Wellness Newsletter – February 2012

HOW TO AVOID HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP
Are you with me? Let us rid our diets and our bodies of the dangers that result from ingestion of high fructose corn syrup. I know the month of February means Valentine’s Day with candies and sweets a plentiful, but you must know the truth behind this popular sweetener. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is commonly used in place of sugar in processed foods in the USA. In fact, the average American eats an astounding 41.5 lbs of high fructose corn syrup per year. American subsidies and tariffs have resulted in corn being a much more economical sweetener than sugar--a trend that is not seen in other parts of the world. Now that high fructose corn syrup is being added to an increasing variety of foods (breads, cereals, soft drinks, and condiments); some people are looking for ways to avoid it. There are many reasons to avoid HFCS. Beverages containing high fructose corn syrup have high levels of reactive carbonyls which are linked with cell and tissue damage that may lead to the development of diabetes. The corn in which the HFCS was derived may have been genetically modified and simply goes one step further in the processing compared to table sugar. Some research studies have linked consumption of large amounts of any type of added sugar, not just high-fructose corn syrup, to such health problems as weight gain, dental cavities, poor nutrition, and increased triglyceride levels, which can boost your heart attack risk. Here are some tips to cut back on your intake of HFCS: avoid all types of soda or sugary beverages, stay away from the sugary and frosted cereals, eat fewer processed or packaged foods like cookies and cakes and microwavable meals or simply start to read labels to discover that HFCS is in most of the foods you love and crave.

A MODERN DIET IN A MODERN SOCIETY
Enough has to be said to show the vicious circle in which people on an average modern diet are caught. People who live on toxin-rich and nutrient-poor food (fast food) begin to suffer from headaches, arthritis, insomnia, depression, frequent colds, infections, digestive problems and more. They use more over-the-counter drugs; their doctors prescribe more painkillers, sleeping pills, antidepressants and other symptom-relieving drugs that never deal with the underlying problems. All drugs are toxic that weaken the body’s defenses and causes eventual break down.
“A PILL FOR EVERY ILL.”

WORDS TO LIVE BY
LONGEVITY AND VITALITY

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
“One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine.”
-Sir William Osler (1849-1919)
said to be one of the greatest icons of modern medicine

Health and Wellness Newsletter December 2011

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THWC

Tis' the season for giving and spending precious time with loved ones during this magical time of year. Unfortunately, tis' also the season for back, neck and extremity problems.  The risk and possibility of injury does not take a holiday break because Santa is coming to town.  As a matter of fact, your body is more susceptible to injury during the holiday season from the increased mental and physical stressors.  We often get so caught up in simply trying to keep up that we let our guard down - and that's when injuries strike.  Getting into the holiday spirit can sometimes be difficult.  However, once you get there it seems that everything feels better.  Make sure that you get into a healthy spirit this season.  Give the gift of health to yourself and others.  Have a happy, healthy and injury-free holiday. 

ADVANCED EDUCATION LEADS TO IMPROVED OUTCOMES

The McKenzie Method^® — Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy^® a philosophy of active patient involvement and education that is trusted and used by practitioners and patients all over the world for back, neck and extremity problems.

Dr. Derek Hartmann has recently completed the advanced lumbar spine and lower extremities course through The McKenzie Institute.  Learn how to reduce, maintain, restore, and prevent.  Both old and new conditions can be addressed and treated successfully sometimes in only 4-6 visits. 

  TIS’ THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY STRESS

Quick Tips for Stress Reduction

--Have a positive attitude

--Try not to worry about things out of your control

--Problem solve with people around you. Ask them to help you alleviate stress

--A few extra minutes of exercise daily can benefit your overall health

--Eat Nutritional food.  Decrease the amount of fat and sugar you eat

--Meditate or take a class in relaxation and stretching techniques…like Tai Chi or Yoga

--Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages

--Rest.  Try to get eight hours of sleep each day

--Get a massage.  A massage can be beneficial for the mind and body  

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH

“Happiness is not so much in having as sharing.  We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

                                                                                                                                    -Alice Jean

Health and Wellness Newsletter November 2011

BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAYS
On the day after Thanksgiving, also known as “Black Friday”, THWC will be having a day of giving of its own.  Every patient that is seen on Friday, November 25th will receive a special gift and will be entered into a drawing to receive a FREE iPod shuffle.  Call and schedule your appointment today.
 
ACUPUNCTURE AND DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
We turn the clocks back and boast how we get that extra hour of sleep.  Well after that initial “honeymoon” is over, what do you do to cope with it getting dark earlier and earlier and becoming lighter later in the mornings?  Do you struggle with seasonal depressive episodes or have low energy levels during these periods of darkness and cold?  Try ACUPUNCTURE!  Dr. Derek Hartmann is the sole provider of acupuncture at THWC and can help during these times.
 
FALL WELLNESS TIPS
Fall is a great time to begin thinking about making better choices during the busy and calorie filled holiday season.  Make a conscious effort now to get a jump start on your New Year’s Resolutions.  Take advantage of the weather and everything the fall season has to offer.  Think outside the box when it comes to your exercise mode and try something active and different that you have never done before.  This will take the boredom and repetitive nature out of typical exercise regimens.  Try to integrate exercise in all aspects of your life, from parking your car further away at the grocery store to taking the kids to the park after school instead of watching TV.  Rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit through yoga, meditation or massage so you can strengthen your body physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  Remember the 30/21 day rule that it takes 30 days for your body to adapt to all lifestyle changes and it takes 21 days to create a habit.  Strive to create the 3 C’s.  It takes commitment, consistency and convenience to stick to your new lifestyle habits.  When exercising outside, remember to dress in layers and be aware that there is much less daylight during the morning and evening hours.  The most important thing is to find your motivation, whatever that may be from listening to music to exercising with friends to keep you going.  Be ready to begin your transformation during this fall season.  Get a head start on your New Year’s Resolutions and make more health conscious decisions during this holiday season.  If you want to, but just don’t know how, please allow The Hart Wellness Center help you arrive at your own health and wellness destination.     
 
THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
“If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people”
                                                                                       --Chinese Proverb

THWC October 2011 wellness newsletter

BABY BACK SYNDROME

Yes I know that summer has come and gone and you are not throwing those ribs on the grill under the 90 degree sun anymore.  With the birth of our child came a whole new appreciation for this self-appointed syndrome by Dr. Hartmann.  There are specific mechanics of holding and feeding and caring for a child that cause real and unpleasant musculo-skeletal pain patterns.  There are only a few different ways that tissues can go bad and cause pain.  These ways include…prolonged bad postures and positions, repetitive bad postures and movements and obviously trauma.  The first two would be the most significant in baby back syndrome.  Prolonged positions of rounding your shoulders, protruding your head and neck and looking down for long periods of time while the child is in your arms will all cause tissues to deform and cause pain.  These prolonged bad postures, positions and movements cause posterior disc migration in the neck, decreased circulation and oxygen to postural muscles and pain soon comes thereafter.  This will cause burning type pain in the back of the head, neck, upper shoulders and upper back.  By simply returning your posture to correct anatomical alignment will push the reset button on the pain pattern and decrease the pain almost immediately.  However, if these positions, postures and movements are not interrupted by postural correction techniques, it can actually lead to tissue injury including disc problems.  The first line of defense is always patient education in these postural correction techniques.  The muscular tissues are then addressed with massage therapy and manual therapy techniques and the joint restriction issues are addressed with specific chiropractic care techniques.  If you or someone you know has just had a baby and is complaining about this type of pain pattern, please have them call our office for a consultation.  We can very easily and effectively treat baby back syndrome. 

PATCH.COM

Take a look at the Homewood-Flossmoor edition of THE PATCH to view the updated The Hart Wellness Center listing.  Look to see more from THWC and even a featured article about Dr. Derek Hartmann on http://homewood-flossmoor.patch.com very soon.   

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH

“Just before the death of flowers and before they are buried in snow, there comes a festival season when nature is all aglow.”

--author unknown

LETTERS FROM LINZIE

We welcomed the birth of our beautiful baby daughter, Mia, on September 7, 2011.  Mom and baby are very well and healthy!

Wellness Newsletter - September 2011

Wellness Newsletter – September 2011

ACUPUNCTURE:  WHAT IS IT REALLY GOOD FOR?
EVERYTHING...Chronic disease or chronic pain presentations are commonly caused by fluctuations in our central and autonomic nervous systems.  The autonomic nervous system is made up of two parts, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic.  This is your “fight or flight” or “rest and digest” nervous systems.  When there is an imbalance in these automatic and beyond our conscious control nervous systems, disease occurs.  It is like a breeding ground for chronic disease and some chronic pain presentations.  Acupuncture is effective by creating balance in these two nervous systems and when you put your body back into balance you have a tremendous ability to create healing from within.  Acupuncture simply blocks the pain signal from reaching the brain.  The needles interrupt the large transmission of nerve fibers and you no longer feel pain.  It also creates healing by decreasing inflammation, increasing circulation and increasing the energy in the system attracted to certain points throughout the body to create balance.  Many people ask what acupuncture is good for or what it can help.  My answer is simple…EVERYTHING!  If you or someone you know have tried just about everything without success at treating your current condition, give us a call and give acupuncture a try.
 
ZEN SHIATSU
R. Yanna Loam is a licensed massage therapist currently enrolled as a student at Zen Shiatsu Chicago located in Evanston and scheduled to graduate in October of 2012.  Zen Shiatsu is a form of body work that combines massage therapy that is deeply rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine principles and is treats system and energy imbalances similar to acupuncture.  Yanna will be available on Friday mornings between 8am and 12pm for FREE 50-minute Zen Shiatsu sessions to aid her in her studies. 
 
FIGHT YOUR ALLERGIES WITH Antronex®
This fall allergy season is upon us and is having a stronger presence than ever.  THWC has available a nutritional supplement that is derived from a bovine liver fat extract found to aid the liver’s ability to clean the blood and aid the body in its natural anti-histamine response.  This is an all-natural and affordable way to ease your allergy symptoms without any of the adverse side effects. 

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
Speak tenderly to them.  Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of our greeting.  Always have a cheerful smile.  Don't only give your care, but give your heart as well.
-Mother Teresa

LETTERS FROM LINZIE
We wait patiently for the birth of our baby girl due September 18th!!!