“Those who sat four or more hours a day were more likely to have developed heart disease, diabetes, or another chronic disease than those who sat less than four hours a day.”   –International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2013

“Sitting is responsible for 170,000 cases of cancer every year.”   -American Journal of Epidemiology

“Sitting is the New Smoking.”   –Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(2):123-132.

Exhibiting good posture pleases the eyes and speaks volumes about a person’s attention to detail. Good posture stands out so dominantly today because of the rarity with which people concern themselves with this important aspect of total body health. Increased amounts of time on phones and computers for males and females of all ages play a huge role in the poor posture epidemic.

Centuries of mothers and grandmothers collectively cringe at the visual landscape of poor posture roaming through society. Family matriarchs often demand better posture due to the poor appearance of slouching and hunching but the true effects of poor posture impact overall health and well-being more than appearances. One study determined that people who sat four or more hours a day were more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic diseases than people who sat less than four hours a day.

Another study concluded that slumped forward shoulder posture specifically associates with an increased rate of death due to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis impacts the arteries characterized by the deposit of plaques on the inner walls of the vessels. These important findings illuminate the value of good posture habits and measures. The threat of a back or neck pain problem represents only a portion of the health risks involved with bad posture. The majority of negative health outcomes associated with poor posture involve internal issues related to organs and systems, such as increased death rates due to atherosclerosis.

Everyone body functions better with optimal posture yet most people experience a deterioration of good posture at varying degrees. The majority of people only focus on posture as it pertains to cosmetics and appearances, unaware of the negatively influence impacting organ function.

Regular Chiropractic adjustments help change the spine and posture as it relates to function, and better education serves to share the postural benefits Chiropractic care offers every member of the family. Every Chiropractic technique helps improve posture by correcting areas of spinal stress called subluxations.

Other keys to improving posture include:

1) Make simple changes to the home or work station which ensures good posture and spinal support when sitting in front of a computer.

2) Watch less TV.

3) Take 2 brief walks per day – studies show that more frequent brief walks provide better benefits than one longer walk. (Set a reminder to take 2-3 brief walks per day).

4) Maintain regular Chiropractic visits to ensure better alignment and nervous system balance.

5) Drink more water throughout the day to lubricate the body’s discs and joints while forcing more movement with regular trips to the bathroom.

The post Sitting Rivals the Dangers of Smoking Medical Doctors and Patients Need Posture and Heart first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Don’t worry, as your natural health and wellness resource, we’ve got you covered. Here are some ways you can protect yourself against skin cancer without subjecting yourself to harmful ingredients.

Avoid chemicals. When you’re loading up on commercial sunscreen, your body takes in chemicals that worry many health experts—and shockingly, some may even increase the risks of cancer. Oxybenzone, found in many sunblocks, is known to disrupt the human hormonal system and has been linked to cancer in some studies. Lab research has shown that retinyl palmitate, a type of vitamin A found in commercial sunscreens, may increase skin cancer risk when exposed to the sun.

Search the EWG’s list. The EWG puts out a Guide to Sunscreens each year, which makes it easy to select the safest products. There is a wealth of information on their site, guaranteed to send you in the right direction. Visit the site: www.ewg.org/sunscreen.

Dress appropriately during long periods of exposure. While a small amount of exposure—15 to 20 minutes—is beneficial, too much can be dangerous. Avoid sun damage when exposed for long periods by covering your head with a hat and your body with regular or sun-protective clothing. The sun’s rays can still penetrate through non-UV treated clothing, but at a much lower rate.

Use zinc oxide. Lifeguards use this on their noses for a reason! Zinc oxide, in its natural form, is a safe and effective sunblock product.  Widely available at pharmacies and health food stores, mix zinc oxide with your favorite organic body lotion for an alternative to commercial sunscreens.

Eat your greens. Green leafy vegetables are great additions to our diets for many reasons, including the fact that they’re chock full of carotenoids. This antioxidant prevents sunburn and stress that can lead to the development of melanomas.

Go red! Lycopene, found in watermelon and tomatoes, is a natural sunburn protector. When tomato paste was mixed with olive oil for absorption, eating this combination reduced sunburn in participants by 41 percent in a German research study.

The post Avoiding Skin Cancer: How to Find Natural Alternatives to Sunscreen first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.