Prana Chiropractic's Wellness Corner

Arthritis is a disease that affects the body’s joints, causing severe pain and stiffness in sufferers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 50 million Americans that suffer from one of the dozens of types of arthritis, meaning that it is one of the most prevalent forms of disease in American society. Given the fact that arthritis causes severe pain and stiffness in the joints, exercise is often one of the last things that sufferers consider as a mode of treatment and pain management, yet physical activity is one of the most beneficial means of reducing these symptoms. Exercise helps sufferers in several important ways including increasing flexibility of the muscles, increasing the range of motion in joints, and increasing the strength of the muscles that support the joints. One of the biggest issues associated with arthritis is decreased mobility due to the stiffness and pain it causes. Inactivity will actually exacerbate thes...

Yeah, yeah I know, interesting topic right?   Sweat seems to be more of an inconvenience that anything else, but to be completely honest, your life literally depends on your ability to sweat.   Sweat   is one of the body’s primary ways of regulating body temperature, and trust me, be glad that you sweat at certain times. I want to give you a little anatomical background here, because after all, education is the key to growth! Okay, off of my soap box and back to the topic of good ol’ sweat.   There are actually two different types of glands in the body that produce sweat.   Each of these glands produce sweat at different times, under different circumstances, and for all together different reasons.   First are the eccrine glands which are found most commonly on the bottom of your feet, the palms of your hands, and your forehead.   When you get stressed out, these guys begin to secrete sweat.   Stress causes our body temperature to rise, ...

One of my all-time favorite foods is watermelon!  It’s kind of funny given the amount of foods that I have written about on my blog, that I have waited until now to discuss the health benefits of this yummy, juicy treat that's full of nutrients.    Watermelon is approximately 96% water, so during the summer it is a great way to increase fluid intake and to rehydrate after exercise.    It is also high in Lycopene, which is a phytonutrient that is great for heart and bone health.   Watermelon is high in both flavonoids and carotenoids (powerful antioxidants) that are responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties.    The lycopene is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, and all the antioxidants help to reduce and repair the damage of free radicals.   Watermelon is high in beta-carotene and is a decent source of Vitamin C.    1 cup of watermelon provides 20% of the RDA of vitamin C. Watermelon is high in the amino acid c...

The nervous system is a vitally important part of our bodies that is responsible for ALL bodily functions.  This being the case, it is important that we take the health of our nervous systems as seriously as we do other parts such as the muscles and cardiovascular system. This post will focus on a brief explanation of the 2 primary parts of the nervous system, as well as ways we can work to increase nervous system health. The nervous system is made of up two primary parts, the Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous System.  The Central Nervous System is responsible for all actions and responses that we go through on a daily basis (including involuntary actions such as breathing).  The Peripheral Nervous System receives information and then sends signals back to the Central Nervous System which then responds with an action or particular movement.  Nervous system health is an important aspect of overall health as our bodily functions rely on...