Tension headaches are one of the most common forms of headaches. Other forms of headaches include migraines, sinus headaches and cluster headaches, but tension headaches seem to be the one type of headache that most people experience. In fact, the World Health Organization recently stated that about half of all adults suffer from headache disorders, including tension headaches.

Canada.com quoted Dr. Shekhar Saxena, WHO's director of mental health and substance abuse disorders on June 20, 2011, "Headache and migraine disorders are greatly underrated and underreported by health systems and receive too little attention." This news story goes on to say that headache disorders (including tension headaches) have a ripple effect. There are huge economic and societal costs that result from time off work.

What Is A Tension Headache?

More often than not, a tension headache is a mild to moderate pain that can be best described as having a tight rubber band squeezing the head. It may also sometimes feel as though the muscles in the head are contracting. Tension headaches are not just restricted to the head because some individuals feel discomfort or pain in the neck or on the scalp.

This headache-type occurs at any age but they are most common in adults.

If a tension headache occurs two or more times with a week and persists for several weeks, then this condition is referred to as being chronic. Sometimes a primary headache can be over-treated therefore a person who is regularly on pain medication for more than three days a week can develop rebound headaches.

Tension Headache Causes

Causes of tension headaches are often when the muscles on the neck and scalp contract – and this is tension. These contractions can be a natural response to various stimuli such as: stress, anxiety, depression or a head injury. In addition, if you engage in an activity that demands your head to be in one position for any length of time without moving it, this can cause a tension headache. Other causes include if you slept in the wrong position or sleeping in a room that's too cold.

According to the National Institutes of Health there are also triggers that can start a tension headache. Some of these triggers include:

• Colds/flu
• Dental problems such as teeth grinding
• Eye strain
• Too much smoking
• Alcohol use
• Excessive caffeine intake
• Nasal congestion/sinus infection
• Fatigue
• Overexertion

Tension Headache Symptoms

Tension headache pain does not throb and it is not a sharp pain. It's pressure with a dull-like pain. There are other symptoms such as the feeling of a tight rubber band on the head and the pressure/pain is felt all over, not isolated in one place. These sensations can be felt on the scalp, at the temples, back of the neck and possibly in the shoulders.

These symptoms may be an isolated event or they may be frequent. The pain may even get worse if triggered by stress, noise, glare or fatigue.

Nausea or vomiting is very rarely associated with this type of headache and sleeping may be very difficult if suffering from a tension headache.

Treatment Options

You can often spot a person who is at the onset or experiencing a tension headache because you see them massaging their temples, neck or scalp. If you find yourself trying to massage yourself and it is not working, then profession massage therapy is a viable treatment option. Massage therapy in Richmond Hill at Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has helped many patients get rid of tension headaches and has worked as a preventative measure.

Other treatments for milder forms of tension headaches include a hot or cold shower or taking an over- the-counter painkiller.

For those who suffer from tension headaches regularly, they may want to examine their lifestyle. If there is an activity that triggers these headaches, implementing some stress-management techniques can help minimize or eliminate these headaches and can have positive outcomes.

If a tension headache occurs often, seek professional help. Should any headache affect your ability to see or speak then call 911 right away. No one needs to suffer with ongoing headaches when treatment options such as massage therapy are available.

Healthy aging happens only through a healthy lifestyle. Many people are on a quest through life trying to discover the latest lotions, supplement pills, and other methods to thwart off life’s aging process. Make no mistake, we all are going to age, there is no fighting it; however, there is a way to ensure you age well and stay relatively healthy. It’s somewhat simple; you just need to take good care of yourself.

Health Canada defines healthy aging as “a lifelong process of optimizing opportunities for improving and preserving health and physical, social and mental wellness, independence, quality of life and enhancing successful life-course transitions” (Health Canada, 2002). This definition, although lengthy, is vague; however this is something that cannot be adequately defined in one or two sentences.

The importance of a proactive and preventative approach to our health in unequivocal. Being proactive can begin at pretty much any age but the earlier in life you take care of your body, mind and soul, the easier healthy aging will be. Far too many young adults feel they are invincible (and let’s face it even us more mature individuals still feel that way at times). Our food choices, how we choose to dress outdoors, our career choices, and our lifestyle choices all add up in a way that can add or take away years from us.

Prevention By Building Your Immune System

Preventing illness, disease and injury tops the list when we think about how to age healthy. There is continuous debate on vaccinations and yet nowhere in this debate is the immune system mentioned. It is mission critical to do everything in our power to build and maintain a great immune system. Avoiding sugars, high fructose corn syrup, and other additives that have detrimental effects on us is really important. Sugar can suppress the immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease. It can also upset how minerals are absorbed into our system causing deficiencies; and sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium. Sugar can cause tooth decay, periodontal disease and premature aging.

If you think switching to aspartame or any other synthetically-produced sweetener is better, please do your research on these. Many studies show these can be equally as bad or worse for our health.
Avoiding (or limiting) lifestyle choices that can have detrimental effects on your body is essential. These include smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, illegal drug use and abusing pharmaceutical drugs. Abusing pharmaceutical drugs has become a huge problem in society, one that some studies seem to indicate is worse than illegal drugs and alcohol combined.

A great immune system includes lots of vegetables (especially cruciferous choices), drinking lots of water daily, drinking healthy tea choices, limiting coffee, fresh air, maintaining a healthy pH balanced body, and making sure your body gets all the vitamins, minerals, fats, protein, and other nutrients it needs.

Your immune system also benefits when you get adequate sleep. Too many of us are running on empty because we’re not getting proper sleep and there is not a doubt that healthy aging includes sleeping at regular times.
The Internet has some amazing resources out there on how to boost your immune system but it also can be quite overwhelming. Getting help from a professional may be your best choice.

Exercise

Yes, we have heard this one at least a thousand times; exercising is mission critical to maintaining good health. There is an old saying, “use it or lose it” and this is applicable to our body. If you do not exercise on a regular basis then over time your muscles will become weak and flabby; your heart and lungs will develop some struggles to the point walking up a flight of stairs becomes a challenge; and your joints will become stiff and more susceptible to injury.

Exercising helps us to age healthy. Our bodies are meant to move, and sadly far too many of us are not nearly as active as we should be. Getting regular exercise helps reduce the risks of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. With increased blood flow comes better looking skin and it slows the aging process.

Optimizing Mental Health

Sadly, there are so many individuals who have suffered a horrific event in their life that has caused them severe emotional harm. Keeping your mind healthy is just as important as keeping your body healthy. Our minds are very powerful and they make or break how we handle various situations throughout the day. Anyone who has unresolved issues will struggle in interactions with others and it will interfere with healthy aging. It is really important to resolve pain and move forward. Letting go of the small stuff is just as important too.

Keeping your brain healthy by doing ‘exercises’ is really important to healthy aging. There is not a doubt that reading, doing crossword puzzles, learning something new on a regular basis all helps to maintain memory ability and happiness. Oh sure you can drink all the rosemary or gingko biloba teas you want to help improve memory but, like our muscles and joints, you need to use the brain or you may lose it.

Love Life

Negativity brings us down; always try to find the positive even in a bad situation. This is not easy but we really need to fill each day with positivity and love. Any negative emotions will drain us and age us. Have healthy relationships with others and get involved in activities that give meaning and excitement to your life. Visit friends, volunteer and surround yourself with people who make you feel happy and you’ll notice a difference in how you look and feel.

Laugh – lots! Laughing releases all those feel good endorphins and makes you look and feel fabulous.

Re-prioritize things in your life so that you can go to sleep at night feeling at peace with yourself. This is easier said than done, but the more at peace with life you are, the healthier you’ll age.

Regular Check Ups

Eating a very healthy diet is critical to not just your overall health but to the health of your teeth as well. We are very complex and having healthy teeth and eyesight is also critical in order to age healthy. Having regular eye and dental check ups are just as important as a seeing your doctor for a regular examination.

Last but not least by any means, having regular check ups with your chiropractor is something to seriously consider in your plan for healthy aging. Many people never think of a chiropractor until a problem arises yet there are many things that a chiropractor can do to help you prevent unhealthy aging.

To find out how a chiropractic check up can help you on your journey to healthy aging give Chiro-Med Rehab Centre a call.

Established in 2007 by Dr. Behfar Sanjari, Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has been committed to providing quality health care services to the Greater Toronto Area for over half a decade. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has qualified professionals who can help you come up with a personalized plan to ensure the stretches and exercises will benefit the health of your spine. We have clinics located in Richmond Hill and Newmarket, visit Chiro-Med online or call 905-918-0419 or 905-235-2620 for more information.

DonJoy is a pioneer in innovative functional knee braces. They have over a thirty year track record of producing quality knee braces that athletes have come to know and trust.  As their website says, “Know pain? Know gain” and it is this mindset that has DonJoy positioned as a world leader in knee brace designs.

The DonJoy researchers have made a profession out of performance by studying the body, consulting with health professionals, and by listening to athletes. Their passion to help athletes and other individuals with injuries has made its way into an impressive forty-four countries. DonJoy produces world-class products for the health care professionals who prescribe them and for those who wear them.

This brand of custom knee braces provides people with a huge range of options with guaranteed comfort and a great fit. Each knee brace is fabricated within a day or two using anatomical measurements so that the fit is right the first time.

DonJoy knee braces are not just for use after an injury occurs; they are also prescribed to many athletes as a preventative method to possible injury!

The original DonJoy brace was developed by an orthopedic surgeon for patients who suffered with anterior knee pain relating to conditions such as:

• Mild osteoarthritis
• Patellofemoral syndrome
• Chondromalacia patella
• Osgood-Schlatter disease
• Quadriceps and patella tendonitis/tendinosis

How Can a DonJoy Knee Brace Help You?

DonJoy knee braces can help relieve anterior knee pain during all sports activities or during your daily routines. If you have experienced cartilage injury or if you have mild arthritis in the knee a brace can help you maintain mobility.

Countless adults suffer with knee osteoarthritis and in many of these cases; this chronic condition impedes their ability to enjoy their day-to-day routines, work, and to enjoy their recreation.

A knee brace can serve many functions depending on the specific issue that plagues you. Knee braces can not only be used as a means of therapy but they can help stabilize in the event of a fracture and they can help facilitate the healing process after surgery.

A great feature of the DonJoy knee braces is that they have a removable breathable sleeve that prevents sweat from occuring. This is worn beneath the brace to help mobilize the area, and it helps to protect the skin from irritation and chafing as well.

Best of all, those who wear a knee brace find that their overall confidence levels are increased and this is really important especially for those who are healing from surgery or injury.

There are many knee brace options that can help to relieve pain. Only a qualified health professional can help you find the right one for your specific condition.

Contact Chiro Med Rehab Centre if you want more information on whether or not you may be a candidate for a DonJoy knee brace. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill has professionals on staff that can help you with many of your health needs. Our walk-in clinic is conveniently located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major MacKenzie Drive in the heart of Richmond Hill. Visit Chiro-Med online or call 905-918-0419 for more information.

Many of us have heard the term shin splints but are unsure as to what it really means. Often, the term shin splints is used to describe pain that is experienced at the front of the lower leg; yet the pain originates from inside of the shin bone located at the front of the leg. Individuals who enjoy running, whether professionally or for leisure, tend to experience the pain of shin splints sooner or later more so than other people.

Causes Of Shin Splints

Shin splints are an overuse injury that is also known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, or MTSS. Many athletes who experience shins splints tend to describe an exercise history that includes rapid increases in intensity or duration of impact activities. The most common cause of shin splints is actually repeated trauma to the muscles or bones.

Other causes of shin splints include:

• Overuse of the legs, resulting in irritated, swollen muscles.
• Muscle imbalance that can result from an injury.
• Stress fractures of bones in the lower leg.
• The condition called ''flat feet", where the arches of the feet have collapsed (upon impact with) the ground there is a major stretching of muscles and tendons).
• Abnormal tightness of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles.

Symptoms Of Shin Splints

The following are symptoms of shin splints:

• Pain around the shinbone (tibia), just below the knee.
• This pain is often 10 to 15 cm in length.
• Shin splints are often experienced early on during a workout. It commonly decreases well into the session, only to be felt more intensely at the end and after the workout.
• The discomfort is often characterized as a dull, aching sort of pain.
• With extreme cases the swollen muscles can result in irritation of the feet, leading to weakness and even numbness.

Treatment Of Shin Splints

One thing to keep in mind with shin splints is that it is very important to be in the care of a qualified health professional to ensure proper healing. There are two main types of treatment: complete rest and relative rest. Complete rest is completely resting the affected leg so that your body can heal itself, without any physical activities. While effective, this option may not be palatable to some people (e.g. athletes in training). As a result some therapies involve both rest and light physical activities.

The following are treatments commonly used to treat shin splints:

• Rest of the affected leg.
• Icing of the affected shin to reduce any swelling and pain.
• Use of custom orthotics to correct for any gait irregularities.
• Wrapping a tensor bandage around the affected area.
• Gentle stretching of the calf and front leg (tibialis) muscles.
• Anti-inflammatory painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen or aspirin) to reduce swelling and pain. Note that these anti-inflammatory medications can have serious side affects, and should only be prescribed by a doctor.
• Very occasionally surgery may be required to address an issue that constantly results in shin splints.

Shin splints can result in discomfort and in severe cases debilitating pain, disrupting your routine and enjoyment of life.

Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has the necessary knowledge and expertise to help you recover from shin splints. Our professionals can recommend the type of treatment needed and effectively implement that treatment, getting you back on to your normal routines as fast as possible!

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is best known as the sunshine vitamin.  What is surprising is that many people are unaware as to how critical this vitamin is in order to have healthy bones.

First of all, an important strategy to keep your bones healthy is to eat the right kinds of food. Countless studies have shown that individuals who eat a lot of processed foods and fast foods produce biochemical and metabolic conditions that decrease bone density.

Yes, calcium and magnesium are essential to bone health; but for maintaining healthy mineralized bones so is vitamin D. In fact, vitamin K2 and boron are also required in maintaining healthy bones.

Sunlight causes the photoproduction of vitamin D3 in our skin. Once formed, vitamin D3 is metabolized sequentially in the liver and kidneys to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Yes this does sound somewhat foreign however 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D it critical for our bodies to maintain essential cellular functions as well as promoting bone mineralization.

The bad news is that many foods do not contain any vitamin D. According to the USDA, the only natural food sources of vitamin D (known as D2) are:

• Wild salmon (1,448 iu)
• Pacific rockfish (459 iu)
• Canned tuna (68-229 iu, with light tuna in oil having the most)
• Sardines (164 iu)
• Flatfish, like sole or flounder (154 iu)
• Fortified milk (115-124 iu, with whole milk having more than skim)
• Fortified cereals (34-104 iu, varying by type and brand)
• Pickled herring (96 iu)
• Pork (6-88 iu, with variation by cut)
• Mushrooms (5-45 iu, with shitake having much more than white mushrooms)
• Beef liver (42 iu)
• Atlantic cod (40 iu)
• Eggs (25-29 iu)
• Ricotta cheese (25 iu, whereas most cheese have 4-6 iu)

Exposure to sunlight provides most of us with vitamin D (known as D3) but this ability is very limited. Aging, sunscreen use, and the change in the zenith angle of the sun dramatically affects the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D3. Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a major cause of bone disease in the elderly.  Some studies indicate that those of us in the southern latitudes of Canada can only get vitamin D from the sun between May and July. Even then, many people saturate their skin with sunscreen so they are getting very little. Bottom line, it is critical to eat lots of the foods that have vitamin D2 or take a trusted supplement.

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

Without a sufficient amount of this vitamin on a daily basis, bones can become thin and brittle. Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect adults from osteoporosis.

Vitamin D is also critical to our immune system. Without sufficient levels of vitamin D, the immune system is compromised making the individual more susceptible to many illnesses from the common cold to heart disease.

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen discovered that Vitamin D is essential to activating our immune defenses. Without sufficient intake of the sunshine vitamin, T cells (the killer cells of the immune system) will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body.

Other possible health issues that have been linked to vitamin D deficiency include muscle weakness, psoriasis, kidney disease, diabetes, asthma, periodontal disease, schizophrenia, depression and cancer. For more information on this Natural News is the best resource.

If you want more information on how chiropractic methods can help you, contact Chiro Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill. Our walk-in clinic is conveniently located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major MacKenzie Drive in the heart of Richmond Hill. VisitChiro-Med online or call 905-918-0419 for more information about our services

Getting a blood test can determine if you are deficient.  Better still, prevention is truly the best medicine. For help on implementing simple solutions please contact Chiro Med Rehab Centre. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill has professionals on staff that can help you maintain strong muscles and a healthy skeletal system. Our walk-in clinic is conveniently located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major MacKenzie Drive in the heart of Richmond Hill. Visit Chiro-Med online or call 905-918-0419 for more information.

Myositis ossificans is an abnormal bone that forms within the muscle tissue. There are two types of myositis ossificans: myositis ossificans circumscripta is the result of a muscle injury and myositis ossificans progressiva is an inherited condition that causes the formation of bone in many tissues.

This is a condition that athletes often experience after sustaining a blunt injury resulting in deep tissue bleeding. A neglected bad muscle strain or contusion can result in myositis ossificans. When an impact causes damage to the sheath surrounding a muscle or a bone, then a bone growth develops (calcification) that can be quite painful. Bone growth begins two to four weeks after injury and within three to six months is a mature bone.

What Causes Myositis Ossificans?

Sometimes when an injury occurs an individual may self-assess and choose not to follow injury protocol which starts with ‘R.I.C.E.’ immediately after injury (rest, ice, compression and elevate). However, if intensive physiotherapy or massage occurs too soon after injury then this too can result in myositis ossificans. In addition, if an athlete returns to training too soon after injury, this may also result in this condition.

Myositis Ossificans Symptoms

Symptoms of myositis ossificans often varies from person-to-person. Common symptoms include swelling, pain, discomfort, swelling, and a lump within the muscle tissue.

Myositis ossificans progressiva symptoms include digits (fingers and toes) that have changed shape, painful lumps around the joints, a spine with an abnormal curve, as well as a decrease in the range of motion in the shoulders and hips.

Diagnosis And Treatment Options

An examination from a physiotherapist or chiropractor can indicate if myositis ossificans is present. Usually at about three weeks post injury an X-ray can confirm diagnosis. Other diagnosis methods include an MRI scan or an ultrasound.

Once myositis ossificans is established, there are very few options that can be explored to accelerate the restorative process. Treatment will generally focus on rest from activities that can cause agitation and a physiotherapist or chiropractor can provide a gentle pain-free range of movement exercises.

Prevention

In the event of an injury, a person must diligently follow R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression and elevate) in the initial phase of injury (preferably immediately but within the first 24 hours). By following the RICE regime, this greatly reduces the likelihood of the development of myositis ossificans. Far too many people think they’ll be okay and do not follow R.I.C.E.; it is better to be safe than sorry.

What is also very important is to rest from activities, regular icing, and if possible, use a compression bandage. Taking preventative measures at the time of and shortly after an injury will save a lot of time down the road should myositis ossificans develop.

If you suspect you may have myositis ossificans then help is a phone call away. For more information about treatment options to seek relief from myositis ossificans, Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill can help. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has a walk-in clinic conveniently located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major MacKenzie Drive in the heart of Richmond Hill. Call 905-918-0419 for more information or to book a consultation.

Many people with low back pain go to a chiropractor seeking a quick and simple solution. One way a person can help alleviate their back pain without putting too much stress on their back is swimming. Swimming can be an incredibly helpful exercise for low back pain sufferers

It’s important to remember that lower back pain can sometimes be caused by swimming when muscles become hyperextended or overstretched during forward strokes. To prevent back pain while swimming, it’s essential that you use proper form. Unnatural movements while swimming can cause damage, so it is critical to maintain the correct movements while swimming. Swimming with backstrokes or the sidestroke can minimize stress on the back as compared to frontward strokes.

Certain swimming strokes can cause back problems. Here are some things to be aware of when doing specific strokes:

• Freestyle: Make sure you do not rotate your head too much while taking breaths. Also, try not to let your head move up too much; if you do, then neck or back injuries can occur. When you’re not going up for breathes make sure you keep your head facing down. Remember, too much rolling can cause trouble.
• Backstroke: Muscles in the front of the neck tend to become fatigued if you have not done the backstroke in a long time. Be sure to ease into this stoke and avoid too much movement in this position.
• Breaststroke:  It is important to keep your head and neck still as you do this stroke. Gently raise your head and back to take breathes.

Benefits Of Swimming

Swimming is beneficial for low back pain for several reasons. It allows those suffering from minor back injuries to retain some level of activity. When an individual swims they are promoting good muscle health therefore are less likely to tense or cramp up. More importantly, in many situations, water tends to makes back pain sufferers feel better. Getting in a pool for a relaxed work out could very well be one of the best therapies.

Back pain does not have to halt your activity level. Once in the water there is no gravity therefore alleviating an enormous amount of stress on the affected area.  An hour or two in a pool builds back muscles; it also builds muscles in the shoulders, arms, legs and neck. In addition this activity helps to improve heart health, and helps the swimmer maintain a healthy body weight. Having a healthy body weight is beneficial to halting back pain.

Swimming can also be a great way to overcome back pain from a pinched nerve, herniated disc, and even bone spurs. Strengthening the muscles that support the back means less stress is placed on the spinal column and pain can be reduces or eliminated. A warm swimming pool also promotes blood flow and helps the healing process.

If swimming continues to be painful it’s important to stop and seek the advice of a qualified health professional. By continuing to swim despite continual or worsening pain, the condition affecting the lower back area may become worse and more intense forms of treatment may be required to reverse discomfort.

If you are able to do some swimming as frequently as you can throughout the week this will help to alleviate pain. It is important to remember that if the pain persists and swimming appears not to be helping then Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill can help you. Chiro-Med has a convenient location and highly qualified health professionals to help you resume the activities you once enjoyed – free of pain! Call 905-918-0419 for more information or to book your appointment!

Many of us have heard how our body needs enzymes but what exactly are enzymes and why is it our body must have enzymes?

Enzymes can be defined as being catalysts, substances that cause a chemical reaction to move faster. They are the catalysts of biochemical reactions in living organisms which includes the formation, breakdown, and the rearranging of molecules to provide organisms with the energy and materials required to live and function properly. In fact, enzymes are even more important than vitamins and minerals because without enzymes, vitamins and minerals are totally useless.

All enzymes are substances that occur naturally in all living things, including us. If it’s an animal or a plant, it has enzymes. Researchers have identified more than 3,000 different enzymes in the human body up to now; they are still examining the body as they believe they may discover more.

There is not a doubt that enzymes are absolutely critical for life process. Every activity that occurs in our body needs enzymes. This includes:

• The building of healthy tissue
• Synthesis and repair of DNA
• A strong heartbeat
• Proper digestion
• Absorption of food
• Blood coagulation
• Breathing
• Absorption of oxygen
• Breaking down fats in the blood, regulating cholesterol and triglyceride

Nothing can take place without energy and energy is produced with enzymes. The existence of every living cell in the human body depends on enzymes. Those of us whose bodies are rich in enzymes are people who function at their best and have the greatest advantages in resisting disease. In fact, enzymes are not only critical to human health, but they are also critical to plants and animals as well.

Nutrients and Enzymes:

If a person does not have all the enzymes required then their body cannot process and use the nutrients, vitamins or minerals that we also desperately need to be healthy. Enzymes are rather specific and each one promotes one type of chemical reaction. Some break down the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in our food into smaller molecules so that the digestion process runs smoother.

Like vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, enzymes work best when they are ingested from fresh sources. Taking enzyme supplements doesn’t replace a healthy diet of quality fresh produce.

Enzymes are not only ingested from the fresh vegetables and fruits we eat but our liver produces enzymes in which we cannot ingest. Having a healthy liver is essential so that it can produce the other enzymes we need.

Our body’s ability to function, to mend after injury, and to ward off disease is directly related to the strength and numbers of the enzymes in our body. Enzymes are also important to help recover from back pain, circulation problems and many other ailments.

Many people have an enzyme deficiency and are totally unaware of it.

Coenzymes:

Enzymes do not work all by themselves; they rely on other elements to complete their intended function. Some vitamins and minerals are really important for enzymes to do what they need to and these are known as coenzymes. Coenzyme Q10 is one that many are aware of and magnesium is another; in fact, magnesium is needed in over 300 enzyme reactions. Thousands of people are magnesium deficient and are totally unaware. According to Dr. Norman Shealy in Missouri, "Every known illness is associated with a magnesium deficiency" and that, "magnesium is the most critical mineral required for electrical stability of every cell in the body. A magnesium deficiency may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient."

Ingesting vitamins, whether from eating foods or as supplements, increases the quantity of coenzymes in the body. Some vitamins helps our body produce coenzymes, such as folic acid (B9) and some of the B vitamins and other vitamins directly act as coenzymes, such as vitamin C.

Boost Your Enzymes Naturally

There are only four things you need to do to increase your enzymes naturally:

1. Eat plenty of raw, living foods
2. Decrease calorie intake
3. Properly (and slowly) chew your food
4. Avoid gum chewing

The absolute best way to bring enzymes into your body is by eating mostly raw foods in your diet (at least 75 percent). A great way to help achieve this is to eat sprouts. Sprouting is cheap and easy to do. Although all raw foods contain enzymes, some are more powerful than others and sprouts are at the top of the list.

Other enzyme-rich foods include:

• Papaya, pineapple, mango, kiwi, and grapes
• Avocado
• Raw honey
• Bee pollen
• Extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil

Our body is very intricate and everything we choose to eat and drink throughout our lifetime will determine just how healthy or unhealthy we are and will become. Be sure to make healthy food choices, eat lots of raw food, and remember, exercise is also important in order to maintain good health.