Washington Park Chiropractic

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For years, I have struggled with theapplication of health care in the United States. I think of it more as a sick care system, only going to see my doctor when Im really ill (or more recently when I broke my shoulder). I usually spend more time in the waiting room reading magazines than I do with my physician and when I am talking with my doctor, I often feel like hes only half-listening because he knows he has a full day of sick patients ahead of him. I try to limit the amount of pillsI consumeand I avoid surgery whenever possible, but I understand and truly appreciate the benefits of Western medicine. I recently read an article about Integrative Medicine that really struck a chord with me. I liked the concept of using Western medicine when necessary, but combining it with Eastern medicine and complimentary therapies when applicable.
What is Integrative Medicine (IM)?
Integrative medicine combines conventional Western medicine with nontraditional practices including chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, herbal treatments, mind-body approaches, nutrition, and stress management to keep patients in good health. An integrative doctor whether a primary-care physician, an ob-gyn, or an oncologist enlists Western approaches when appropriate and then complements them with other treatments. Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: Amanda Miller, Eastern Medicine, Health, Integrative Medicine, Massage, Sick Care, therapy, washington park chiropractic, wellness, Western Medicine

There are valid reasons for putting your kids to bed at a reasonable hour, not the least of which is that it guarantees them adequate sleep.

It also conditions them to stick to a schedule and gives you a little much-needed time for yourself after tending to their needs all day.
Here’s another important reason to get the kids off to bed: Too little sleep can lead to a bad habit: overeating. According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reduced sleep time (less than six hours compared with more than eight) is associated with an increase in energy consumption – often in the form of snacks – without any increase in energy expenditure. In other words, if kids sleep less, they tend to eat more, but don’t expend energy during the extra time they’re awake.
Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: caloric intake, Children, Chronic overeating, fatigue, Food, Health, Sleep, snacks, washington park chiropractic, weight gain, wellness

Dr. Goodman had her baby! Last night at 11:30pm (only one week past his due date!)the Goodman’s welcomed Nathan Kingsbury Goodman into the world. He was 7 pounds & 10 ounces with a full head of hair! Talk about good genes! Congratulations Dr. G!!!

By: Ashley Bennett, LMT
Tis the season for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also known as the winter blues. If you start suffering from depression around the winter season there could be a very valid reason. The sun is out less during winter which means we are absorbing less Vitamin D from the sun, which helps keep us our happy upbeat selves.
Here are 5 ways to help prevent (SAD)ness this year!

You can get a sun lamp to make up for the lack of the real deal outside.
Cut back on caffeine. I know it sounds counterproductive since we are lacking energy but supplementing your energy with chemicals does not help.
Become more active. Take a walk everyday to get your blood pumping and your natural mood regulators in high gear!
Go outside and get some fresh air. Oxygen helps the body function at a higher level, so take a deep breath of fresh air for your health.
Learn to manage your stress in a healthy and productive way. Most people start to stress about the weather, bills, shopping for presents, being around family, you name it the season will bring it!

Listening to music is a great way to help unwind. Music Soothes the Soul
Yogahas worked wonders for one of our employees to reduce stress

Whatever the stressor is, try to manage it by taking deep breaths, meditating, journaling, exercising, or even MASSAGE. Every person is different but it is essential to take care of yourself during times of high stress so life doesn’t become too overwhelming. Remember to enjoy the winter as a time to slow down and look inward!!

By: Amanda Miller, LMT
Growing up, weve all been told how important it is to eat our vegetables. If we take a closer look at the food were eating, we see that nature has left us some clues as to what foods help which part of the body.
A sliced carrot looks like the human eye – the pupil, iris and radiating lines look very similar to the cross-section of a carrot. Science shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to, and improve function of the eyes.
A tomato has chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. Research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and research shows grapes are also heart and blood vitalizing food.

Tags: Amanda Miller, blood flow, Body, Carrots, Health, Vegetables, washington park chiropractic, wellness

I was recently talkingwith a coach and he said that he often suggested chocolate milk for muscle recovery. Now that it is coming up on the New Year, many will start to hit the gym.I figured this would be a good subject to talk about.
What do you do after your workout to recover? Along with stretching, massage and re hydration, there has been research on the quality of chocolate milk in the recovery process. I thought I would share an article with you about the nutritional value of chocolate milk and our muscles. Enjoy!!

Fat-free chocolate milk beat out carbohydrate sports drinks at helping to rebuild and refuel muscles after exercise, researchers report.
The combination of carbohydrates and protein in low-fat chocolate milk appears to be “just right” for refueling weary muscles, says William Lunn, PhD, an exercise scientist at the University of Connecticut.

Tags: Ashley Bennett, athletes, Chocolate Milk, diet, endurance, healthy, muscle protein, performance, sports medicine, washington park chiropractic, wellness

By: Dr. Jake Simpson, DC
We live in a society in which we are surrounded by technology and innovation. In many cases this great for increased production, convenience, saving time, saving lives, and being more connected to family and friends, etc. However, in many cases technology and advancements may affect our healthnegatively.
We all know or have heard about the major carcinogenic chemicals or bad habits that lead to chronic diseases from cardiovascular disease to cancer. There is an ever-growing collection of data supporting the connection with some of the major players include smoking/tobacco use, poor diet, excess alcohol usage, etc and their relationship to disease. But what about some of the less known toxins that we dont hear about day in and day out that have been linked to cancer and disease?
I want to educate you about 5 toxins that we are surrounded by daily. We find these toxins in household cleaners, containers, electrical equipment, beauty/hygiene products, and clothes/fabrics to name a few. Is it impossible to stay away from these toxins completely? No, not really unless our government protection agencies outlaw them completely and/or we move to a completely natural environment. However, we can be more chemically conscious and help to do our part in reducing the usage of these goods and help us live a less toxic lifestyle.
5 Toxins to Try and Avoid:
BPA- Bisphenol A
What it does: BPA is the building block of many lightweight plastic containers.

Tags: Advancements, BDE, BPA, disease, dr. jake simpson, Formaldehyde, PFOA, soft plastics, technology, toxins, Washington Park Chiropactic

….and the Aware Parent
Obesity rates for adults and children remain a growing concern. With the rate of obese adults reported to have doubled in the past 30 years and the rate of obese children tripling in the same amount of time, there are several factors that may have led to these statistics.
While we know that sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary choices are a definite area of concern, research is showing that the actual manufacturing and production of some food items that are considered staples in many diets could be a primary factor.
The History of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)?
Until the year 1957, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) didnt exist. It wasnt until a couple of researchers named Marshall and Kooi developed an enzyme called glucose isomerase that could work on corn syrup to rearrange the molecular composition of glucose and convert it to fructose.
Glucose isomerase causes the isomerization, or rearrangement, of glucose. When natural glucose in corn syrup is converted to fructose, the syrup becomes sweeter. High fructose simply means that the percentage of fructose is higher.
The significance of being able to genetically alter corn syrup from a mildly sweet syrup to a profoundly sweet syrup was not lost on the corn growers and it couldnt have come at a better time. In 1977, new tariffs and sugar quotas made importing sugar more costly. With the increase of sugar costs, production costs on new dietary staples rose significantly. The producers of these items needed a more cost effective alternative sweetener.
It was in 1984, when soft drink makers like Coca-Cola and Pepsi began using high-fructose corn syrup, that it really jumped in general acceptance. Production grew from about 3 million tons in 1980 to about 8 million tons in 1995. Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: Chemicals, Children, diet, Family, glucose, Health, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Mercury, obesity, sugar, sweetener, washington park chiropractic, wellness