Reasons to Eat the Rainbow

The New York Times recently ran a story about plant nutrition that was an eye opener to many, especially in the age of plant based diets as guarantor of health and longevity.  It appears that not all produce are created equal and the sooner we understand why this is and what to look for, the better off we’ll be.

According to reporter Jo Robinson, author of the forthcoming book, Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health, “Studies published within the past 15 years show that much of our produce is relatively low in phytonutrients, which are the compounds with the potential to reduce the risk of four of our modern scourges: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia.”

That’s disturbing news, but there is much you can do to insure the choices you make are optimal for your health.  At Rowe Chiropractor, we believe it’s best to eat the rainbow for greatest nutritional punch and these new guidelines help you refine which varieties within each category are best.

So what are the new superfoods? Those that are closest to their species’ ancestral roots and generally, those that are deeper in color.  For example: wild arugula or dandelions versus iceberg lettuce: crab apples over the larger varieties; blue corn versus white; purple-yellow carrots and purple potatoes.  So where do you find these beauties? Go to the source!

Summer is here and farmer’s markets are in full swing.  Do yourself a favor and visit them regularly. Load up your recyclable bag with wild things in dark greens, deep reds, purples and you

Yours in health,

Dr. David J. Rowe

Path to Wellness through Chiropractic Care

In recent years, people are beginning to realize that healthcare is a proactive process, tied more to smart lifestyle choices than good genes. Today, only a fool would imagine he could eat junk food recklessly, smoke regularly or avoid exercise without being subject to disease sooner than later. But what about spinal alignment?

While eating right, moving regularly and having a healthy mind-set are important, the body’s control center is the spine, where nerve bundles and blood vessels connect with every organ in the body to supply nutrients and energy.  When the spine is ‘free’ from subluxations, the organs get what they need.  If not, they are compromised and begin to malfunction, and while the ill effects may not be immediately felt, over time they can lead to serious damage.

Clearly including regular chiropractic care into your personal healthcare routine is essential and we at Rowe Chiropractic Offices are here to help!

Three Steps for a Healthy Spine:

1.    Get a spinal evaluation: Virtually everyone is born with subluxations which tend to worsen if not treated due to ravages of daily living.  An initial visit includes a postural examination, X-rays, traction and recommended exercises to do at home between visits

2.    Commit to your care plan: Most patients go through three phases of care: 

A)  Intensive - daily adjustments to address the most serious blockages

B)  Corrective - thrice weekly adjustments to begin bringing the spine into proper alignment

C) Sustaining - generally once weekly to ‘stay aligned’ as the ravages of daily life - physical, emotional and chemical stress - all negatively impact the spine’s integrity

3.    Commit to doing your ‘homework’: every patient who comes to us receives both general guidelines on ergonomics and a customized care plan of daily exercises that must be done at home.  This last step is essential and can be likened to the necessity for good dental hygiene.  Getting professional cleanings will do nothing to prevent tooth decay if you’re not regularly brushing and flossing.

Naturally, spinal care without eating well, moving well and thinking well would also fall short and Rowe Chiropractic provides education and information to get you on the path to wellness and keep you there so check out our website for resources and recommendations.

We know life can get in the way, but as they say ‘If you have your health, you have everything!’

Yours in health,

Dr. David J. Rowe