The simple act of deciding to be happier and focus on the positive will improve your health. Just as negative emotions can weaken the body's resistance level, positive emotions can give us strength, or at least allow our bodies to function normally. Therefore, the simple act of deciding to be happier and focus on the positive will improve your health. In fact, the phenomenon of your thoughts affecting your physical health is so strong that all medical studies have to be designed with it in mind. Researchers call this 'the placebo effect.'
Many people believe that the term 'placebo effect' means that the effect is only imagined - that it is not real. But this couldn't be further from the truth. Medical studies have to include a control group - people who receive placebos instead of the medicine being studied - because the simple act of people making the decision to take action to improve their health leads to measurable physical improvement in their condition. To determine the effects of a particular medicine, researchers have to measure the change in the group who underwent therapy and subtract out the amount of change seen in the placebo group. Otherwise, there is no way to know whether a particular treatment was beneficial or whether it was merely the change in attitude in the study subjects that made the difference. In many instances, the placebo effect turns out to be stronger than the treatment itself! The point is that if you want to have a healthy body you also have to have healthy thoughts and emotions. Just as it is important to avoid toxic chemicals, it is also necessary to avoid toxic thoughts to enjoy optimal health.
The weight gain, the bloating, the nausea... Most new mothers will tell you that the aches and pains of pregnancy are a small price to pay for the beautiful bundle of joy they're rewarded with nine months later.
But as many new mothers can attest, the muscle strains of pregnancy are very real and can
At least 70 percent of America's 30 million elementary school students use computers, according to a recent New York Times article. As a result of this increased usage, doctors of chiropractic are treating more young patients suffering from the effects of working at computer stations that are either
Look around
any crowded city street, and you'll see plenty of footwear— from
stiletto heels to platform shoes— that is more than a little unkind
to our feet. It's no wonder that foot pain is such a common complaint.
But it's not just our feet that are hurting. Improper footwear
The growing awareness of safe driving and state safety laws have alerted the general public and parents to the importance of using car seats for their small children whenever and wherever they are driving. Most states require the use of car seats for children under the age of 4 and weighing less than
Did you know that drinking too much soda or other carbonated beverages could interfere with calcium absorption - a problem that could eventually lead to osteoporosis? Or that slouching at a desk all day or tapping away at a computer keyboard can lead to painful strains in your wrists, shoulders, elbows
Category:
Newsletter Library, Back, Body & Joint Pain
As millions of kids get ready to go back to school, many will pull out
old backpacks or purchase new ones. While the books, homework assignments,
lunches, and other school gear those bags carry may be important for success
in school, some experts point to backpack use as the leading
If you need to shed a few extra pounds, you're not alone. Excess weight is possibly the largest health concern in the United States today. According to the Surgeon General, well over half of all adults in the U.S. were overweight in 1999. The good news is that your chiropractor can help you achieve your
Is a lack of sleep thwarting your best weight loss efforts? There is much evidence to suggest that a lack of sleep goes hand-in-hand with weight gain. But first, it is important to address why you aren't sleeping well. Is your stress level or caffeine intake to blame? Or is your sleeplessness due to
Over the hill at age 65? Ready for the rocker at 70? Not these days. Americans are living longer and making more of their later years. One key is exercise. "Perhaps the most debilitating influence in people's health as they age is a sedentary life," said Dr. Jerome McAndrews, national spokesperson
Category:
Newsletter Library, Back, Body & Joint Pain
You never know until you hurt it how much you use your lower back all day long. When your lower back is injured, every movement becomes painful. Simple actions, such as getting out of a chair or bending over the sink, become excruciating, and your daily routine becomes difficult and frustrating.
Back
The health of a child’s spine needs to be taken very seriously.
A healthy spine will decrease their chance of injury, improve their posture,
improve their overall health and help to avoid spinal problems such as
scoliosis. in fact, studies have shown that children who receive regular
Ten to fifteen percent of Americans suffer from chronic insomnia. Do you?
Most of us experience an occasional sleepless night, but prolonged bouts
of insomnia can lead to decreased mental function, frazzled nerves, and
lowered immunity. The good news is that you don’t have to pop
It used to be that osteoporosis was considered a disease that affected
only the elderly. We particularly associated osteoporosis with older women
whose backs were slightly hunched over or those who could no longer stand
up straight. Today, the truth is that an estimated 20 million American
During a graduate nutrition course at the University of Minnesota, a professor
posed a challenge to the class: Construct a 2000 calorie-per-day diet that
at least met the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for vitamins and
minerals without the use of supplements. Most of the graduate
Stress, sleep deprivation and fatigue have been no small component of
Dr. Michael Benson’s life. As a fetal surgeon, Benson is often up
for 24- to 36-hour stretches at a time looking after patients. He has little
time to rest or eat regular, healthy meals. It’s no wonder he has
If you have a headache, you're not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer
from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing,
and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.
What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your
teeth