Spoonful No.12 ~ Go To Bed!

It is 2:35am and I find myself wide awake. I find that more and more I am staying up all hours of the night into the early (and sometimes late) morning. I have talked to many people about this newly formed habit and they sympathize with me because they too are finding it harder to sleep at night. A self diagnosis of insomnia was growing rapidly amongst my fellow night owls so I decided to do a little research.
Insomnia-prone people are generally unable to outwardly express their anger and stress. These internalized emotions lead to physiologic activation, which in turn prevents sleep at night. Insomnia is often treated with relaxation therapy more than sleeping pills, which can cause morning drowsiness and provide poor sleep quality. Techniques include hypnosis, progressive relaxation, meditation, and yoga. It is also helpful to reduce external stimuli before going to bed such as reading, eating, or watching TV.
I am currently finding that another technique to treating insomnia is writing a blog about insomnia because a wave of sleepiness has just come over me with a vengeance. So until my next sleepless night, I say to you "Goodnight/morning."~

The Sick and Shut In

I took a few weeks off due to feeling unwell. I will not at this moment conceed that said unwellness was the flu but I did feel miserable and sleep alot... ALOT! Now that I have the energy to use the keyboard I will return to my regularly scheduled posts within a few days!

M.~

V8 Bopped!

If you don't know what I mean by the title keep reading, but know that you've missed out on a whole generation of commercials. The CDC just V8 bopped the US on it big, shiny, unhealthy choice makin forehead! They just released a report that said only 26% of the US eats three or more servings of vegetables a day (a day people! 26%!).

And if that weren't enough, another company, the NPD group, an independent market research company (not the CDCs hype man) released a report of their own. They said only 23% of US meals contain vegetables... But wait, there's more! This is after they counted lettuce on a burger as being an acceptable vegetable included meal. If on average this is the amount of vegetables the US is consuming, just imagine what they are actually filling up on! The answer? Larger than life portions of sugar, fat, and simple carbs (simple not complex)!

I just want to go on record as saying," Lettuce on a burger should not count! Don't make people feel better about their poor decisions." I love burgers too (probably not as much as the next guy, but still), but I don't count it as my healthy meal when it comes from a fast food joint.

People! What is going on?! Vegetables are good for you. They contain nutrients and vitamins! I don't want to hear that you don't like the taste of them or that they are inconvenient. #1~ If cooked properly (meaning you or your friends actually know how to cook) they will taste awesome. #2~ You're not being asked to eat every kind of vegetable on the planet! #3~ They are super convenient now. You don't even have to wash or cut them! All you have to do is pop them in the microwave and magically to have steamed veggies. You were going to use the microwave on that other meal anyway. And finally #4~ Are vegetables less expensive than a package of ramen noodles? Probably not, but for another dollar or two you can eat a healthier food and not pay the hundreds of dollars down the road for your poor health. The cost of vegetables has been going down for years in order to get you to eat them!

I will not return you to your regularly scheduled (and calmer) M.~

Spoonful No.10 ~ Walks Like A Duck, Quacks Like A Chiropractor?

It used to be that chiropractic medicine was lumped together with offbeat practices such as crystal healing and shamanism. Chiropractors were better known as quacks and according to some people still are. Today it has emerged as an effective medical therapy and has gained acceptance by mainstream physicians and the public.
The chiropractic approach treats the whole person, rather than just one illness or injury. It relies on neither drugs nor surgery and takes advantage of the body's self healing and self regulation abilities. It also promotes good body mechanics, nutrition, and emotional health.
Most of you out there who have considered going to the chiropractor have done so because you had back problems. If you decide to go, the chiropractor may use multiple methods to treat you including, but not limited to, massage techniques, ice packs, ultrasound (not for babies!), or joint manipulations.
When looking for a good chiropractor, the first and best bet is to get a referral from your general practitioner or someone you know. If you don't have this advantage, here are some things you should look for. A good chiropractor should:

• Perform a detailed health history and physical as part of your initial consultation (no, going to the chiropractor is not a one visit miracle fix)
• Be trained to do spinal adjusting (ask before treatment begins)
• Be able to diagnose your problem and, if necessary, refer you to the correct specialist that can
• Release you when you are well without pressuring you to schedule follow up treatment

As always there are going to be some questionable characters out there so be careful of those chiropractors who:

• Insist upon x-rays, even if they really don't seem to be related to your problem
• Make instant diagnoses without proper health history or physical
• Schedule weekly or monthly visits without a clear reason as to why
• A hesitant to refer you to other specialists and claim to be able to cure a wide (and I do mean wide) range of illnesses and injuries

This is not to say that you don't have a problem that is easily identified, needing multiple treatments, and is the cause of a few different symptoms you may feel, but it is always important to keep your eyes and ears open!~

Spoonful No.9 ~ Fact-upuncture

It's time to get all the facts on acupuncture (Get it? You see how I did a play on... never mind) and find out if its right for you. There are a number of studies that have shown this ancient healing art to be effective for pain, addiction, nausea, and even rehabilitation after a stroke!

According to traditional Chinese medicine, health is explained as a state of balance between the yin and yang. Disease affliction is associated with either of these forces being unbalanced, blocked, or stagnant. The yang force is the immaterial qi (pronounced chee, roughly translated as "vital energy") and the yin force is linked with the blood.

Chinese medical theory claims that acupuncture works by correcting the balance of qi in the body. This qi flows through 59 invisible channels called meridians. Here in the west, we've shone that acupuncture boosts production of endorphins, which helps explain the temporary pain relief one might feel, but not the effects acupuncture has on other conditions.

Not chomping at the bit to call your local acupuncturist yet? Oh, your concerned about the whole needle in the skin thing (I completely understand, BUT!...). Acupuncture needles are nothing like hypodermic needles (the needles that doctors use to take your blood). They are actually as thin as the hairs on your head (if you have thick hair I'm sorry for ya... just kidding). There are areas of the body that are going to be more tender than others like the backs of your hands, your fingertips, or your feet, but the pain you feel will be no more than that of a mosquito bite.

If you really just can't get over the fear of needles, you do have the option of acupressure. Acupressure follows that same model as acupuncture, only pressure is applied in the place of a needle. Acupressure is not as effective as acupuncture, but it does work.

Even though acupuncture is safe, precautions must be taken to keep it that way. Negative side effects are rare and internal injuries are almost unheard of, although bruising in not uncommon. Hepatitis, other blood-borne diseases, and infections can be spread through dirty needles, so make sure your acupuncturist uses disposable needles and cleans your skin before needle insertion. Also, for that extra feeling of comfort, make sure your acupuncturist is certified. Typically certification is national (NCCAOM) and those who have it have acquired a formal education and have met all accreditation requirements.

An average acupuncture session runs about $40-$90 and lasts about half an hour. Some insurance companies cover it and some don't. You may not have realized it but there are plenty of pain centers, clinics, and wellness centers in your local area that offer acupuncture therapy. So if you have a nagging condition that traditional Western medicine has not been able to treat, or if you are not satisfied with the type of treatment you are on, check them out and get your puncture on!~