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Longevity and Performance

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One of the biggest stories during the Super Bowl is the longevity and performance of Tom Brady. He is redefining what is possible for athletes over forty. His nutrition and fitness routines along with his utilization of chiropractic care are well documented and vital to his success.

While healthy eating and fitness seem like common sense, so is the importance of a healthy spine and nervous system. This is the reason why so many players from the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will be receiving chiropractic care all season and of course leading up to the big game.

Chiropractic care helps athletes in every sport heal quickly and optimize performance.

Many of the greatest of all time have set this precedent. Current Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice are huge chiropractic advocates. Emmitt Smith is the leading rusher in NFL history, a perennial Pro Bowler and three -time Super Bowl Champion. When he retired with over 18,000 yards, Smith said, “I thank God, my family and my chiropractor.” Chiropractic care helped speed his recovery time and function at the top of his game. His career lasted nearly six times longer than the average NFL running back.

Jerry Rice is considered the greatest receiver in the history of the NFL. His durability and work ethic are legendary. He initially sought chiropractic care following an injury on the field. After learning about the benefits of chiropractic care from his teammates he made chiropractic care a regular part of his training routine and lifestyle. He is a three-time Super Bowl Champion and today he is an official spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. His high-level career also lasted six times longer than the average receiver.

Another chiropractic advocate, 2012 Hall of Fame Semi-finalist Roger Craig, was a pioneer in the NFL. He is the only player to ever make the Pro Bowl as a fullback and a halfback, the first player to rush and receive for over 1,000 yards in a single season -a feat that took 14 years to be duplicated, and he is the only running back in NFL history to ever lead the league in receptions. He is a three-time Super Bowl Champion and is the only NFL player to make the playoffs for eleven straight years.

Like many children, Roger began receiving chiropractic care at an early age and today, like the others, still receives chiropractic Lifestyle Care. In fact, Roger endorsed the #1 bestselling fitness book, The 100 Year Lifestyle Workout, which he recommends for athletes, young and old, because it stresses the importance of a healthy structure, spine and nervous system with chiropractic care as a core part of the training. This helps you maximize your performance, prevent injuries and support your longevity.

We’ve all seen videos of old time professional athletes who pounded their bodies into submission and became cripples when their career was over. This is not true for these three athletic superstars and it is no longer the norm as many professional, Olympic and youth sports programs have chosen to make chiropractic care a core part of their programs and many of the leaders of the Olympic sports medicine team today are chiropractors.

All three of these athletes took a tremendous beating over their careers which began in Little League and continued into the pros. Chiropractic care as a part of their lifestyle, training and overcoming injuries has helped show us all that you can play high-level sports and retain your health after you retire. We may even see you competing on Dancing With the Stars!

Don’t wait for an injury. If you’re an athlete or participate in an exercise program, be like these Hall of Fame and Super Bowl Champions. Make Chiropractic Lifestyle Care your top priority.

How Long Do You Plan to Live?

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One of the fastest growing segments of the population today is centenarians, or 100-year old people. In 1980, there were approximately 17,000 people over the age of 100. Today there are approximately 80,000 people who have reached this milestone. The US Census Bureau estimates that by the time the baby boom generation reaches this landmark age, there will be more than 4.2 million centenarians in the US.

This trend holds true for other industrialized nations including Australia, Canada, and those in Europe. Many of us have noticed this trend first hand by having to cope with the challenges of our aging parents. Unfortunately, many elderly people are unprepared for their extended life.

When today’s centenarians were born in 1905, the life expectancy for a newborn was approximately 50 years. Yet many have outlived their life expectancy by half a century. If these people knew they were going to live this long, do you think many of them would have made better health choices along the way?

We are getting the advanced notice that our parents and grandparents never received. What will you do with this information? Hopefully you will choose to make your health a priority now instead of waiting until it deteriorates to choose a healthy lifestyle. The truth is that we cannot control how long we are going to live.

We can, however, control our health choices. As people age, quality of life choices take on a higher priority. Values turn more toward the physical and physiological standard of living rather than the material standard of living. After all, what good is a nice car if your back hurts too much to sit in the seat and enjoy it? Who cares what your carpet looks like if you don’t have the energy to entertain? Does it matter how much jewelry you have if you are too sick to go out on the town?

Many people spend the first 50 years of their lives ignoring their health while they accumulate wealth, only to spend the next 50 years losing their wealth to buy back their health. Knowing that your longevity potential is 100 years gives you an opportunity to place your health at the top of your value scale.

Every minute of every day we are faced with choices that contribute to our quality of life both now and in the future. We must choose between eating junk food and healthy food, being a couch potato and exercising, stressing out or looking at the bright side, getting regular chiropractic adjustments or living with the consequences of an unhealthy spine and nerve system.

Starting today, make health choices that ensure that each day will be your best, and encourage your family to do the same. After all, 100 years of healthy living is achieved one day at a time.

Problematic Painkillers

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Have you ever taken ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) or naproxen (Aleve/Naproxen) to alleviate pain? Well if so, you are like millions of others who often seek pain relief from these popular medications. These drugs as well as the Cox-2 inhibitors Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Serious side effects of NSAIDs have been known for a while. A December 1, 1998, story in USA Today noted that 16,500 people died from bleeding stomach ulcers brought on by NSAID use and that 80 percent of those had no symptoms prior to death. A Danish study published in the British Medical Journal in January 2001 found a strong link between the use of prescription NSAIDs by pregnant women and miscarriage.

However, it has been discovered recently that NSAIDs cause another life-threatening side effect: cardiovascular disease. This risk is so substantial that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning on April 7, 2005, urging the public to limit the use of NSAIDs and to strictly adhere to label directions. Furthermore, the FDA asked drug manufacturer Pfizer to voluntarily withdraw Bextra from the market and urged manufacturers of all other NSAID products to strengthen warning labels.

A study sponsored by The National Institute on Aging to determine whether Celebrex or Naproxen could prevent Alzheimer’s disease was halted when it became apparent that those taking Naproxen developed a 50 percent higher risk of heart attack and stroke than those taking a placebo. In fact Naproxen is so detrimental to one’s health that those who have been taking the over-the-counter version, Aleve, for nearly three years are now advised to stop using it, while those who want to start taking it are advised to limit their use to no more than 400mg per day for no longer than ten days.

People who have been taking Naproxen should be particularly concerned since the previous recommended daily intake was 1500mg. If you are taking an NSAID for pain relief you will want to consider finding a healthier option, as the drug you are taking could actually take your life. For millions of Americans, even those suffering from chronic arthritic pain, wellness chiropractic care is that healthier option. The health choices you make today will affect your quality of life tomorrow.

Preventing Childhood Obesity

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Raising healthy children and preventing childhood obesity is an important parental responsibility. Are your children at risk for developing high blood pressure? They are if they are overweight. According to the July 2005 issue of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) News In Health, more than twice as many children are overweight now compared to 30 years ago. In fact, among the 6-11 age group, the number of overweight children has more than tripled.

Approximately 16 percent of American children are currently overweight. In addition to increasing blood pressure, childhood obesity has caused a dramatic increase in Type 2 Diabetes and metabolic syndrome. So what is causing the alarming increase in childhood obesity? As with adult obesity, the answer is a poor diet and lack of physical activity.

The alarming increase has gotten the attention of our nation’s policy makers, as well. Beginning with the 2006 school year, federal mandates now require school systems to develop standards of nutrition and activity for all school children, and establish healthy school nutrition environments. Take a close look at what your kids eat each day and then start to make gradual improvements. Kids today are eating too much high-calorie food that is low in nutritional value, so avoid French fries, hot dogs and doughnuts. Replace soda with water. Eat whole grains (whole wheat bread and pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, etc.) instead of the refined alternatives. To help your children eat an abundant variety of fruits and vegetables, serve raw veggies at snack time instead of chips or cookies. A child who initially dislikes a particular food often tries it again and likes it once it becomes a familiar offering, so continue to serve a variety of vegetables at mealtime. It is also fine to be sneaky: add finely minced spinach, kale or broccoli to sauces, soups and stews. Start each meal with smaller portions of food and then eat slowly, while conversing. Finally, never force your children to eat everything on their plates. Instead, teach them to stop eating when full.

Also, many children are spending too much time watching TV, playing video games, and surfing the internet, so limit their sedentary activities. Encourage your kids to run around outside each day, do chores around the house and dance to music. Get them involved in a sporting activity. According to the National Institutes of Health, children should get at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity each day.

Obese children are likely to become obese adults, so it is important to instill healthy eating and activity habits early on. In addition to your child’s healthy diet and activity level, having their nervous system checked for interference is another important piece of your family wellness program. A healthy functioning nervous system will ensure that your child receives the maximum benefit from their healthy diet and activity as they grow.

Quality Time Living – Maximizing Your Minutes

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Did you know that if you live to 100 you will live more than 50 million minutes? That’s 525,600 minutes every year. The 100 Year Lifestyle gives you a blueprint for how you can make the most of each moment. Start by realizing that your time is your currency. Each minute you spend represents a choice, whether or not you made it consciously. Making informed, purposeful decisions about your time will allow you to fall madly in love with the life you’re living, starting today.

Don’t shy away from “time management.” Strategizing and planning can be enjoyable when you know you’re taking control of your future. The key is to build your schedule around your life, not your life around your schedule. After all, if your time is not your own, your life is not your own. Using the Quality Time Living Model that I provide in The 100 Year Lifestyle, you can maximize every tick of the clock, and become healthier and happier. The three parts of my Quality Time Living Model are prime time, prep time and play time (and you need all of them!).

Prime time, prep time and play time
Prime time is your chance to use your talents and skills to produce something of value for the world. It gives you a sense of worth and satisfaction, and builds your self-esteem. That’s why it is so important to choose a career that you love! Prime time keeps you sharp, purposeful and productive.

Prep time is the time you spend planning and preparing for your prime and play time, and it is important not to neglect this step. Designate official prep time and watch your life run smoother!

Play time is all about you. This is time for you to pursue your interests, and spend time with your friends and family. Play time nurtures your creativity and revitalizes you.

It’s about balance, but it’s not a balancing act
Newsflash: you deserve play time. You don’t have to earn it, and you certainly don’t have to be exhausted to take it. Prioritizing play time will result in higher quality prime time and increased performance all around. Fortune magazine recently declared “innovation” as the “main competitive strength” in the workplace. If you continually sacrifice your life for your work, your energy will go toward survival. When you are emotionally, physically and spiritually balanced, your energy can go directly toward your creativity. Not every day has to be centered on completing tasks, so don’t be afraid to unplug from the constant ringing and buzzing of the modern world. Balance is crucial for sustained energy, peace of mind and longevity.

My minutes, my life.
Make this your mantra. Set boundaries. Get a calendar and block out holidays, birthdays and planned vacations as play time before you do anything else. Consider how many days each of prime, prep and play time you need to achieve balance, and plan your schedule accordingly. Your productivity will increase and you’ll be more content, enthusiastic and energized than ever! In The 100 Year Lifestyle, I show you how to stop treading water and start building upon your life and experiences, starting with the next 30 days. You’ll be thrilled when your schedule stops revolving around Mondays and your life starts revolving around you.

Live Longer and Stronger

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The US Census Bureau estimates that there over 80,000 centenarians living in the United States today. Statistics show that women usually live longer than men. The truth is, your body has the genetic potential to live to 100 and beyond. Being prepared to age gracefully, healthfully and successfully has never been more important than now. Every day we are faced with choices that contribute to our quality of life both now and in the future. One of the most important steps you can take to begin to live longer and stronger is to. . .

Stop Killing Yourself!
Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the three leading causes of death among women. Interestingly enough, they are also preventable by healthy lifestyle choices and routine checkups. Mark your calendar so you won’t forget mammograms, chiropractic visits, and other annual exams. Many women are more likely to be familiar with their family history. Let your doctor know what diseases and conditions are on your family tree. Being aware of this health history will help you and your health-care team build a plan to incorporate healthy habits in your life and the lives of your children.

Make Your Self-Care a Priority
When reviewing disaster plans of action, flight attendants on airplanes always instruct parents to fit themselves with oxygen masks first before helping their children. The lesson is simple. You can’t take care of others unless you take care of yourself first, at least in matters of health.

Today women are busier today than ever before. Demands are placed on them from every direction. More women are working and raising families, a dual role that invites incredible stress. These overbooked schedules tempt women to set aside self-care to handle other priorities such as families, careers, relatives, and communities.

Taking care of yourself will ensure that you will be strong enough to take care of others. Eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and low fat foods along with a moderate exercise schedule will help you maintain your weight and keep your mind and your muscles strong. Schedule regular chiropractic visits, make time for massages, take hot baths (with the door locked and the phone turned off), and consider a vacation getaway with only yourself. Make time to be healthy.

Lifelong Learning is Key
Studies show that maintaining an active lifestyle increases health and quality of life. People in their seventies are earning college degrees, publishing books, and starting companies. Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who at 122 was the oldest person ever documented, fenced, cycled, and rapped! It’s never too late to pick up a yoga mat, violin or paintbrush.

Starting today, make self-care and health-care choices that will ensure that each day will be your best, and encourage your family to do the same. After all, 100 years of healthy living is achieved one day at a time.