If push-ups from your toes — or even your knees — are too tough, you can build upper-body strength by doing the modified wall push-up. Like regular push-ups, this move will strengthen your arms, shoulders and chest — good for lifting suitcases, grandkids or gallons of milk.

Here’s how to do it: Face a wall, standing a little farther than arm’s length away, feet shoulder-width apart. Lean your body forward and put your palms flat against the wall at shoulder height and shoulder-width apart. Slowly breathe in as you bend your elbows and lower your upper body toward the wall in a slow, controlled motion. Keep your feet flat on the floor. Hold the position for one second. Breathe out and slowly push yourself back until your arms are straight. Repeat 10 to 15 times. Rest; then repeat 10 to 15 more times.

-The Cleveland Clinic

http://www.360-5.com/DailyDose/archive/2012/03/13/Daily-Wellness-Tip-3-13-12.aspx