Archive for April, 2010

I remember getting so mad at a Tums commercial one time because it said that it would reduce acid and “supply calcium- something your body needs anyway.” The only reason we can absorb the rock-like mineral is because we have an acidic stomach!  As soon as you use an acid reducer, you are no longer able to absorb calcium efficiently. If you think you could absorb the calcium that they are supplying, your mistaken. It is a low quality , low absorbing calcium carbonate.  Avoid the highly over-prescribed and misunderstood acid blockers until you have no other choice.

There are many ways to help yourself reduce the throat burning and bad taste in the mouth. As long as it is an acid over production and not an improper enzyme production, these will help:

• Eliminate water or fluids during a meal. This is the number one issue. If a chunk of food shows up in your stomach and needs to be broken down, water dilutes your stomach acid floats enzymes off the food.
• Chew each bite extensively. Aim at twenty to twenty-five times per mouthful. This gives the stomach a huge assist by breaking food down mechanically, and using saliva enzymes, thus reducing the stomach acid needed.
• Don’t lie down after a meal for at least one hour.
• Reduce your simple carbohydrate intake. Try to cut it by 20%.
• Avoid spices. They  make it worse.

We have herbal digestive aids that are outstanding at helping your gut process foods properly. Call us if you would like to get advice:630-322-9522

I just received a concerned letter from a patient who has a chronic low back problem. She was concerned about the impending long drive with her family this summer. Good preventative thinking! Let’s let everyone in on this advice.

Here are the tips for all you road warriors to keep your back out of trouble while you are driving:

• Keep your backrest upright. It should be close to a 90 degree angle  with the seat. It keeps you from “turtle-ing” your head forward.
• Keep the curve! Put a water bottle or a rolled towel behind your low back just about at belt height. This will keep your low back curve that protects your disks and muscles.  And,”No” , your fancy lumbar support mechanism in the car seat is not enough.
• Lift ‘em high! Adjust your seat to have your seat higher than your knees. This is more difficult in a sport coupe, easy in an SUV. It will improve your dispersal of pressure across your fanny.
• Keep the change! Modify your position often to keep blood flow from pooling.
• Give it a break! Stop and get out to do your stretches every 90 minutes or so. For example: Put one straight leg up on a stair or the bumper and lean forward (hamstring).  Then, try a heel to butt pull on your quad muscle. Also, try a lunge on one leg at a time to stretch out the hip flexors .

You will be much happier when you get there. So, have a great time and a healthier trip! Call if you need some personal instruction on these stretches. 630-322-9522

Its Spring! If you are like me, you are getting out into the garden and enjoying our beautiful weather in Chicagoland. Our goal at Bowers Chiropractic Center is to help you avoid injury and recover quickly if you happen to get injured. Please consider these preventative steps to healthier spring gardening:

Think of gardening as a sport.

• Prepare for your “event” by planning your gardening: don’t get into four hours of gardening on your first outing. You need to build up your endurance! Plan for 45 minutes to start.  Rotate jobs – don’t do one thing in high repetition. I know there’s a lot to be done. I am trying to make sure you enjoy it tomorrow.
• Stretching your muscles will really help minimize the stress. Especially the muscles around your low back and hips. (There are great ones under the stretching section of this website).
• Don’t lift those forty pound bags of dirt, mulch, chips …Use a shovel and cut them open. Shovel them into a wheel barrow. Break it into small loads. Bending is where most of the damage occurs. Carry a load to the garden then disperse it before going and reloading. It will give you more recovery time. This will disperse the stress through other areas and avoid one muscle getting overdone.
• Proper tool use is important. Use the tool as it is meant to be used. Only use a tool that is in good working order.  Keep yourself close to your work. Don’t reach far away to lift, dig, pull or pry. If you can make a work surface to pot or mix on, you will save so much effort. A workbench or old door across fence corners will do nicely.

Now, if you do get hurt, don’t avoid the issue. Get ice on the area quickly to stop swelling and reduce pain. Rest. Chiropractic adjusting will promote the body’s natural healing as well. Enjoy!