Isn’t it strange, how seemingly healthy individuals can go from competing in a triathlon one week, to being diagnosed with a major illness? Or how a person can eat right, exercise and live a relatively stress-free life but succumb to a heart attack?

Though the symptoms may not have  been apparent, these health problems did not just appear out of the blue. In fact, they had probably been lingering for quite sometime.

“How can we find out what is going on inside of our bodies before it’s too late?” I asked myself one day.    After extensive research,  I came across a system that could tell us just that!

It’s called the ES-Teck System. The Es-Teck is an extraordinary system that introduces electric signals of very low intensity to the interstitial fluid of the body by means of 6 electrodes in order to see in 3D modeling what is happening exactly inside your vital organs and body, and it only takes 3 minutes to do. It has the ability to reveal health indicators before symptoms are manifested, and allows us to provide the person with the recommendations necessary to live happier, healthier, and maybe even longer!

I purchased the ES-Teck System as a preventative tool for my patients and my community. Unfortunately, in North America this type of technology is not used as much as it should be as our society is not focussing enough on preventative care and tend to focus more on “reactive” care.

There are many benefits to the scan, here are just a few….

–>Provides you with a NON-INVASIVE full body system analysis

–>Allows you to have a PREVENTIVE lifestyle in order to take action BEFORE anomaly becomes symptomatic.

–> Can be used to ENHANCE sports performance.

–> Allows SAFE and EFFICIENT evaluations without side effects or discomfort.

–> Analyzes your: cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, immune and nervous systems as well as brain and metabolic functions, and MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Don’t only guess that you are healthy because you look good and feel good, find out if you really are healthy from the inside out? Find out more at Beauchamp Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center.

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with friends or family members that render you miserable. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You are worthy of great friends who support you on your best days and on your worst days. Don’t let negative people infiltrate your life, you deserve the best!
 2. Stop running from your problems. – Deal with issues as they come! Don’t wait. It won’t be easy, but it will save you from a lot of emotional turmoil. Keep in mind, however, that no one is able to instantly solve problems. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Facing problems allows us to learn, adapt, and grow as a person.
 3. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – How many of you devote yourself to your spouse, your children, and your friends but forget to schedule time for yourself? It’s important to help other, but even more important to help yourself. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
 4. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and regret past decisions. But we are not our mistakes! Don’t dwell on the past focus on the present and look forward to the future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
 5. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – That other job opportunity you’ve been eying, that vacation you’ve been dying to take – you’re ready for it! Stop doubting yourself and do it! Who knows what will happen tomorrow, live for today! Don’t let insecurities stop you from reaching your goals.
 6. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. –Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only. Stop worrying about what your coworker or sister thinks of you! Every goal you undertake, every job you do should be for yourself- not to prove a point to someone else.
 7. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curve balls are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. Sure, it’s hard to see the benefits at first, but be strong! Things will get better. Don’t dwell on the negative aspects of your life, focus on the positive and your circumstances will drastically improve- I promise.
 8. Stop holding grudges. – Have you ever heard of holding a grudge as an effective means for conflict resolution? I think not. Let go and forgive. Forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too.
 9. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – When all is said and done, who really cares what you do? Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Do what you think is right!
 10. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Take the time to enjoy the little things in life- a sunset, a joke among friends, or a compliment from a stranger. Oftentimes, these little things turn into the big moments in life, the moments we remember.
 11. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – You are the master of your own life. Though others may have contributed to your hardships, you have the power to change your circumstances. Your problems are yours to change.
 12. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Sorry to break it to you, but you are no super hero. Trying to be everything for everyone will only tire you out. Narrow your focus, and take time for yourself!
 13. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. Can the issue be solved today? Will worrying about a certain circumstance improve anything? No, then stop worrying about it.
 14. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – It’s the Law of Attraction-focus or dwell on something and it will happen. Instead of thinking about the not so good aspects of your life, focus on what you want, and watch your life change for the better.
 15. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Don’t think about what you are missing, think about all that you have!

Sure some of these are easier said then done, but even attempting to do so will greatly improve your life. Stop taking yourself for granted, stop over thinking things! You are an amazing person with the power to do anything you set your mind to. To having 2012 be your best year ever!  Would love to know what your stop doing things are?

While thinking about the topic I wanted to discuss in this week’s newsletter, I kept coming back to the stress that we all face this time of year. From time constraints and shopping headaches to holiday feasts and financial worries, everyone is dealing with a huge array of stressors this time of year.

Are you worrying too much right now? Are you so busy taking care of everyone and everything else that you are forgetting to take care of you? If so, don’t feel bad. We all do this. But, there are some things you can do to lessen your stress and make the days between now and the new year “merry and bright”.

As many of you already know, there are three dimensions of health - Psychological, Physical, and Biochemical (Nutrition). Their names are pretty self- explanatory and each of these have a major effect on your overall health. The following are some tips on how to handle holiday stressors in each of these three dimensions:

Psychological Dimension:

1.  Don’t go shopping during peak hours. Though the sales may be tempting, the added stress of the crowds and rushing to get the items you want can hurt you both emotionally and financially.
2.  Make sure you write a list before you go shopping. Plan ahead and know what you need and where you need to go. The less prepared you are, the more frantic and frustrating those shopping trips will be.
3.  Doing some of your shopping online will also help. You can skip the long lines and crowded stores and there is often a larger selection available online. Most online stores even allow for shipping directly to the gift recipient as well as gift wrapping!
4.  When shopping, be sure you have a budget. Planning out your holiday shopping budget and sticking to it will leave you with less regret in the new year. And don’t forget the holiday meals. Be sure that you include the food and decorations in your budget so you don’t find yourself in a bind after buying all the gifts.
5.  When doing wrapping, decorating, cooking, or other holiday preparations light some candles, play some music, and engage the entire family in the activity. Keep things light and festive and you will enjoy the holiday tasks much more.
6.  Take more time for yourself and your family. This is the perfect time of year to nurture your most important relationships and, with less work and school, it will be easy to plan family time.
7.  Remind yourself often that it is the holidays and it is supposed to be a joyous time. Give yourself permission to relax and enjoy everything. Actively thinking about this will help you to reduce your stress level so you can focus on the truly important things.

Physical Dimension:

1.  Don’t forget to workout! I know you have a busy schedule and a ton of things to get done but, this is a must. Working out can relieve stress and put you in the right frame of mind to deal with everything that comes up during the day.
2.  Be sure you schedule your workout into your day. You are less likely to skip it (especially if you schedule it for first thing in the morning) and the simple idea of having at least one scheduled thing that you have complete control over will be a welcome structure to what may otherwise be a hectic day.
3.  If you are visiting family and are unable to get to a gym, schedule a daily walk. Take a different route each day if possible just to change it up a bit. It is a great way to take in some new sights if you’ve never been there before or, to reacquaint yourself with the surroundings if you are going “home”. Relive old memories or make some new ones while taking care of your body and your mind!

Biochemical (Nutritional) Dimension:

1.  Always eat something before you leave home. A healthy meal or light snack will keep you from being hungry while you are running your errands and you won’t be so tempted to stop for that burger and fries.
2.  Pick certain meals during which you will treat yourself and give yourself permission to enjoy it without guilt. Portions are the real enemy during the holidays, not the foods themselves. You can eat a little of everything you want and still maintain your health.
3.  When choosing your foods – eat more vegetables and lean meats such as turkey and chicken. Putting more of these on your plate will help to fill you up and the smaller portions of higher calorie and more dense foods such as pastas and breads will satisfy your desires for them.
4.  If you are attending a potluck dinner, offer to prepare and bring a healthy dish. Even if all of the other foods there are bad, you know you will have at least one item that is good for you. Plus you’ll have the added benefit of knowing that you are contributing to the health of everyone else who eats it!
5.  Get the junk out of the house as quickly as possible. Allowing these foods to sit around will put you under a lot of pressure. The temptation will often be too much. Send the leftovers home with guests or store it in a separate storage freezer/refrigerator.
6.  Go easy on the sweets. You don’t have to abstain from them completely, just watch your portions. If Aunt Sue makes the best sugar pie in the world, there’s no reason for you to miss out while everyone else enjoys it. Take a smaller than normal slice and enjoy!
7.  Another big health enemy during the holidays is alcohol. Most alcoholic drinks are filled with empty calories and can quickly undo all of your hard work (eggnog anyone?). Plan to have a single drink or glass of wine at any event and you won’t feel like you are missing out on anything.
8.  Keep a diary of what you are eating. This creates accountability and will often cause you to eat less. Don’t beat yourself up if you do get off track. During the holidays we all tend to overeat and partake of the wrong things. 9.  If you fall off the wagon, just dust yourself off and climb back on the next day. Get right back into your normal healthy habits and forget the day before. There’s no need to dwell on it and stress out. It happens to all of us!

My last tip can be applied to any of the three dimensions of health. Set aside some time for setting your 2012 goals. Whether they are geared toward your psychological, physical, biochemical or any combination of the three, it is important to begin this process before the new year. This way you will be ready to hit the road running and you won’t have to spend the first week of the new year focused on your Wellness Plan.

I personally use Tony Robbins’ goal setting CD to prep for the new year. I listen to it at the end of every year and he walks me through the goal setting process. The hour and a half program helps me get a perspective on the next twelve months and allows me to start it off prepared. Do you have a goal setting strategy that you use every year? Are you trying out a new one this year? If the answer to either of those is yes, please share it with me in the comments. I would love to hear what tools work best for you!

Try adding these popular games to your workout routine:

Image from IGN.com

Dance Dance Revolution: This high-energy dancing game will literally have you stepping to the beat! Players step and jump on a dance pad connected to the game console, in time with the beat of the music and the arrows on the screen. Much harder than it looks, it’s a bit like a step/aerobics class mixed with a night out at the club, and the different difficulties will ensure you get a good sweat on.

Image from IGN.com

EA Sports Active: If you’re looking for a intense, challenging workout that combines cardio and strength training, try EA Sports Active, which includes activities like kickboxing, ab exercises and running and multi-week training programs to help you track your progress and set goals. The game even comes with accessories such as heart rate monitors, leg straps and resistance bands to make your workout more authentic, plus an online community where you can share your success stories.

Wii Fit Plus: No blog post about fitness video games would be complete without the one that started it all – Wii Fit. The game is great for beginners, with lots of fun mini games and virtual classes for step and martial arts, as well as yoga and strength exercises. This newest edition includes lots of new features, including a calorie-burn counter and even a cute option to keep fit with your pet! While it’s not the most strenuous of workouts, it’s a really fun way to get started, and the strength and yoga exercises are quite challenging and the perfect way to strengthen your core and balance.

Your Shape: Fitness Evolved: If you want to be able to customize your workout according to your goals, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved will allow you to choose from a very wide variety of activities and regimens, from dance routines to Boot Camp classes to yoga to floor exercises, and even hula-hooping. This Kinect-exclusive game also enables you to analyze your form and compare your movements to your virtual trainer. (Just be careful not to wear clothing that’s too loose as reviews indicate the game may get confused.)

What are your favourite fitness video games? Have you had success in using a game in your workouts? Let us know in the comments below!

You’ve no doubt seen the facial hair sprouting on most males this month as part of the Movember movement, and while many see it as just a fun social phenomenon, there’s a pretty serious cause behind it – prostate cancer. So what’s the deal with the prostate and prostate cancer? Here are some quick facts and tips on how to maintain prostate health.

The shocking stats
It is said that on average, before the age of seven, a child will fall approximately 2500 times, and that even before age three, they will have had three major falls. It is also estimated that 47.9% of children land on their head in their first year of life – obviously you can’t do a lot about the forces of nature on this, but you can help your child with preventative and post-fall chiropractic!

Your child’s developing spine is a precious thing. From the moment a baby is born and starts inhabiting our world full of man-made objects, like furniture, beds, changing tables, etc., the possibility of falls is very high.  In fact, almost 50% of one-year-olds fall from high places. Unfortunately, it goes with the territory.

Childhood falls and the brain
There are literally hundreds of ways a child can fall, whether it happens from a “natural” fall, or from outside factor like a sibling pushing them. And every time they do, they can be subluxated. Not only that, but as your child’s body is developing, so is their brain. And if they sustain any injuries in the first two years of life, those injuries can manifest in brain health problems over their entire lifetime.

In fact, studies have shown that 65% of neurological development (brain and nervous system0 happen in the child’s first year. The nervous system controls every cell – tissue and organ in the body.  Even just being born places a huge amount of stress on the spine, depending on the position of the baby in the uterus. Studies of 1000 infants  have shown 80% had some form of nerve dysfunction and other problems such as:

• breathing weakness
• irritability
• regurgitation
• colic (incomplete protein breakdown)
• sleeping issues
• headaches
• hyperactivities
• ear infections
• behavioral problems
• difficulty feeding/latching
• bedwetting and digestive issues
•  assist in sleep issues

A good reason to get to a chiropractor early on!

Natural resiliency isn’t what it’s cracked up to be
It’s true that children can seem “resilient” – they seem almost as pliable as clay and able to bend and twist in any number of directions, falls or not. But don’t let that fool you. Besides the obstacles in the home and in the yard your child will face even more as they head to kindergarten and school.

Whether child or adult, when we fall, much like a cat, our muscles immediately tense up as we brace for impact (which can be voluntary or involuntary). Guess what that does to the spine? That’s right. More sublaxation.

Chidren’s chiropractic is safe and gentle
Did you know that chiropractic is safe for children, yes, even babies, too? Chiropractors use different techniques than they do with adults and are trained in how to carry out these special techniques. Keep in mind that just because your child may easily “get over” falling when they stop crying, doesn’t mean their spinal alignment hasn’t been adversely affected. Problems can easily linger if not checked.

When you think about all the times a child falls, can you see why you’d need to have regular chiropractic visits?

And don’t forget there is more than the spine to think about. Your child’s head and neck are a key part of the body they need to rely on for every move they make. It’s fairly common for children to suffer with head and neck aches. But it shouldn’t be. A headache doesn’t always mean they’ve had too much sugar!

Childhood is not the end of spinal problems of course. Many adults fall or are injured in any number of activities. What about the man who stoops over to get something off the bottom shelf of the fridge and “click”, his back suddenly goes out, and he ends up bedridden for days? Do you think that injury just happened in that moment? It could very well be an unhealed injury from childhood – and that injury may have been just as “slight”, but as you can see, its effect is far from slight. Now that the injury has been “woken up”, it’s not likely to go away.

10 reasons parents now take their children to see a chiropractor:

• overall health and well-being
• to strengthen the immune system – decrease incidents of colds, earaches, and general illnesses. Research is showing that regular chiropractic care – more than seven times per year increase resistance to common childhood diseases – chiropractic patients in a research study had 200% greater immune function then non-chiropractic ones
• colic
• breathing difficulties and allergies
• posture and scoliosis detection
• to improve child’s ability to concentrate
• to assist in behavioral disorders

As a parent, you always want to give your child as good as chance as possible for a healthy and happy life. And if you start chiropractic at the right time, in their formative years, it will go a long way to helping make that happen!

Why go raw? The most widely cited reason is that cooking may deactivate many of the important enzymes and nutrients in foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and herbs. These are vital for improving metabolic function, breaking down and digesting certain nutrients, and fighting off disease. As well, there are the side benefits of saving the fuel and the extra cost of the salts, oils and sweeteners often required in cooking.

However, a completely raw diet may not be for everyone, as it can sometimes be difficult to digest (as writer and natural foods expert Nancy Lee Bentley writes: “The higher proportion of nutrients in raw food is useless if the food can’t be digested, absorbed and assimilated.”)

So if you’re looking for a few ways to eat more raw foods and take advantage of the health benefits of a raw diet, but you’re not sure you can handle a full-on switch, here are some easy tips:

1. Juice up: Juicing is a tasty way to load up on fruits and vegetables, especially as you’ll be breaking down some of the hard-to-digest fibres. Try different combinations to find your favourite flavours – a zesty apple, carrot and ginger juice can be a great start to your morning, or maybe, as Dr. Oz suggests, a banana spinach smoothie that’s high in potassium, folate, vitamins K and A, and magnesium.

2. Get a little nutty: Nut and seed butters are a terrific substitute for other processed spreads, provide a good source of protein and fats and are really easy to make. Simply grind up your choice of nut or seed (make sure to look for the unroasted kind) into a fine powder in a coffee grinder, then transfer to a food processor. Add a tablespoon of oil until it’s a little runnier than you’d like, add some salt or honey to taste, then refrigerate in a jar.

3. Become a souper-man or -woman: If you’re looking for a delicious way to fill up on raw vegetables, look out for recipes for gazpachos and other cold soups. Blend together ingredients like sundried tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and garlic until smooth and top up with coarsely chopped tomatoes, onions, avocado or corn kernels.

4. Salad days: Of course, salads are the easiest way to eat your fruits and veggies raw. To spice up your greens, try adding in fresh herbs like parsley and oregano, chopped raw nuts, chunky bits of avocado, raw sunflower or sesame seeds, or drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil.

There are lots of great raw food resources on the Internet; I like Rawmazing and Raw Food Nation, both of which have lots of handy recipes for newbies and hardcore raw foodists alike.

Do you have any good raw food recipes? Share some of your favourites in the comments section!

13 Benefits of Strength Training

1. Increases strength of muscles, tendons and ligaments
2. Increases stability of joints
3. Increases muscle mass
4. Increases bone density and bone mass
5. Improves body composition
6. Improves motor coordination
7. Reduces the risk of osteoporosis
8. Reduces the signs and symptoms of chronic diseases such as Arthritis and Type 2 Diabetes
9. Improves sleep and reduces sleep disorders
10. Reduces depression
11. Improves flexibility
12. Reduces the number of falls in older adults
13. Reduces severity of injuries by strengthening supportive structures, developing muscle balance around joints and increasing your muscles’ ability to absorb energy

So what are you waiting for ladies? Are 13 benefits not enough to convince you? If you want to “tone-up”, grab some weights and start lifting. Don’t be shy! The benefits will be huge for both your health and your confidence. Not sure if you should do free weights or machine – keep on reading and find out about the pros and cons of both. Have fun and see you in the weight room!:)

Free-Weights vs. Machines
Strength training with free-weights, when done properly and with good form is generally more beneficial than training with machines. This is primarily because most machines can’t be adjusted perfectly for your size. This can cause you to a) do the exercise wrong; b) do it in a way that hurts you; and c) do it in a way that doesn’t benefit you. The range of motion is also more limited on machines. In comparison, the range of motion with free weights resembles the movements you do in everyday life: this will benefit you more. Still, there is controversy and disagreement over which is better; some personal trainers prefer machines as a safer alternative when clients aren’t used to lifting weights.

Free-Weight Pros
Increases the use of your stabilizing muscles, thereby increasing your core strength
The range of motion when using free-weights is similar to everyday activities
Hones your perception of balance and the location of your body in the space around you
It’s convenient and inexpensive!

Free-Weight Cons
Increases risk of injury if you don’t use proper form
You spend a lot of time changing weights
If your gym doesn’t have a lot of free-weights, you may spend a lot of time waiting for the ones you want

Machine Pros
Can be great for beginners
Offers an array of weight choices
Can prevent some injuries since the machines control the range of motion
Faster workouts – easier transition from one machine to another

Machine Cons
Increases the risk of overuse and injuries
Mistaken sense of safety – you can overload your muscles with too much weight
Locks your body in place with specific movement patterns – with free weights you can respect the body’s natural range of motion