HEALTH & WELLNESS

HOW TO SPEND YOUR SPRING BREAK IN FOCO

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IT IS ALMOST SPRING BREAK!!! Since spring break is right around the corner we have created a list of reasonably priced family events and activities to keep you and your family having a blast all week long!

Lucky Joe’s St Patrick’s Day Parade– Start your spring break off with a big ol’ celebration by taking your kiddos out to watch the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Fort Collins! They will get to enjoy the creative floats, performers, and family fun for all.

The Summit- The Summit is a mecca for family fun! With options like laser tag, bowling, arcades, and pizza what more could rambunctious spring breakers want? The Summit has daily specials including:

Gaming fun for four which includes Laser Tag, Game Cards, Pizza, and a Pitcher of Soft Drink for $69.99

Or if your family is into laser tag like Dr. E and her family: They have Tag Tuesday which offers Unlimited Laser Tag All Day Long for only $9.99

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery– This museum provides enjoyable, hands-on explorations in science and technology along with different musical instruments, science, animal and history exhibits. The museum also offers a Toddlers discovery area that allow younger children to learn by interacting with various displays. Ticket prices are 9.50 for adults, 7.00 for senior citizens and students with a valid school ID, 6.00 for juniors (ages 3-12) and Free for children 2 and under.

Great Plates- The perfect event for “Foodies” of Fort Collins! This event lets participants indulge by trying out various unique and delicious restaurants in Fort Collins! Great Plates returned to Old Town Fort Collins on March 1 and goes through the 14th. The annual Food Bank for Larimer County fundraiser features multicourse specials at 28 downtown restaurants for only $25. The event begins each night at 5:00pm until close at participating dinner restaurants. Restaurants include: Austin’s American Grill, Beau Jo’s, Mainline Ale House, Melting Pot, Rare Italian and Blue Agave.

For all restaurants included and more information go to: https://downtownfortcollins.com/events/great-plates-of-downtown

Cinemark Movie Bistro and XD– This is the newest movie theatre in Fort Collins that brings movie watching to a whole new level! The theatre includes all the classics that movie goers enjoy like popcorn, soda and candy but also includes a wait staff that hand delivers items from the movie theater’s bistro to your comfy, reclining seat. The items include pizza, sandwiches, salads, burgers, appetizers, beer, wine, mixed drinks, coffee and ice cream. The new theatre is located near the Foothills Mall in Fort Collins and would be the perfect venue for a relaxed activity with your spring-breakers!

A SPECIAL BLOG POST FOR OUR HARDWORKING WOMEN

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Since March 8th is International Women’s Day, it is important to take a minute to acknowledge one of the most common things that women suffer from, chronic stress. The National Institute for Health Research from the University of Cambridge did a study to identify what groups experience the most stress. They looked at gender, age, medical conditions, addiction and mental disorders. Their research showed that for every one male, 1.9 females are affected by anxiety disorders related to stress, and women younger than 35 are increasingly affected. Another study by the American Psychological Association showed that women are much more likely than men to report physical and emotional symptoms of stress including indigestion, fatigue, and headaches. In fact, studies consistently show that women score higher on the stress-o-meter than men. In a survey conducted in 2006 by the American Psychological Association (APA), 51 percent of women reported that stress had an impact on their lives. For this rising level of stress what are some ways stress affects our bodies and how can chiropractic help?

Many of us can see that physical stress can be associated with spinal misalignments but something one might not consider is how emotional stress can affect the spine. How is this possible? When a person is experiencing emotional stress several hormones are released. Initially, adrenaline is released which is also known as the fight or flight hormone. Adrenaline is produced by the adrenal glands after receiving a message from the brain that a stressful situation has presented itself. Adrenaline, along with norepinephrine, are largely responsible for the immediate reactions we feel when stressed. Adrenaline causes your muscles to tense up, you’re breathing to hasten, and can even cause your body to sweat. Norepinephrine is also released to assist in your fight or flight reactions that stem from stress. A steroid hormone, cortisol, is also produced by the adrenal glands and is commonly referred to as the stress hormone. Cortisol is continuously released with chronic stress which can lead to suppression of the immune system (which makes it easier to get sick), increased blood pressure and sugar, decreased libido, acne production, obesity, and more. As you can see the muscles and glands of the body are highly impacted by chemical factors. Today, more than ever, we are hearing about the effect that emotional stress can have on the body which can result in spinal misalignment (subluxation) along with the severe nerve impact those misalignments have on the functioning of the nervous system.

How can Chiropractic help?

Chiropractors are trained to assess the bio-mechanics of the body in its current state and treat the disorders of the musculoskeletal system by realigning misaligned joints to increase the overall function of the nervous system and ultimately the entire body. As we learned earlier, chronic stress often causes misalignments throughout the spinal column especially in the nerves that control cognitive functions as well as immune function and digestive functions (these are the most common systems that chronic stress affects). Chiropractors focus their attention on realigning those areas of interests which can help to relieve the symptoms one might feel when chronically stressed. Chiropractors also use stress relieving therapies including essential oil therapy and referring out for massage therapy, yoga or meditation to help the patient’s overall wellness. Getting adjusted can help decrease chronic stress thereby relieving frequent headaches, digestive dysfunction and the overall improvement in an individual’s quality of life.

International Women’s Day is a day to say “thank you” to all the hardworking women in our lives. Each job is important and each causes a different level of stress in a woman’s life. A simple thank you or a gift of health to help relieve some of the symptoms of stress could help make her life even more rewarding. If you are a patient at Impact Chiropractic stop by the front desk on your way out to get the gift of health card to give to the special women in your life, they will be able to get their new patient exam and x-rays for huge discount!  Call the team at 970-223-5501 for more information.

Here at Impact Chiropractic, we support our hardworking women!

strong women quote 1.jpg

https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-body.aspx

https://impact-chiropractic.com/

SUCKING OUT LIFE

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“JUST LIKE LIQUID MOVING THROUGH A STRAW, THE ENERGY OF LIFE FLOWS FROM YOUR BRAIN THROUGH YOUR NERVE SYSTEM AND PERMEATES EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY.  THE MORE “OPEN” AND UNRESTRICTED YOUR NERVE PATHWAYS ARE, THE EASIER LIFE ENERGY FLOWS AND THE HEALTHIER YOU’LL BE.

SUBLUXATIONS (MISALIGNED SPINAL BONES) SQUEEZE NERVES AND RESTRICT THE FLOW OF LIFE ENERGY.  THE EFFECT IS LIKE TRYING TO SUCK FLUID THROUGH A TWISTED STRAW.  SURE YOU MAY GET A TRICKY THROUGH, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE YOUR DRINKING EXPERIENCE VERY COMFORTABLE.  WHEN SUBLUXATIONS CONSTRICT NERVE PATHWAYS, LIFE ENERGY FLOWS AT A WEAKER RATE, MAKING EVERYDAY TASKS, JOB AND EXPERIENCES MORE DIFFICULT.”

The above statement was taken from https://theweeklysticky.com/sucking-life/

AT IMPACT CHIROPRACTIC, WE AGREE WITH THIS ANALOGY.  YOUR NERVES CONTROL EVERYTHING IN YOUR BODY, AND IF THERE IS A “TWISTED NERVE” IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT TO COMMUNICATE PROPERLY.  YOUR BODY WILL STILL WORK IF ITS TWISTED, BUT THINK OF HOW GOOD IT WILL WORK IF ALL OF YOUR NERVES ARE COMPLETELY OPENED UP! THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS: LESS FATIGUE, IMPROVED DIGESTION, STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM, BETTER MUSCLE TONE!

Natural Remedies for Hypothyroidism

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Feeling fatigued, stressed out? Do you notice that you’ve also been gaining weight for no apparent reason?  Constantly depressed and can’t get yourself out of this feeling?  These may be signs that you have hypothyroidism.

Over 20 million Americans have problems with how their thyroid is working.  Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid is under-active and hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid is over-active. All hormones in your body work in sync with one another and need to have a delicate balance.

When looking into the thyroid function we recommend getting your thyroid levels checked, and specifically ask for T3, T4, Reverse T3, Antithyroglobulin Antibody (TG) & Antithyoidperozidase Antibody (TPO).  These are all important to truly know how your thyroid hormones are working with one another.  If you do have an imbalance, instead of only taking synthetic hormone replacement medications, try some of these natural remedies.

essential oils for hypothyroidism

Top 10 Natural Hypothyroidism Remedies

  1. Ashwagandha (500 mg/day) – Helps lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels and balances T4 (thyroid hormone) levels
  2. Iodine (150-300 mcd/day) – Helps to resolve thyroid dysfunction.  Do not take if you have Hashimoto’s disease.
  3. Selenium (200 mcg/day) – is vital for the production of T3 (thyroid) hormone, get this through the food you eat.  A great source of selenium is Brazil nuts.
  4. L-tyrosine (500 mg 2x/day) – amino acid necessary for production of numerous thyroid hormones
  5. Fish Oil (1,000 mg/day) – essential fatty acids critical for the functioning of the thyroid
  6. Vitamin B Complex (1 complex capsule/day) – Especially B12 & thiamine are important for neurological function and balancing hormones
  7. Probiotic Supplements (50 billion CFU/serving) – Help to heal the gut and aid in nutrient absorption, necessary to properly take in your vitamins/minerals
  8. Frankincense essential oil – helps increase function of the thyroid gland, can rub directly onto the lower part of your neck
  9. Lemongrass and Myrrh essential oils (2-4 drops) – Mix them together, and can also rub directly onto the lower part of your neck
  10. Conservative Care – nutritional therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic all have benefits for relieving hormonal imbalances.

At Impact Chiropractic in Fort Collins, we help people with all sorts of health conditions find balanced hormones & their healthiest bodies. Book an appointment today to start your journey to wellness!

TOP FORT COLLINS INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

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Happy Winter Solstice!!  With the cold weather, comes “bored” kids.  They feel like they’re stuck inside with nothing to do, especially during winter break and time away from school.  Below we’ll discuss what not to do, and some better options for your kids during these winter months.

What not to do with your kiddos this winter:

TV watching: It is a passive activity and does not allow for exercise or socialization. It is recommended that kids over the age of 2 watch no more than 2 hours per day, and kids under 2 shouldn’t be put in front of a television at all.

Video games: Even though there are more interactive games out there today, this is still not a good option.  Video games can lead to increased attention problems in children.

Shopping:  Usually kids don’t want to go to the store with you.  For them it means long lines, lots of people, and seeing a lot of items that mom and dad say “no” to.  This can cause temper tantrums and unneeded stress for the parents.

Some ideas to do at home instead:

Play in the snow, bundle them up and build a snow fort or a snow man.  Let them be creative and use their imagination.

Look at “Pinterest” for some craft inspiration and try out a few, this will keep their hands and brains busy.

Cook healthy meals, let your kids do most of the work.  They will feel needed and also provide them with good nutrition.

Write your own stories and act them out with the kiddos.  This helps develop language and personal skills.

If you’re feeling the need to get out of the house, here is Impact’s list of “Top Fort Collins Indoor Activities for Kids.”  Check them out yourself:

Museum of Discovery:  Head to the museum for a day of science, history and culture. The “Music & Sound Lab” is one of our personal favorites, besides the animal vertebra of course.  Kids (3-12) get in for $6, and FREE admission for kiddos under 2!! Adults prices are $9.50.  It’s a fairly inexpensive way to get your kiddos brains working.

 

Cool Beans:  Try out an indoor playground for kids under the age of 8.  Fees vary from FREE to babies under 9 months, up to $6 for kids over the age of 1.  While the kids play, you can eat lunch and even have a great cup o’ joe.

 

 

Poudre River Public Library:  Choose from 1 of 3 locations around town.: Old Town, Harmony, or Council Tree.  Each facility has great areas for kiddos to read and play.  Story time is offered at various times throughout the day, check their website for current times.  https://www.poudrelibraries.org

 

FlyHigh:  This is something for the older kids.  This trampoline park has it all: foam pits, basketball hoops, dodgeball.  This will get them moving, but use your best judgement at this fun park.  Most injuries happen to adults at trampoline parks, kids “bounce back” literally more quickly than their parents do.

Make sure safety is always a priority; and if something happens call Impact – your favorite Fort Collins Chiropractor!

10 REASONS TO VISIT YOUR CHIROPRACTOR DURING THE HOLIDAYS (THE FIRST 5)

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1. TRAVEL

The holiday season is the busiest time of year for most people.  Whether you are traveling by car, plane, or train, traveling can cause extra stress to your life.  Sitting for extended periods of time can cause your body to be stiff and your muscles to tighten.  Lifting heavy suitcases can cause low back pain.  Sleeping on air mattresses or uncomfortable couches can put a “kink” into your neck.  Chiropractors can help ease your body out of pain and get you back to feeling like yourself again.

2. STRESS

Family time is wonderful, but it can also be stressful.  Trying to make every event on your family’s holiday calendar can be daunting and cause you to get stressed out.  When you mentally get stressed out, your body may respond with tense muscles, headaches, insomnia, and even stomach pains.  Chiropractic is a wonderful way shift your mindset towards positive thoughts and can get your mind and body healthy again.

3.  BAD WEATHER

Weather in Colorado is unpredictable.  Today as I am writing this, the snowfall totals are over 10 inches for Fort Collins.  Snowy conditions not only cause car accidents, but they can also cause slips and falls.  Hopefully, these instances don’t happen to you; a car slides into you, you rear-end someone at a stop light, or you slip on your driveway.  Pain may not develop immediately but can result hours or days after.  If these unfortunate events do happen, it is important to get checked by a chiropractor right away.

4. SHOVELING

Going along with the snowy conditions that are likely to happen around the holidays, comes the clean-up of such weather.  The snow must go somewhere, and someone has to move it.  Shoveling can cause flare ups to already existing pain, but it can also cause new pains.  You may not be using proper form as you lift incredibly heavy snow with your plastic shovel.  Make sure that your shovel is the correct length for your body, and is sturdy enough to help you lift the snow.

5. DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS

The holiday season does not get a good reputation for being the healthiest time of the year.  Heavy, dense meals are common and sweet treats are the norm.  With an increase in these comfort foods, many of us tend to not get enough fruits and vegetables into our diet.  Without a proper amount of fruits and vegetables, your digestive system will begin to slow down.  Chiropractic can help maintain proper digestion by freeing up misalignments in your spine, allowing the nerves to properly get to your digestive tract to keep things on schedule.

 

Want to learn more? Check out part two of this blog series to see 5 more reasons you can benefit from a trip to the chiropractor this holiday season!