Don't Hang Up Your Running Shoes

Researchers at Stanford were surprised to learn that running remains a healthy means of exercise for folks well into their senior years. Running has a reputation for doing damage to joints in the body that can be cumulative over time. While it is true that if you have bad knees, running will certainly make things worse, people running with proper alignment, who take the time to stretch and warm up first, may actually see increased strength and mobility in their joints as they age.

Members of the group of runners studied by Stanford reached disability status some sixteen years later than those in their age group who were not running. There were also fewer incidences of heart attack, stroke, neurological disease, and infection. Of course, if running doesn’t do it for you, or if you have arthritis, bad knees or back issues that prevent you from running, then other forms of exercise, such as swimming, can provide you with similar results.

The key to keeping a healthy running routine is to make sure that you are taking care of your body. Over training should certainly be avoided. Take a day of rest between long runs, or cross-train so that you are breaking up running days with other forms of exercise. Give your body a rest if you have pain during your runs; replace running with low impact activity such as yoga, pilates or walking. And of course, get plenty of water and eat properly to fuel your body.

If you have knee problems or other issues that prevent you from developing a running routine, our medical providers are available to discuss an exercise routine that is appropriate for your health condition. Call us at 912-427-8433 today!

Preventing Cancer

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and while there is no surefire way to prevent cancer, there are definitely options that will work in your favor. Here are a few of the known, and oh-so-easy ways to increase your body's health and potentially prevent cancer:

• Eat plenty of steamed broccoli (don't you dare get it near the microwave, either).
• Eat garlic, and lots of it. Looking for a good way? Crush two cloves, mix with olive oil, diced tomato and herbs, then heat to make pasta sauce.
• Make blueberries a daily habit. They are great frozen in smoothies, eaten alone, or mixed in with yogurt or cereal.
• Avoid grilled foods. They are high in carcinogens; the more flame that touches it, the more dangerous it is.
• Stay hydrated. Carry a stainless steel or BPA-free water bottle around so you've always got it. This will also help you keep track of how much you've had.
• Make green tea your second priority beverage (after water).
• Get those omega-3s into your diet. The absolute best way is through eating fish like salmon or tuna, and beef that has been grass fed. Avoid fast food burgers and pork.
• 15 minutes of sunlight each day will get your vitamin D levels up and improve your mood.
• Eat fresh, brightly colored fruits high in nutrients. Red and green peppers, kiwi, grapes and cantaloupe rate well.
• Avoid pesticides. Both on your own lawn and food – by buying organically grown foods.
• Choose fresh foods and whole foods over preserved and processed varieties, whenever possible.
• Forget about dry-cleaning anything you own.
• Spend time with friends. make sure to be active and laugh!

Prevention is the key to good health so don't forget to make regular check ups part of your routine. Advanced Healthcare has an excellent healthcare staff and looks forward to helping you address any medical needs that arise. We're only a call away! 912-427-8433

Obesity On The Job

The CDC has announced a new, free program, called "Lean Works!" to help businesses assess how much money worker obesity is costing their company (it's probably more than you think), and how much they might stand to gain from implementing an obesity intervention and prevention plan. Here's what you can expect: 

• Evidence based research to help you plan, create, and promote an obesity prevention and control program for your business.
• Tool kits, resources, and information to guide you through every step of the program, such as sample presentations, employee surveys, health risk assessment tools, etc
• An interactive calculator for obesity cost, which enables you to learn how much obesity is costing your business, and the amount you could save when obesity is no longer an issue.

Visit  http://www.cdc.gov/leanworks/ for more information about their program.

Our office is also available to provide Health Days/Workshops that can include Weight Management Consultations, Chiropractic Screenings and Evaluation, Proper Lifting/Exercise Techniques, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Body Mass Index, Nutritional Counseling, Stress Management, and Acupuncture Consultations to name a few. Call us at 912-427-8433 to schedule a Health Day at your business, church, or organization. This is a free service that we offer to the community.