Jerry Javier

This is not a typical blog post about a health topic or a race course that I have recently participated in. This is a desperate situation for a friend who is fighting for his life and to this day is in coma. Please read to the end of this blog post.

More than 100 Mountain bikers came together this past Saturday at Anthony Chabot Regional Park in support of a fellow biker, Jerry Javier and his family.

Jerry was training for the Sea Otter Classic mountain bike race when he suffered a very severe head injury on 04/07/2013, after taking a hard fall and hitting his head .  The course was challenging and rough but nothing Jerry had not ridden before.  Although he was wearing a helmet, it was not enough to protect him.  He lost consciousness immediately after the crash and had to be Air Lifted by a Helicopter to San Jose Medical Regional Center.  To this day he remains in a coma. The doctors say they “are hopeful” that he will wake up, but only time will tell.  As of yesterday’s MRI we have learned that Jerry was diagnosed with DAI(diffuse axonal injury), the prognosis is unpredictable, he may wake up in a few days, weeks or months. We just have to hope and pray for the best.

So Lake Chabot Riders (LCR) mountain bike club organized a “vibe ride” and fundraiser/auction to help support Jerry’s increasing hospital bills and his family’s needs.  Numerous bikers around the area came together as a family to help support a fellow biker in need.  These kinds of accidents hit close to the heart because it could be any one of us that crash and end up unfortunately  like Jerry.  The bikers all came together for a 20 mile ride to “send” their strength and positive vibes to Jerry while he is in the hospital.  It was such an awesome experience to feel so much positive energy all focused on healing Jerry.

After the ride an auction took place which consisted of donations given from various bike shops including Endless Cycles right here in Castro Valley.  LCR was also selling a “get well Jerry” bracelet for $5 which are available for purchase.  The total amount of donations received at the event was around $2500 which will help out, but there is so much more money needed in support of Jerry and his family.

If you’d like to make a donation Jerry Javier Recovery Fund, please check a fund raiser link: Jerry Javier Recover Fund .

Thank you for supporting Jerry Javier Recovery Fund. He will ride again!!!

We have arrived to Oakland from Denver around 10pm. My gear was ready at my house for the race of the year TBF 50 – 50 miles on a single speed mountain bike. With only five hours of sleep left I was hoping to catch some zzzzzzs at my friend’s car. We were supposed to meet at 6am in San Ramon and transfer my gear into his car. I have made it to our rendezvous on time. We have transferred my gear onto his vehicle and took off to Folsom. Marcelo and his son Nick were too caffeinated and wanted to talk nothing but bikes and race. Both of them were super excited and both of them were doing solo 50 miler as well in a different category.

We have arrived to a Granite Bay very fast. It took us about an hour and a half. Marcelo and myself both were racing our custom NTP bikes built by Dan. We opened our camp right next to our Titanium bike builder and avid bike rider Dan Nelson. Today I am racing a bike built by him – single speed 29er. Ultra light and super strong – XL size frame under 20 pounds. There were many other riders from LCR and Barangay who were racing solo and relay. Marcelo, his son(wearing +3 jersey) and Dan were racing 50 miler solo on geared bikes each in their own age category. It was actually great to see many avid riders in person vs. seeing their rides on Strava or Plus3network.

As time was approaching closer to a start time everyone seemed to be a bit nervous. People were sizing their competition from their ears to toes. I did not know till the end how many people were going to be in my single speed category. All I knew it was going to be a tough and very painful race before I cross a finishing lane.

The weather conditions were prefect that day. The sun was covered by the clouds and the air was crispy clear with a little bit of mist in the air. That would guaranteed the maximum performance with minimum hydration – about a bottle of a liquid per lap.

As soon as the race began everyone was rushing to a single track in order to avoid a traffic congestion and being delayed on their timing. I was one of those riders. Last year I have lost about 2 minutes there and was not going to do the same mistake again. During this push through to a single track I saw several riders from my category. They looked pretty slim and in great shape overall. The only thought that was on my mind that this was going to be a tough race. I was going to keep my pace at near the maximum heart rate with some nice recoveries of flat sections and down the hill sections. This kind of distance on a single speed and mountain technical terrain requires patients and strategy in order to have a successful finish. If you go too fast you will burn your glycogen level way too fast and will slow down at the end which will result in bad results. General mental fatigue and muscle bonk is another important issue to watch out for. Lack of focusing during a maneuvering a technical terrain can cause serious injury during a crash. About the crash a bit later in this post.

The first lap was fairly easy. I have discovered that organizers have added a relatively difficult sandy section with rolling hills. Going through this section during each lap would be very painful and difficult. During a second lap I have noticed that my front wheel was not  holding air pressure. That probably happened when I hit a small bolder with my front wheel on my rigid fork. I took a risk by not stopping and pumping more air in. I had to wait 6 more miles till

I finish the lap and stop by an aid station where I can use stationary pump and save at least a minute. My gamble with a front wheel worked out and I was on my way to a third lap. During this lap I began passing quite a few racers on geared bikes. Two other guys from a single speed category caught up to me and three of us were fighting for a position. One of the guys has been dropped and never been seen again. The other guys took over and pushed forward ahead of me increasing the distance. I had to watch out for my heart rate and pace. I kept steady after this guy and was going to wait for a water tower climb which is a very steep climb. I have noticed that he was hitting his leg, which indicated he was bonking. Two thirds through climb he stopped and screamed because of the agonizing pain in his right calf. I passed him but this guy caught to me 10 minutes later again. I must say – strong guy. We have been rotating by pulling each other for the next 30-40 minutes and became so to speak friendly. However, on the next big climb the guy bonked again. I gave him a pack of GU with electrolytes and wished him good luck. I have never seen him again on a course.

I got my confidence back and began accelerating towards the end of a third lap. I have passed more and more riders as people began running out of energy. One can’t be too confident on such a technical course. On a third lap at the last downhill technical section I have crashed really hard. I will spare the explanation and instead you can just judge by looking at the photo. It took me about 30 seconds to shake myself up and check my bike first and then myself – fortunately nothing was broken. I continued on a third lap, picked up my last bottle of water and was on my way to a fourth lap. The tire pressure was holding up pretty good, considering that I have pumped 40 psi on 30 recommended.

Half way through a last lap I caught up with few guys who I knew from riding  and racing together. The mental fatigue and muscle pain was growing from passing every mile. On a 44th mile of the race my right calf began its screaming concert. Every downhill section I was using my fist to massage it and give it some rest. I was really concerned about water tower climb. That is the last very steep section before the end of the lap. I began my climb to the top slow and steady.

Two thirds through a climb I have noticed a rider from LCR who was sitting down and trying coop with the pain. I have pulled over and told him that I will walk with him to the top, basically, providing him a mental push. It worked. He gained his momentum back and began pulling away from me. After the water tower climb it was straight shot to a finishing lane with some minor climbs and single tracks. I was very excited that this painful race was about to be over and I could not wait till I see my results. The last mile I was spinning as hard as I could possibly spin on a single speed. By that time my adrenaline rush took over and I could not feel the pain from my crash, muscle pain and mental fatigue. It was all about crossing that finishing lane.

After checking my results I have found out that I have finished 4th which qualified me for a podium. I was stocked. Overall my timing was better than last year’s timing, considering that terrain was a bit harder this year due to the change of the course by organizers. Regular chiropractic care, deep tissue massage, proper diet and of course steady training all played a great role in a successful completion of this race. Thanks to everyone who came along and enjoyed this awesome once a year event. I will be back in 2013.

Last month I had a chance to travel to Denver Colorado with my family. It was a mix of business and pleasure. We took our 5 year old son with us to explore something new. After living in the Continental USA for over 20 years I have realized that I have traveled more to see the rest of the world like Asia, Europe and Middle East and never really explored the life in the rest of the country. Besides living  in Brooklyn, New York for 5 years and travel by car in four days to the West Coast – originally to Los Angeles area and then to San Francisco Bay Area where I have been living and working ever since. Last year we have visited New Orleans and this year it was time to explore a new city.

We have arrived to our hotel in Denver really late at night. It took a while to get a luggage, take air train to a bus took us to a rental car terminal and driving to a hotel. We woke up in the morning relatively early. Through the window of our hotel we were able to see the Mountains that surrounded Denver which were completely covered in a snow. I was trying to find the image on my camera of this amazing view but I was not able to. However, I have an image of the beautiful sky tat was all over the news that day.

The weather was really nice about75F and stayed like that pretty much the entire week, which was very warm for this time of the year for Denver, Colorado. We began our day by stopping at local Starbucks. Hot green tea and protein pack is our morning meal when we travel. Drive towards downtown Denver was nice and pleasant. The architecture along the way was very clean and modern. Most of the people in Downtown Denver live in multifamily buildings in spacious lofts or condo apartments. The city continues to expand its multi residential real estate with construction sites in different parts of the town.

Denver is full of life. Denver University brings in a lot of young people from all over the country and different parts of the world. I was able to hear people speaking Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Hindu and some other languages that my ear was not able recognize. Multiple restaurants and bar with tables outside attract many people to eat out. Denver is an extremely clean city. No matter what part of the town I was visiting it was still very clean. This is a photo from a zombie walk festival – one of the residents. A zombie walk is an organized public gathering of people who dress up in zombie costumes. Usually taking place in an urban center, the participants make their way around the city streets and through shopping malls to a public space (or a series of taverns in the case of a zombie pub crawl) in a somewhat orderly fashion.

Downtown has Bcycle station where you can rent the bike by an hour, day, week or a month or even get an annual pass. If you use the bike for 30 minutes between each Bcycle station it is absolutely FREE. All you need is your credit card to secure the payment and you are good to go. It is a great way to commute around downtown and avoiding driving a car and paying for very expensive parking for your vehicle. It is also an extremely healthy and green way to move around the town. Bcycle continue to expand its terminal station throughout downtown Denver.

LoHi, is the eastern section of popular Highland. Bordered by West 38th Ave, I-25, Zuni Street St and Speer. It’s home to young singles, urban professionals and growing families, who enjoy the quiet streets and proximity to neighborhood galleries, coffee shops and some of the city’s best eateries. This emerging area is home to exciting new modern architecture, which sit along side historic Victorian homes and brownstones. The Highland pedestrian bridge connects the ‘hood to downtown’ action.

There many things that little ones can do to entertain themselves. Denver Aquarium is an amazing place with great collection of fresh and salt water fish and animals. Children museum is another fun place for kids. I think fire truck and bubble blowing is the most fun our son have had while playing there. Hammonds Candy factory has a free tour for everyone every 30 minutes with fresh candy as a present at the end of the tour. Abundance of parks around the city with many playgrounds makes it easy for children to burn their energy and for adults to take a brake outside.

My family has really enjoyed visiting Denver. Perhaps next time we are in this neighborhood we will also visit the nearby towns such as Fort Collins, Boulder and Colorado Spring and the surrounding country sites. Next year we are planning for San Diego and Chicago trips.

Many of my patients ask me the same question over and over again: “How often and how long do I have to see a chiropractor for low back pain problems?” I always provide the same answer: “How often do you change oil in your car, do tune up, replace brake pads and tires and many other things that a vehicle requires in order to run properly?” Our body is a bio mechanical machine that requires as much care and maintenance is the vehicle you drive every day. Every day stress such as work, commute, household activities will eventually lead to low back pain problems. Sacrum and Lumbar spine are the center of the gravity for our bodies. If that area is deconditioned mechanical problems are inevitable – misaligned vertebrae in a lumbar spine or misaligned Sacroilliac joint. This misalignment (subluxation) will cause the irritation to the nerve root and will result in a muscle spasm which will cause more pain and discomfort. The longer one waits for this pain and discomfort to go away the greater the possibility that this problem will get worse.

Back in 2010 I have written a blog post – “Healthy Hints for a healthy Back” which describes how to properly stand and walk, sit, lift, sleep, drive and work. Following these simple advices will guarantee that your low back vertebraes will maintain proper alignment and injury to a soft tissue of the para-spinal musculature of the lumbar spine will be avoided or minimized.

Another blog post that was written the same year – “Lower Back Exercises.” talks about a conditioned para-spinal musculature of the lumbar spine and how it helps to prevent a low back pain. A series of exercise samples with pictures have been provided for your overview. Only ten to fifteen minutes a day will keep your low back young and strong.

Nothing can really replace a visit to your local chiropractor. A great full spine adjustment will make you feel really good. It will stimulate your peripheral and central nervous. Add electrical stimulation and moist heat for fifteen minutes and follow up with fifteen minutes deep tissue massage by a certified massage therapist and you will feel like a car that just had a complete tune up done, brans new tires installed and brake pads replaced. I get adjusted and get all of the therapies mentioned at least once a week some times more than once a week. My low back would fail me long time ago if I would not exercise on regular bases and did not get chiropractic care.

if you are not doing any of the three advices mentioned above, make a change in your life now. The sooner you start the better the chances that your low back pain will never bother you in a future.

If you have anything to add to this post, please feel free to Post a comment or share your thoughts through Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or comment section below to join the conversation.

One does not realize the level of difficulty of  TS – 100 till  the course is pedaled and hiked to the point where your body and mind has nothing left – Eduard Burt, D.C. 

I will remember July 14th, 2012 for as long as I live. That was the day that I was mentally and physically preparing myself for sometime – endurance riding several times a week, which included single speed and geared mountain biking as well road riding with climbs to a summit of Mount Diablo and Hamilton. During lunch I have added 1K swimming session, which were supposed to strengthen my upper body as well as increase my endurance level. My past racing experience was taken into consideration and certainly has provided a decent level of confidence for a technical part of the Tahoe Sierra 100 course.

Since every racer was given 15 hours to complete the course, I knew it was going to be a long ride and would require at least a day to recover before going back home. This time around I had my family coming with me to stay at Donner Lake Village.  Perfect combination for my wife and  son to stay at a beautiful lake and sandy beach and me being only 7 mile away from where the race began.

All of our belongings were packed on Thursday night and all I had to do was to hook my 29er on top of my SUV on Friday and we were good to go.

We have left around 2pm on Friday and we had to get to Soda Springs before 8pm to pick up a racing package. Timing looked good, as by GPS mark we were supposed to be there in three and a half hours. However, Sacramento Friday evening traffic was not taken into consideration and it took us over five hours to get there.

Upon arrival I got a chance to personally meet Jim Northey who has organized this race. He went over the course on a map with me and another guy who was doing 100 miler. The names of the Aid Stations all got mixed up in my head because he went over the course way too quick for someone who just drove for 5,5 hours none stop. But I have come prepared. A night before I have printed out a sheet with cut off times for all Aid Stations. If the rider does not get there within a certain period of time he or she will be pulled out of the race and be driven to a finish line.

Our hotel was only 7 miles away from where I have met Jim and picked up racing package. We have taken  Donner  Pass Road. This route opens up a magnificent view of a Donner Lake from the top of the mountain. That five hours drive was worth just for this view. The check in process at the resort was quick. We unloaded our belongings had some dinner, watched a bit of  TV and off to bed. I have set up my alarm for 4 AM. An hour to get ready, half an hour to get to a start line and half an hour for instructions before the race.

At 5 AM following morning I was inside of my vehicle driving through the same pass in the opposite direction. The dark sky was full of shining stars and the moon was very bright. This beautiful night sky was the indication that the day was going to be very hot.

I was one of the first arrivals on a parking lot. Within minutes the lot was full of cars and eager racers. Jim briefed us before the race and wished us all good luck.

 At 6AM hundreds of pairs of legs began their long and painful journey to a finish line. Since it was an endurance race the pace was very slow and steady. People were talking to each other and making jokes till the first steep climb. All you could hear then shifting of the gears and deep breaths.

I have never been on this course before and I did not know what to expect. I was maneuvering the first down hill really carefully just to make sure I don’t crash in the beginning. Jim warned us that that section has a lot of potholes. On a fifth mile of my race my chain got sucked in and I was not able to get it back out to a chain ring and chain stay. I had to open a lock on my brand new 10 speed Wipperman chain. I was very happy that the chain lock easily gave in and I was able to pull the entire chain out. Suddenly I have realized that the other half of the lock link was missing and I almost had a heart attack. I looked around and found it sticking out of the dirt. I have sealed the chain back into the derailers, locked it, and lubed it really quick and was back on a trail. I lost at least 10 minutes there. Many riders have passed me and I caught up with a few who eventually took the wrong turn and ended up making extra 3 miles and we all lost at least 20 minutes there trying to figure out our way out. Less than 2 hours into the race and I have lost 30 minutes on things that were not supposed to happen so soon into the race. I was looking at the cut off time of the first Aid Station and it did not look good. I hammered as hard as I could to make it there on time. The first Aid Station was Lyon Ridge, which was 14 miles away from a start line. I have made it there and got a cushion for the next Station which was a Redstar Ridge, 24 miles away from a start point. I have made it there relatively quick as terrain was not very technical. At that point I have passed two aid stations without stopping for a brake and 25% of the distance had been covered. I have passed Dustry corner in less than 3 hours of riding time and I was given 4,5 hours to accomplish it. So far timing looked good and I was very optimistic about finishing this long and painful journey. My next destination was MadCat/Road 43 Aid Station. The technical part of the course just kicked in and at some points I had to get off the bike and hike as I was saving my legs for the rest of the course. I was supposed to be at MadCat/Road 43 Aid Station  in 7 hours and I made it there in a little over 5 hours. Official 39 miles into the race, and 42 miles for me.  By the time I got into the MadCat/Road 43 Aid Station I could feel that my legs began cramping and the last miles toward this Aid Station I was going really slow. 42 miles mark into the race was the first rest stop for me. I had to refill my camel bag, eat some food, take an extra layer of clothing off that was overheating me from time to time and take some endurolyte pills in order to stop cramping. The crew was very friendly. They picked up my bike, cleaned and lubed my chain and tensioned handle bar bolts. In 5 or 10 minutes I was back on a trail pushing my way through against the clock. The cut off time was on my mind.

My next stop was Dusty Corner Aid Station. It is 52 miles from and official start line and about 55 miles for me and I was given 8, 5 hours to get there counting from a starting line. This time around pain really kicked in. A mile after my last rest stop both of my inner thigh muscles cramped on me completely and I had to stop for a couple of minutes and wait till endurolyte salt kicked in. The air temperature was rising every hour and I believe it has reached 98F that day. The journey to Dusty Corner Aid Station was very technical single track and steep. At some point I was under impression that the bike was going to go off the cliff as the trail got supper narrow with an endless drop down to nowhere. Yes, I was scared for sure. Will not look down next time – LOL. Some sections were not ride able at all and I had to hike a bike over loose rocks and dirt. The last couple of miles towards Dusty Corner Aid Station my body really began to feel the pain. I made it to Dusty Corner Aid Station in about 7,5 hours and I had about an hour of cushion to get to Deadwood Aid Station (65miles mark)  and 50 more miles to go and close to 10000ft of climbing. When I got to my next rest stop most of the supplies were gone because previous riders just vaporized them. I found a watermelon and literally shoved it down my throat and I remember I drank a lot of water. I took some of the GU packs with me and I used 3 of them at this rest stop. Again these guys were very nice. They lubed and cleaned the chain on my bike and they told me that the most difficult part of the course is ahead of me. These 50 miles were super hard but what was coming was beyond my expectation.

Deadwood Aid Station – my Final Destination

My next destination was Deadwood Aid Station. I have slowly gained a momentum on a big fire road. About half a mile into my ride I had to turn left into a single track. That was the most technical, steep and with numerous switchbacks single track that I have ever taken. My hands were burning after this steep descent. The reward at the bottom of this trail was a beautiful view of the river and fresh air that was cooled down by the running river. I took a minute to get my senses back before I could continue to a hike a bike section. Many riders knew about the hike a bike section. But few have realized what that really meant. We are talking about super steep climb with loose rocks and dirt with a bike in your hand. Short hike with almost 2000 ft of elevation gain. This what seemed to be never ending hike took almost everything out of me. As I was pushing forward on this steep climb I have realized that I was moving way too slow to make it to a cut off time. I was literally pushing the endurance limits of my body. When I got to a Deadwood Aid Station the elapsed time was 10 hours and 10 minutes with 65 miles covered and 9000ft of climbing. I was not allowed to push forward with this race according to the rules of this race. At this point my legs were done. I really did not have much left in me anyway. Assuming I did not loose 30 minutes in the beginning of the race the maximum I was able to do would be may be another ten miles of riding. Below is a self portrait at Deadwood Aid Station – I look possessed. The photo above was the expression of pain and exhaustion on 07/14/2012 after 10 hours and 10 minutes of riding. Here is my GPS STRAVA data for my ride. My suffer score is something I have never seen before even after 100 miles road rides.

This is my new personal record for a distance and climb on a mountain bike. I have really pushed my limits on TS –100. I was extremely happy with what I have accomplished so far as it was the most difficult endurance mountain bike race in Northern America. I am coming back next year to accomplish my mission. My goal is to cross a finishing line next year and concur Tahoe Sierra 100 miles race. Kudos to all of the participants, who were able to cross the finish line.

I will be back for 2013 TS –100 race.

If you have anything to add to this post, please feel free to Post a comment or share your thoughts through Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or comment section below to join the conversation.

This is a guest post By Beth Ellyn Rosenthal.

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

Thomas Edison    

Want to eat yourself healthy? You can, thanks to the immutable laws of endocrinology.

Science has proven how smoking can cause lung cancer and excess drinking can hurt your liver.  And just one touch of a leaf of a poison ivy plant can lead to irrational itching.

The same principle applies to becoming healthy. You can literally eat yourself back into bio balance if  you know what to eat. The theory is: if you understand how your body functions, you can use that knowledge to heal naturally. In fact, you have to return to biochemical equilibrium before you can fix any health problem without the intervention of drugs.

However, you do have to be patient. Natural cures take months, sometimes a year. But then  you fix the problem forever, as long as you control what you put into your mouth.

Here are some examples:

Weight loss

 If you need to lose weight, you must recalibrate your metabolism. The only way to do this is get your body back into biobalance.

You have to get six trace elements that need to be balanced in order for your body to behave appropriately. Otherwise, they will create a biochemical road block that will keep you heavier than you’d like forever.

These six elements are:

• Calcium
• Chromium
• Copper
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Potassium

People having trouble losing weight are typically toxic with calcium and copper and deficient in the other four elements. So, eat cherries (to increase iron), stop eating chocolate (it’s high in copper, and that will be the hardest one), shake black pepper on everything (increases chromium), eat more bananas (potassium) and seafood (magnesium), and keep the salmon to a minimum (calcium).

PMS, Hot Flashes, Night Sweats and Menopause Symptoms:

 All are caused by a copper/zinc imbalance, which leads to too much estrogen and not enough progesterone in the body.

Most Western women are toxic with copper and don’t have enough zinc. The fix is easy: cut out the foods high in copper, especially during PMS week, and eat more of the foods loaded with zinc.

Female infertility

(If all the parts are working) is caused by a copper/zinc imbalance, too.

Female hair loss

Caused  by a copper/zinc, sodium/potassium and/or a calcium/magnesium imbalance. Sorry, educated eating won’t stop male hair loss but it will slow the process!

Osteoporosis

Is caused by over 30 difficult biochemical imbalances. Not enough calcium is one. So is too much calcium. But the big cause is too much copper. (Swim in the ocean because most pools use copper algaecide. And grapes are for the birds, literally. They are loaded with copper.)

It only takes 21 days to change a habit. Changing what you put in your mouth can change your life.

If you have anything to add to this post, please feel free to Post a comment or share your thoughts through Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or comment section below to join the conversation.

 This is a guest post by Janna Rogers. Because our bodies face so many infectious challenges from day to day, it’s wise to keep your immune system strong and healthy. If you give your body the tools it needs to have good health, you will be able to enjoy a long and prosperous life! There are many ways to boost and strength our own immune systems naturally, but here are my favorites.

Sugar and Allergens

Completely removing allergens and sugars from your diet will help your immune system immensely. It’s been proven that sugar can impair white blood cells for a brief time period after consumption. Find out what your food allergies are and take those out of your system as well.

Managing Stress

Learning how to deal with stress will help our immune systems in many ways. When we handle stress in a negative manner, our body responds the same way. Research has proven that a positive outlet for stress yield big results when it comes to health, so figure out what you need to do ASAP!

Regular Exercise

An appropriate program will help the immune system, but an exercise program that is too intense may suppress your immune system. If you’ve never worked out before, get to the gym, but take it slow. Start out with reasonable exercise, and don’t be afraid to barely do anything your first couple of times. You need to wake those muscles up before training them!
Good Sleep

Sleep is your weapon. When we are sleeping, the body naturally releases substances that help to enhance the immune system. If you don’t get enough rest, your immune system could become erratic and not function at its best. A good night’s sleep will boost your immune system immensely and will also help repair the body.

Filtered Water

Water is the magical cure-all for almost everything, and best of all, it’s natural. It’s great for helping boost your immune system and it’s essential to look and feel good. Without adequate water, you’re more prone to headaches, irregular bowel movements, dry skin, and (you guessed it) diseases! Take it upon yourself to get hydrated now!

All of these tips are great ways to enhance your own immune system naturally. These are so timely because in today’s world of processed food, inactivity & crazy antibiotic-resistant organisms, we must do everything we can to stay healthy. Why not start feeling better and protecting your body today?

If you have anything to add to this post, please feel free to Post a comment or share your thoughts through Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or comment section below to join the conversation.

This is a guest post by Michael Valhalla. How many times have you caught yourself saying, “it will just go away”, or “I’ll just take some pain pills”? It’s always the easiest way out to think that your pain is going to go away. Maybe it will! But letting a pain go on and on is like saying that the check engine light on the car will just go away. Letting pain linger can bring more damage to the body than you may really know. To prevent further damage to the body, below are some signs that indicate you should see your chiropractor for help.

Trauma Pain – Accidents that are caused from sports injuries or car accidents or even a hard fall can result in some underlying problems that a chiropractor can detect. Auto accidents can have long lasting injuries to the body and treatments need to begin soon after an accident to limit inflammation and help to restore normal movement. These things can lead to nerve damage, broken bones, herniated disks and torn ligaments. Many of those issues will go away by themselves, but most will need some chiropractic help to get rid of. Remember that just because your car looks fine, doesn’t mean you are!

Extremity Pain – When you have constant pain in the arms and legs you should see a chiropractor. Pain in the extremities is a sure sign that something is inflamed and could mean a possible disc problem, nerve problem, or other serious problem that needs to be diagnosed by a chiropractor.

Range of Motion – This is one of the most clearcut signs that you should see a chripractor. If you can’t move your arm in your shoulder socket as much as you usually can, or you feel a pinch everytime you bend your ankle a certain way. It would behoove you to make an appointment!

Waking Pain – Pain that is so painful that it wakes you up at night could be a sign of a serious problem that a chiropractor needs to evaluate. Rest assured that these will not go away with simple rest – you’ve already proven that that’s definitely not the case!

Numbness/Tingling – Frequent numbness or tingling (especially in the legs or back area) is a serious sign that you need to get help. Most of the time, this is some type of issue with a nerve, and a doctor is the only one that can tell you what this is. Not doing so could result in irreversible pain and/or damage.

When it comes to seeing a chiropractor, keep an open mind. Many people are misinformed at what they can do and there is more than enough evidence that proves the therapeutic benefits, as well as safety benefits, of a chiropractor. They have the same education as a medical doctor, they accept insurance, and they are very helpful for many common injuries. So, don’t even spend another minute in doubt. When in pain, see your chiropractor.

If you have anything to add to this post, please feel free to Post a comment or share your thoughts through Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or comment section below to join the conversation.

Most people use drug and alcohol as a coping strategy for the stresses of life. When you suffer from anxiety, you need to be able to find more effective coping strategies and ways to control your anxiety in order to cut down on the desire to revert back to your old habits. To help you with that process, here are several strategies for coping with anxiety.

Preventing Relapse with Anxiety Coping Strategies

• Factor in Minor Anxiety Triggers

When most people think of anxiety causes, they focus on the larger issues like a breakup, a death in the family, job stress, etc. But on the road to recovery, it’s often the smaller triggers you need to account for. Watching horror movies, for example, may sound like an interesting idea, but the little bit of anxiety you get after watching the movie can add up with other life stresses, and ultimately make your anxiety feel more overwhelming. Any little thing that causes fear and anxiety should be avoided, especially early in your recovery.

• Find Positive, Optimistic People

Positivity is an important step toward remaining anxiety free and experiencing social support from those around you. Your old friends, your workplace – even your family – if they are negative people that don’t seek out happiness and positivity in their own lives, you may need to cut ties and focus on finding those that will promote better wellness.

• Staying Physically Active

Exercising is a shockingly effective anxiety reduction technique, and an important part of drug recovery. Just 10 to 15 minutes of running can relax your entire body, and maintaining good health helps reduce some of the feelings that may trigger a relapse. You can also consider playing more sports with your friends or strangers, as this puts you in a social and productive situation with some friendly competition and a goal – all of which are useful for both anxiety and recovery.

• Developing an Anxiety Coping System

You should also consider developing a method of coping that you can do immediately if you feel any anxiety or stress in your life. One idea is to create a space in your home that’s 100% designed for relaxation – a space that is drug free, technology free, and distraction free. Any time you feel any level of anxiety, acknowledge it and go directly to your coping space. If you don’t have room in your home, finding a location (park, backyard, etc.) that offers the same type of relaxation and go there immediately.

• Create an Anxiety Network

When you’re in recovery, you often have a sponsor or someone you call when you’re worried about relapse. Develop something similar for your anxiety, because anxiety can lead to relapse if it is not coped with effectively. Make sure you have backup people to call if you feel yourself getting anxious so that there is always someone available and make sure those people are positive and ready to help you no matter the time or day. There may be no such thing as an anxiety cure, but having people around to contact can go a long way toward reducing the effects of anxiety on your mind and body.

Dealing with Anxiety to Prevent Drug Relapse

Anxiety on its own may not promote a relapse. Yet anxiety that isn’t controlled can add up, creating stress that pushes you toward your previous, unhealthy coping strategy. If you’re experiencing severe anxiety you should seek out immediate help, calling a therapist and making sure the anxiety doesn’t make you do something you regret. But the little tips above can also be a big help, by preventing the likelihood of experiencing severe anxiety and focusing your attention on activities that are far more productive.

About the Author: Ryan Rivera’s anxiety often become so overwhelming that he sought out unhealthy coping mechanisms until he managed to control it.

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Allergies are triggered by the immune system mistaking food proteins as an infection threatening the body. The immune system produces chemicals to combat the supposed infection, and these chemicals cause the allergic reaction. Symptoms commonly include itchiness of the mouth, throat, or ears, hives, and facial swelling around the eyes, lips, tongue, or roof of the mouth. Severe reactions can cause life-threatening breathing problems with anaphylactic shock. The severity of a reaction can vary with each exposure.

Common childhood allergies include dairy, nuts, and eggs. Adults are often allergic to various fruits, nuts, and vegetables. The majority of children with food allergies also have eczema. The earlier the onset of eczema and the worse it is, the more likely the child has a food allergy. Asthma and hay fever are also commonly associated with food allergies. If a child’s parent or sibling has asthma, dermatitis, or a food allergy, then the child is more likely to have a food allergy, though not necessarily to the same foods as the relative.

There are two basic versions of food allergies. The most common version is triggered by the antibody known as immunoglobulin E. The symptoms occur rapidly after exposure, often within minutes or even seconds, and there is a greater likelihood of anaphylactic shock. The other version is called non-immunoglobulin E, with symptoms exhibiting hours or even days after exposure.

There is no cure for food allergies, but milder symptoms can be treated with antihistamines. Adrenaline pens are prescribed to patients at risk for anaphylactic shock. There are home tests available, but it is critical to properly identify the allergic foods in order to control reactions, so you should be properly tested and diagnosed by a specialist. Many children outgrow their allergies by the age of five, particularly allergies to milk, eggs, soy, and wheat. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, and those that began in adulthood are generally lifelong allergies.

Food intolerance, on the other hand, is not an immune system issue but a digestive issue and is never life-threatening. Symptoms commonly include diarrhoea, bloating, and cramps. It is caused by the body’s inability to digest certain substances. One of the most common intolerances is to lactose. This is caused by the body’s lack of the lactase enzyme which breaks lactose down, so the lactose remains in the system long enough to be fermented by bacteria; the fermentation creates the symptoms.

Intolerance symptoms usually start several hours after the food was consumed. While a trace amount of an allergic food can cause a reaction, intolerance usually happens after larger amounts. Elimination of triggers may not be necessary; sometimes small amounts digest fine. It is up to you to determine what you can handle, but be aware the amount may change with age.

Dr. Gillian Hart is a Scientific Director for YorkTest Laboratories who specialise in food intolerance testing and allergy testing to help people who suffer with irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and wheat intolerance symptoms.

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