Body Bliss Wellness Center http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com Mokena's Hometown Chiropractor Tue, 13 Feb 2018 23:37:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4 Vitamin C vs. Zinc for cold & flu season http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/vitamin-c-vs-zinc/ Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:49:42 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=558 As cold and flu season arrives, we want to make your life a bit simpler on some basic things you can do to give your immune system a boost. This includes clearing up any confusion about vitamin C and zinc, and how you should implement them.Let’s start with vitamin C. This important vitamin helps to […]

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As cold and flu season arrives, we want to make your life a bit simpler on some basic things you can do to give your immune system a boost. This includes clearing up any confusion about vitamin C and zinc, and how you should implement them.

Let’s start with vitamin C. This important vitamin helps to repair and regenerate tissues, protects against heart disease, and helps to combat free radicals, hence earning its status as a potent antioxidant.

Zinc is an essential mineral (our bodies can’t produce it) acts helps to facilitate the actions of many important functions, such as enzyme activity, DNA repair, and creating new proteins and cells.

Both zinc and vitamin C have obvious immune system benefits. For most people, vitamin C supplementation has been to reduce the length and duration of a cold, but not prevent them. Increasing Vitamin C levels also have their most potent effect within 24 hours of a cold onset, with no effect after that. This is the current accepted position of NCCAM, a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

However, zinc appears to be better if taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms, significantly reducing the intensity and duration of the cold. Vitamin C does not appear to effectively fight colds once symptoms begin, so boosting vitamin C levels once a cold begins is kind of useless. However, ongoing vitamin C supplementation does help fight colds, but doesn’t effectively prevent them.

In the Midwest, zinc deficiency by clinical standards is not very common, but that is different than zinc insufficiency, which I believe many more of us are. The RDA of 8-11 mg daily for adults is a minimal amount, and most Americans have an intake of 10 mg, but absorb only a percentage of that. Vitamin C RDA is 75-90 mg daily. Again, Vitamin C deficiency is not common in the U.S., but inadequacy is common.

At Body Bliss, we are big believers of lab based nutrition. Let the blood panel and other tests take the guesswork out of supplementation, and get the answers you need. We can order tests for you, or analyze your most recent labs to provide recommendations for you. Of course, chiropractic and massage have also been shown to boost immune function, giving you better protection against colds and infection.

Short of that, here’s what we can summarize if you are looking to get a leg up on the cold & flu season. Supplement with ongoing Vitamin C prior to the winter season. An extra 250-500 mg daily is sufficient. If you do get sick, don’t bother trying to increase your intake. Ongoing zinc supplementation is probably unnecessary unless a blood panel shows an insufficiency. Try taking zinc lozenges at the onset of a cold, and do not exceed 40 mg a day. Finally, get adjusted, eat well, and be well!

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]]> Are You Making These 3 Common Sleep Mistakes? http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/3-common-sleep-mistakes/ Fri, 03 Mar 2017 16:35:20 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=479 If you already have difficulty getting enough sleep, the upcoming time change and the resultant loss of an hour will not help matters. Therefore, this is as good a time as any to address underlying factors that can have a detrimental impact on quality sleep.According to Sleepmed:70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, 60% of […]

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If you already have difficulty getting enough sleep, the upcoming time change and the resultant loss of an hour will not help matters. Therefore, this is as good a time as any to address underlying factors that can have a detrimental impact on quality sleep.

According to Sleepmed:

  • 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, 60% of those chronic
  • Women are twice as likely as men to have sleep difficulties, with complicating factors including pregnancy and menopause.
  • An estimated 30-40% of children do not get enough sleep, requiring 9-10 hours
  • Sleep problems add an estimated $15.9 billion to national health care costs

If you know or suspect that you have sleep apnea, seek medical advice for this serious condition. We may visit this topic in the future, but this remains beyond the scope of this article. What we will be focusing on is three common, but very correctible mistakes that have a high potential to disrupt your quality of sleep as well as daytime energy levels.

Mistake 1: Hitting the Snooze Button

If you think hitting snooze twice to gain an extra 10-15 minutes of shut-eye is beneficial, guess again. Interrupted sleep has been shown to be harmful. The other major problem is that being jolted awake, especially multiple times, is sure to invoke our adrenalin-producing fight or flight response. This surge in energy may sound useful, but will inevitably result in an energy crash. Furthermore, the increase in stress hormones such as cortisol that comes from a flight or fight response has damaging effects on the body, creating internal inflammation, and taxing the adrenal glands.

Credit: Huffington Post

Making the effort to not hit snooze is a good start. A better way to wake up is to use a gradual awake alarm clock. These may use a combination of gradually increasing light and sound to slowly rouse you from a deep slumber. An example of one can be found here.

Mistake 2: Too many stimulants close to bedtime

The effects of caffeine can last up to 8-10 hours, so avoid taking it in the afternoon and beyond. Eating sugar too close to bedtime can also disrupt the chemical balance your brain needs for restful sleep. 

One stimulant you may not be aware of us is the increasing use of our phones and computers, on top of television use at night. These devices output a high degree of blue light, which disrupts our melatonin production more than even natural light. Communities that have switched to energy saving LED street lighting have seen obesity rates rise, along with impaired daytime functioning.

Credit: Women's Health Magazine

The best thing we can do is get away from using electronics close to bed time. Make it a habit to not check your phone in bed. There are also nighttime apps for smartphones that reduce blue light. Ideally, it’s best not to have a t.v. in the bedroom. Resorting to candle lighting when you’re nearing bed time can help your body unwind.

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Mistake 3: Disorganized Night Routine

You have a morning sequence that best allows you to get ready for work, right? So you should for night time. Actually scheduling a consistent sleep time will cause minimal disruptions in your circadian cycle. Taking 10 minutes to write in your journal or planner will allow you to set your mind at ease without having to worry about the next day’s events. Make this a consistent thing, and you will see improvements in your sleep habits over time.

Bonus: One of the biggest benefits that chiropractic and massage have is that they tone down the flight or fight response. By allowing the nervous system to function more normally, we give the body’s systems a chance to heal and repair. One of the nice side effects of chiropractic care that patients have reported to me is that they are able to fall asleep much quicker. If you feel that stress, or ups and downs in energy levels are affecting your sleep or your lifestyle, let’s see how chiropractic can help. A thorough history and exam will determine if your nervous system is not in balance, or if your body is flight or fight dominant.

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]]> December 10th Spa Day http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/december-10th-spa-day/ Tue, 22 Nov 2016 18:11:10 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=472 The post December 10th Spa Day appeared first on Body Bliss Wellness Center. ]]> December-Spa-Day

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]]> Using Lab Based Testing to Naturally Improve Your Health http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/using-lab-based-testing-naturally-improve-health/ Tue, 22 Nov 2016 17:05:11 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=464 Would you consider yourself healthy if you’re simply not sick? How about if you consider yourself active or eat “clean” most of the time. Dorland’s Medical Dictionary defines health as a condition of optimum physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being – not merely the absence of disease or infirmities.” If you have a true desire […]

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]]> Would you consider yourself healthy if you’re simply not sick? How about if you consider yourself active or eat “clean” most of the time. Dorland’s Medical Dictionary defines health as a condition of optimum physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being – not merely the absence of disease or infirmities.”

If you have a true desire to be healthy, going be feel, or trying to do the right thing may not be enough. It may also pose frustrations with results, or anxiety on trying to navigate the correct path with conflicting information from media and professionals.

Consider also that how you feel can be an incredibly misleading indicator as to what’s taking place inside of us. Liver function can drop to as low as 20% before symptoms are noted. Fortunately, there is another way.

Lab based testing is one of the most useful ways to assess health. A full blood panel, for example, can tell you what nutritional deficiencies may be present, what diseases or conditions you may have, or provide insight on organ function.

At Body Bliss, Dr. Berger can work with you to determine and order which test(s) best serve your needs based on a consultation and questionnaire, or review any recent tests you have had. After a thorough review of your tests, he will make the best recommendations for diet and supplementation. Should you choose to have follow-up test after two months, it would become very easy to see what improvements were made between the pre and post-test, and what fine tuning needs to be made.

Take the guesswork out of trying to do the right thing. Alleviate your anxiety about ignoring potentially serious underlying conditions. Finally, take comfort in pursuing the best pathway to naturally improving your health.

If you would like more information as to how a lab test can get you the answers you need, fill out the questionnaire below and call us to schedule a nutritional consult.

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Pre-appointment Nutrition Survey

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]]> Improving Chronic Pain with Diet http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/improving-chronic-pain-with-diet/ Tue, 22 Nov 2016 01:38:11 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=458 At least 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, according the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. This is more than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. This has a staggering effect on workplace productivity, healthcare costs, and life happiness. Chiropractic has had great success with chronic pain owing to its focus on normalizing […]

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]]> At least 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, according the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. This is more than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. This has a staggering effect on workplace productivity, healthcare costs, and life happiness. Chiropractic has had great success with chronic pain owing to its focus on normalizing the role of nervous system response, and maximizing the body’s innate healing abilities.

There can more to pain than the structures involved. Inflammation caused by a bad diet can play a prominent role in chronic pain. Inflammation is simply the body’s immune response to toxins as it seeks to rid itself of it. While there are different types of inflammation with different causes and effects, one common result of that immune response is the triggering of nerves to create pain, and swelling. Chronic pain is the result of failure to eliminate the stressors that brought on the inflammation. This is where diet comes in.

Pain management specialist, William Welches, D.O., advocates the following staples to create an anti-inflammatory effect:

1. Consuming 6-9 servings of vegetables a day.
2. Restricting dairy and grains
3. Restricting red meat

Let’s be clear that diet is just one component in reducing chronic pain, but one that’s within your control. At Body Bliss, we use lab based testing to determine what nutritional deficiencies you may have, as well as getting the complete picture of what’s taking place inside of you. If you would like more information as to how a lab test can get you the answers you need, fill out the questionnaire below and call us to schedule a nutritional consult.

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Pre-appointment Nutrition Survey

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]]> Microdermabrasion Explained http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/microdermabrasion-explained/ Sun, 09 Oct 2016 06:12:11 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=435 We are proud to bring back this widely requested service to our patients. An important component of wellness is the way you feel, and how you feel about skincare is no exception. We use a newer technology in diamond microdermabrasion, in which a diamond tip is used to exfoliate the outer layer of skin, which […]

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]]> We are proud to bring back this widely requested service to our patients. An important component of wellness is the way you feel, and how you feel about skincare is no exception.

We use a newer technology in diamond microdermabrasion, in which a diamond tip is used to exfoliate the outer layer of skin, which is simultaneously vacuumed off from the machine. The procedure, generally done for the face, is very quick. Appointments in our office will run 45 minutes, which include several other components. Some of the benefits of microdermabrasion can be noticed very shortly afterwards, while more complex issues can take a bit of time. Some of the issues that microderm has shown improvement in include:

  • Oily or dull skin
  • Clogged or enlarged pores
  • Fine wrinkles
  • Mild acne scars
  • Sun damage
  • Pigmentation, and more!

Consultations are free with our Microdermabrasion Skin Care Technologist, Rose Fialko. There are some precautions that need to be taken prior to your appointment such as removing all makeup. Some redness may appear following your treatment, but tends to dissipate quickly. Call our office or set up a consultation for a more comprehensive list of pre and post care, as well as any other questions you may have.

Treat yourself to a younger, healthier-looking face! We look forward to seeing you!

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]]> October is National Chiropractic Health Month http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/october-national-chiropractic-health-month/ Sun, 09 Oct 2016 05:20:25 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=430 As we celebrate chiropractic awareness this month, one area we’d like to highlight is chiropractic’s excellent record in its drug-free approach to pain relief. We are seeing an epidemic of prescription opioid overuse and abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as one in four patients who receive prescription opioids […]

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As we celebrate chiropractic awareness this month, one area we’d like to highlight is chiropractic’s excellent record in its drug-free approach to pain relief. We are seeing an epidemic of prescription opioid overuse and abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as one in four patients who receive prescription opioids long term for non-cancer pain in primary care settings struggles with addiction. This correlates in deaths involving opioids, with the number dying from overdose quadrupling since 1999.

The effectiveness of chiropractic for pain relief has been validated through mainstream medical research. The Journal of the American Medical Association, in a 2013 patient page on low-back pain, has suggested patients consider chiropractic before surgery. Chiropractic continues to be recognized as the first choice in pain management.

In our office, we recognize that there are acute cases where prescription pain-killers may be recommended. However, even then, this should be done in conjunction with chiropractic care to quickly reduce or eliminate the need for them. We have seen the devastating effects that long-term use of opioids can have. The sooner that we can break the pain cycle, and give the body the best chance to heal itself, the better the outcome.

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]]> Massage for Diabetes http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/massage-for-diabetes/ Sun, 09 Oct 2016 05:15:48 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=422 Most people are aware of the “feels good” benefits of massage therapy, but there are many clinical applications of massage therapy as well. Diabetes is one such condition that we see often, especially because so many Americans are affected by it. Some statistics are as follows, per healthline: 1 million people in the United States […]

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]]> Most people are aware of the “feels good” benefits of massage therapy, but there are many clinical applications of massage therapy as well. Diabetes is one such condition that we see often, especially because so many Americans are affected by it. Some statistics are as follows, per healthline:

  • 1 million people in the United States have diabetes, 8.1 million of whom may be undiagnosed and unaware of their condition.
  • In adults 20 and older, more than one in every 10 people suffers from diabetes, and in seniors (65 and older), that figure rises to more than one in four.
  • 7 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in U.S. adults in 2012, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is on the rise.
  • Cases of diagnosed diabetes cost the United States an estimated $245 billion in 2012

In diabetes, the blood sugar (glucose) levels are very high due to the imbalance in the secretion or utilization of the hormone insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas to help glucose enter the cells. This has the dual effect of providing usable energy as well as balancing blood sugar.

The devastating effects this can have include: higher risk of heart attack, strokes, vision problems, nerve and limb pain, as well as elevated cholesterol and blood pressure.

Some of the positive effects of massage include:

  • Improving blood circulation – insulin is better able to be utilized
  • Improves lymph flow and removes toxins
  • Tones down overactive nervous system – reduces stress hormones present
  • Improves flexibility and mobility of the joints and tissues (joints are stiffer in diabetics)

It is easy to see why we get such great results. If you or someone you know has diabetes, do not overlook this valuable service. If you or someone you know is unsure whether or not you have diabetes, we can order tests for that and provide proper management strategies as well. Yes, living with diabetes can make life a bit more challenging. Let us help make it easier for you.

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]]> Have arthritis? Beat the changing weather with these tips http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/arthritis-tips/ Tue, 26 Jan 2016 01:02:04 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=388 Believe it or not, there’s no definitive proof that changes in weather can cause arthritis flare-ups. The most comprehensive hypothesis so far is that a drop in airpressure (such as when a storm passes through) allows the tissues in the joints to expand because there is less pressure being placed on them. This expansion can result in the inflammation that one might experience as arthritis. […]

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Believe it or not, there’s no definitive proof
 that changes in weather can cause
arthritis flare-ups. The most comprehensive
hypothesis so far is that a drop in
airpressure (such as when a storm passes
through) allows the tissues in the
joints to expand because there is less
pressure being placed on them. This 
expansion can result in the inflammation
that one might experience as arthritis.

That’s great to know, you might say, but what we can do about it? For the purpose of this article, we’ll limit our focus to the two most common types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

1.Osteoarthritis:  
This is the “wear and tear” arthritis, most commonly caused by aging as well as repetitive overuse. This results in a wearing down of the joint and protective cartilage, along with subsequent bone build up. Characteristics may include:
     1. Morning stiffness in joints lasting less than an hour
     2. Deep aching pain
     3. Pain with movement, such walking and going up/down stairs
     4. Tends to occur later in life

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of
the joints, which can result in painful swelling. Diagnosing RA can be difficult, usually made through tests performed by a rheumatologist. Characteristics 
include:
     1. Morning stiffness in joints lasting more than an hour
     2. Painful joints with swelling, often symmetrical
     3. Frequent fatigue and a general feeling of being ill
     4. May begin at any time in life, with a rapid onset of weeks to months

How Chiropractic can help
 Chiropractic is primarily focused on maximizing the function of the nervous system and its counterpart, the musculo-skeletal system. A multi-disciplined approach for both types of arthritis may offer the best opportunity to restore proper alignment in the joints, reduce inflammation, and restore range of motion.

In our office this may include the use of:
     1. Chiropractic Adjustment: Gentle manipulation of the spine and joints                      in order to store proper alignment and increase motion
     2. Massage Therapy: Decrease pain and inflammation, as well as improve                circulation
     3. Therapeutic Exercise and Stretches: Physical activity designed to                      promote strength and endurance
     4. Ultrasound Therapy:When applied to soft tissue and joints, ultrasound                can help reduce swelling and decrease pain and stiffness.
Chiropractic care offers a tremendous opportunity for relief through conservative means. Additional medical intervention, especially for rheumatoid arthritis, may be needed.

Arthritis articl

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]]> End of October Events! http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/end-of-october-events/ Tue, 27 Oct 2015 02:22:11 +0000 http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/?p=385    Don’t Miss These Great Events!   We have a couple of exciting events coming up on short notice. There is still time to sign up to attend these. Both events are free, and neither require you to be a patient with us.   1. Fertility Wellness Workshop —October 28th, 6:30 – 8:30 P.M. Dr. […]

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 Don’t Miss These Great Events!

 

We have a couple of exciting events coming up on short notice. There is still time to sign up to attend these. Both events are free, and neither require you to be a patient with us.

 

1. Fertility Wellness Workshop

—October 28th, 6:30 – 8:30 P.M.

Dr. Ron and Ann will be hosting a workshop jam-packed with information

 

and holistic methods for families looking to address fertility concerns. See here for more details as well as the sign-up form, or call us 708-478-4400  http://bodyblisswellnesscenter.com/fertility-wellness-workshop-2/

 

2. Costume Contest

We are hosting a costume contest this Saturday, from 9-1, so stop by the office before you go trick-or-treating to pick up a goodie bag and a chance to win a $50 gift card towards Toy-R-Us!

 

 

 

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