Washington Park Chiropractic

The purpose of food is to provide our body with the fuel it needs to do what we require in a day, however, so much of what we consume is pre-packaged and overly processed, leading to a lack of actual nutrition. One of the key factors in living a wellness lifestyle is making wiser dietary decisions; and eliminating casein from your diet may be something for you to consider.

What is Casein?

Casein is a protein found in milk and dairy products, but is also used as a binding agent in many other foods. Technically it is a phosphoprotein that accounts for nearly 80% of the proteins in cow’s milk and cheese.

Why Eat Casein-Free?

Eating casein-free, when combined with a gluten-free diet, has reportedly had very positive results for those who have an autistic spectrum disorder, such as: autism, Asperger’s syndrome, atypical autism and pervasive developmental disorder.

Additionally, many people that have assumed they are allergic to milk may actually be suffering from a casein allergy. The problem with a lack of awareness as to the true allergy is that casein is found in more than just dairy products. This “binding agent” has technical uses as well as edible and has been used in paints (including fingernail polish), other cosmetics and even glue (or industrial adhesives).

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By: Amanda Miller, LMT

Each year, I try to set some goals for the following months.  This year, I want to focus on being able to quiet my mind in times of stress (which I could have used these past couples of months after two turbulent and terrifying flights).  I am starting to meditate more, and read about relaxation and meditation techniques. My hope is that the next time I am in a stressful situation (on or off an airplane), I’d be able to relax more, and quiet my mind.  I’ll share some of the things I read about bringing awareness to the body, and calming the mind.

Awareness

In all the texts that I’ve read, the first step to calming the mind seems to be awareness of breath and body.  The aim is to become aware of the breath as it enters and leaves the body by concentrating on the rise and fall of the abdomen and the sensation of the breath passing through the lips or nostrils.  When sensations of quietness, stillness and peace eventually occur, hold them as best you can and experience them as fully as possible.  When distracted, always return to the breath.

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By: Amanda Miller, LMT

Growing up, we’ve all been told how important it is to eat our vegetables.  If we take a closer look at the food we’re 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.

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By: Dr. Jake Simpson

You see it on television, you hear it on the radio, you see it magazines, Internet pop-up ads, newspapers, and you even see it on billboards.  You can probably guess what I’m talking about…The absurd claims of quick fixes for weight loss, an overwhelming number of pharmaceutical company advertisements, the latest and greatest exercise program, and a seemingly countless number of vitamins and supplements all claiming to cure the world of disease.  Okay…so that might be a bit of an overstatement, but the fact is it can all be incredibly overwhelming.  As a consumer you are bombarded with far too much information to sift through accurately, and many times the information contradicts itself… and worse, sometimes the information is presented in a fashion that blurs truth, turns out false and/or is not substantiated by well executed clinical trials.  The fore mentioned advertisements are a part of multi-billion dollar industries that utilize creative marketing campaigns to hype for the next quick fix.  So… what can you do to be a well informed consumer? 

First Things First:Consult a Health-care Professional before taking or doing ANYTHING health related!

The first and most important thing in attempt to manage your health is to consult a professional.  More often than not, if you feel like you should be taking or doing something for your health you probably have some sort of sign, symptom, past history of disease or genetic predisposition to disease.  Before you do anything, make sure you contact your healthcare provider with any comments, questions or concerns.  DO NOT tell yourself, “This is an all-natural product, it should be fine” or “Its exercise, how can it be bad for me?”    

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By: Dr. Jake Simpson, DC

It is well known that exercise is very beneficial for your health.  Most of us understand that exercising is beneficial for losing weight by burning excess calories stored as fat.  We understand that exercise is good for our cardiovascular health by lowering our blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  Some of us may even know that exercise is beneficial for diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar.  The fact is, exercising is beneficial for nearly every body system and every bodily function when done appropriately.  For our purposes of this blog I just want to highlight a few token benefits of exercise on brain health. 

Train Your Brain

What if someone told you that you could think more clearly, boost your memory, perform better, elevate your alertness, or feel more calm, happier and euphoric?  Would you be interested?  Of course you would, and simple exercise can do this, and even better… it is free of cost and free of dangerous or life threatening side effects. 

When we exercise, we are stimulating our nervous systems in ways being sedentary could never do.  Read the rest of this entry →

By: Dr. Jake Simpson

We have all heard the phrase “you are what you eat”, although valid in many situations, a more appropriate phrase maybe “you are what you drink”.  As planet Earth is made up of 70% water, our bodies too are made up of about 60-75% water.  Our muscles that allow us to be mobile consist of 75% water, our lungs that provide our bodies with oxygen are 90% water, our blood which transports nutrients to our cells is 82% water, our brain that controls everything in our bodies is 76% water, and even our bones are 25% water.  Water is the basis for all life and function in our bodies, and next to oxygen in the most important substance for survival.

Dehydration is an often overlooked yet potentially deadly condition.  Dehydration is caused when the amount of water leaving the body is greater than the water being taken in, this is especially prevalent in drier climates (including ours in Colorado).  We lose water in several ways including:  When you breathe humidified air leaves the body; we sweat to cool the body on a hot day; and we bowel movements and urinate to rid the body of waste products among other ways.  If we do not replenish the water that we routinely lose, the body will compensate by drawing water from within our cells.  Although this helps, it’s a very short-term solution that can end in devastating consequences.

Symptoms and Signs of Dehydration:

-       Thirst and dry mouth (if you are thirsty you are already dehydrated)

-       Muscle cramps and weakness

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By: Amanda Miller

I started working in the wellness industry when I was still a teenager.  I began working as a receptionist in a massage therapy center in Pennsylvania, and that experience sparked my interest in health, healing and the body.  As I got older, I remained passionate about holistic health, and now I’ve been in the industry for well over a decade.  But the one question I keep coming back to year after year is, “Why is it so easy for me to give out great advice or information to my clients, but so hard for me to follow myself?”.  I do massage almost every day, and I spend all day telling my clients how important it is to take time for themselves and treat their bodies well, but have a hard time taking my own advice – it makes me wonder, why is it so easy to take care of everyone and everything else, but so hard to make oneself a priority?

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