To succeed long term, both in business and in marriage, you must have both commitment and communication and commitment TO communication.

Both need to be committed to doing whatever it takes to keep the relationship alive and well.

Here’s a short list of advice common to many happy couples:

1. People evolve. Explore each other. Commit to the never ending process of getting to know each other.
2. Take 100% responsibility for the transformation. You can’t change the past. Focus on now. What can you do this moment to alter the experience? It actually only takes 1 to start the Tango : )
3. Invest time daily in your togetherness.
4. Have more fun together more often.
5. Don’t take work home with you.
6. If your spouse is working with you, make sure that it’s their choice, not your decision.
7. Respect your spouse both privately and in public.
8. Put your spouse before yourself.
9. Surround yourselves with couples who have similar core relationship values.
10. Your friends and family will virtually always agree with your inaccurate version of your relationship; that’s why it’s best not to bad mouth your spouse in front of them.

Source: Ben Altadonna

There seems to be a relationship between high sodium intake and bone loss, particularly for people with high blood pressure, according to many studies. Salt is known to increase the amount of calcium excreted in urine and sweat, which can lead to bone loss for people who do not get enough calcium. When you know your kidneys are excreting too much calcium, you should lower your salt intake and take into account this could very well be leading you to a higher chance of getting osteoporosis.

Don’t Drink Soda

Yes, soda can have a negative impact on your bone health. A high intake of cola—whether decaf, diet, or caffeinated — was linked to a greater risk of bone thinning in a large 2006 study. In addition to phospohrus, the authors of the 2006 study say that ingredients in cola extract could have a detrimental effect on bone health.

Soda also plays a role in weight gain, which can also lead to adverse effects on bone health as well. Look for other healthy alternatives when you reach out for something to drink, such as water or low calorie beverages with little to no sugar. Your bones will thank you.

Don’t Smoke

Not only is smoking bad for your lungs, it is also bad for your bones. Smoking can be hazardous to your health if you are looking to avoid osteoporosis. Bone health is put at risk with smoking, so stay away if you can.

Get More Calcium

Are you getting enough calcium? This is a critical thing to know if you are looking to avoid osteoporosis. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), adults should get 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily. And the recommendation goes up to 1,200 milligrams for women over 50 and men over 70.

If you are not into taking supplements to get your appropriate calcium, make sure to eat calcium rich foods that can help you stay bone healthy.

Have You Had Your Vitamin D Today?

When people think of vitamin D, they think of going outside and getting sunshine. It turns out that this might be a good idea for your bone health as well. Vitamin D helps the body absorb, retain, and use calcium. So, next time spend a little more time outdoors for some vitamin D or try a supplement that works for you.

If you are concerned about osteoporosis in your future, talk to your chiropractor about the status of your bone health today.

The truth is, happiness doesn’t come from wealth, perfect looks or even a perfect relationship. Happiness comes from within. This is why, if you truly want to be happy, you need to work on yourself, first.

What’s the secret to being happy? You can learn how to do it, just as you can learn any other skill. Those who are happy tend to follow a certain set of habits that create peace in their lives; if you learn to apply these habits in your own life, there’s a good chance you’ll be happy too.

1. Let Go Of Grudges

Forgiving and forgetting is necessary for your own happiness, as holding a grudge means you’re also holding onto resentment, anger, hurt and other negative emotions that are standing in the way of your own happiness. Letting go of a grudge frees you from negativity and allows more space for positive emotions to fill in.

2. Treat Everyone With Kindness

Kindness is not only contagious, it’s also proven to make you happier. When you’re kind to others, your brain produces feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters like serotonin and you’re able to build strong relationships with others, fostering positive feelings all around.

3. Regard Your Problems As Challenges

Change your internal dialogue so that anytime you have a “problem” you view it as a challenge or a new opportunity to change your life for the better. Eliminate the word “problem” from your mind entirely.

4. Express Gratitude For What You Have

People who are thankful for what they have are better able to cope with stress, have more positive emotions, and are better able to reach their goals. The best way to harness the positive power of gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal or list, where you actively write down exactly what you’re grateful for each day. Doing so has been linked to happier moods, greater optimism and even better physical health.

5. Dream Big

Go ahead and dream big, as you’ll be more likely to accomplish your goals. Rather than limiting yourself, when you dream big you’re opening your mind to a more optimistic, positive state where you have the power to achieve virtually anything you desire.

6. Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

If the issue you’re mad about will be irrelevant a year, a month, a week or even a day from now, why sweat it? Happy people know how to let life’s daily irritations roll off their back.

7. Speak Well of Others

It may be tempting to gather around the office water cooler to get and give the daily gossip, but talking negatively about others is like taking a bath in negative emotions; your body soaks them up. Instead, make it a point to only say positive, nice words about other people, and you’ll help foster more positive thinking in your own life as well.

8. Avoid Making Excuses
It’s easy to blame others for your life’s failures, but doing so means you’re unlikely to rise past them. Happy people take responsibility for their mistakes and missteps, then use the failure as an opportunity to change for the better.

9. Live in The Present
Allow yourself to be immersed in whatever it is you’re doing right now, and take time to really be in the present moment. Avoid replaying past negative events in your head or worrying about the future; just savor what’s going on in your life now.

10. Wake Up At The Same Time Every Morning
Getting up at the same time every day (preferably an early time) is deceptively simple. Doing so will help regulate your circadian rhythm so you’ll have an easier time waking and likely feel more energized. Plus, the habit of rising early every day is one shared by many successful people, as it enhances your productivity and focus.

11. Don’t Compare Yourself To Others

Your life is unique, so don’t measure your own worth by comparing yourself to those around you. Even regarding yourself as better than your peers is detrimental to your happiness, as you’re fostering judgmental feelings and an unhealthy sense of superiority. Measure your own success based on your progress alone, not that of others.

12. Surround Yourself With Positive People

The saying “misery loves company” is entirely true. That’s why you need to choose friends who are optimistic and happy themselves, as you will be surrounded with positive energy.

13. Realize That You Don’t Need Others’ Approval

It’s important to follow your own dreams and desires without letting naysayers stand in your way. It’s fine to seek others’ opinions, but happy people stay true to their own hearts and don’t get bogged down with the need for outside approval.

14. Take Time To Listen

Listening helps you soak in the wisdom of others and allows you to quiet your own mind at the same time. Intense listening can help you feel content while helping you gain different perspectives.

15. Nurture Social Relationships

Positive social relationships are a key to happiness, so be sure you make time to visit with friends, family and your significant other.

16. Meditate

Meditation helps you keep your mind focused, calms your nerves and supports inner peace. Research shows it can even lead to physical changes in your brain that make you happier.

17. Eat Well

What you eat directly impacts your mood and energy levels in both the short and long term. Whereas eating right can prime your body and brain to be in a focused, happy state, eating processed junk foods will leave you sluggish and prone to chronic disease. My free nutrition plan is an excellent tool to help you choose the best foods for both physical and emotional wellness.

18. Exercise

Exercise boosts levels of health-promoting brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which may help buffer some of the effects of stress and also relieve some symptoms of depression. Rather than viewing exercise as a medical tool to lose weight, prevent disease, and live longer – all benefits that occur in the future – try viewing exercise as a daily tool to immediately enhance your frame of mind, reduce stress and feel happier.

19. Live Minimally

Clutter has a way of sucking the energy right out of you and replacing it with feelings of chaos. Clutter is an often-unrecognized source of stress that prompts feelings of anxiety, frustration, distraction and even guilt, so give your home and office a clutter makeover, purging it of the excess papers, files, knick knacks and other “stuff” that not only takes up space in your physical environment, but also in your mind.

20. Be Honest

Every time you lie, your stress levels are likely to increase and your self-esteem will crumble just a little bit more. Plus, if others find out you’re a liar it will damage your personal and professional relationships. Telling the truth, on the other hand, boosts your mental health and allows others to build trust in you.

21. Establish Personal Control

Avoid letting other people dictate the way you live. Instead, establish personal control in your life that allows you to fulfill your own goals and dreams, as well as a great sense of personal self-worth.

22. Accept What Cannot Be Changed

Everything in your life is not going to be perfect, and that’s perfectly all right. Happy people learn to accept injustices and setbacks in their life that they cannot change, and instead put their energy on changing what they can control for the better.

Source: Hungry For Change

I’m going to help you with some key tips on keeping your joints happy and healthy.

First, if you know that a certain activity or repetitive motion is causing a certain joint to ache and scream, then you should refrain from that activity. If you cannot refrain from that activity because it’s a part of your work, you need to make sure you get some braces or durable medical equipment that can help support that joint. You should also get some physical therapy sessions in to help strengthen the muscles around that joint so that you can take the pressure and responsibility off that joint. Stronger muscles around the joint help to support it and thus there’s less strain on the joint.

Second, many of my patients notice great improvement in joint health and less pain when they remove food allergies or sensitivities from their diet. The reason for that is that if you certain foods trigger inflammation in the body, that inflammation may adversely affect your already irritated joint. So, ask your doctor about food allergy and sensitivity testing and if you find that you do indeed have some, make sure to avoid those sensitivities all the time to keep your joints and you aging healthily.

Finally, your diet and sleep are very important in helping your body heal and repair itself. So, you need to make sure you are eating a mostly anti-inflammatory diet full of nuts, legumes, vegetables, low saturated fat proteins, healthy fats like in olive oil and avocadoes, and whole grains. You need to remove processed foods that have chemicals and pesticides or hormones from your diet. You also need to stay hydrated with water and antioxidant-rich organic teas. If you feed your body what it needs to repair and heal your body and then you make sure that you get 7-8 hours of sleep every night, your body should have all that it needs to undo the damage of daily life on your joints and body.

and how some don’t. Even in my clinic, I frequently see patients who look and function younger than their age, while others seem older than their age. If you look at epidemiological studies and even if you just looked at examples of people in your life or for me, in my clinic, those who manage stress well, make it a priority to get enough sleep, and eat a well-balanced mostly plant-based anti-inflammatory diet usually age extremely well.

So, whether you want to make sure that your joints, skin, body, or mind age well, just make sure that you are sleeping, making sure that you are happy and managing your stress, and eating as Mother Nature intended you to. If you do all that, you’ll be one of those people that leave others wondering what your true age is, because your glowing health will make it hard to tell.

1. 1. Plank Jack: Position yourself in a plank position (push-up position except supporting your weight with your forearms, not your hands). Make sure your body is straight; your back should not be rounded and your buttocks should not be raised above the rest of your body. Also make sure to position your elbows even with your shoulders; any farther out in front of you and you’ll put excessive pressure on your shoulders.

   With your abs tightened, maintain this position for 30 seconds to 1 minute. While doing so, alternate bringing the knee of one leg up toward the same-side elbow, then the other. Do as many as you can during the time limit. Don’t worry about speed; focus on slow movement with contraction of your entire core / abdominal area.

2. Side Curl: This exercise starts in a side-plank position, which means you are on one side, supporting your weight with your forearm / elbow, one foot on top of the other, body straight (feet in line with hips, in line with head / neck). Keep your core tight the entire time. Do 10-12 repetitions of the following: Bring the non-supporting elbow in toward your chest as you “curl” your body inward toward the floor, then return to the starting (side) position. After completing all reps, switch sides and repeat on the opposite side. Again, go slow, concentrating on contracting your abdominal area. Balance is key.

3. Bicycle Crunch: To do this two-part exercise, lie on a padded surface on the floor, knees raised, feet on floor, hands on chest or abs. Step 1: Crunch forward, raising your head / shoulders off the floor approximately 30 degrees. Focus on contracting your core with each repetition, not straining your head / neck or rounding your shoulders. Don’t tuck your chin into your chest; stare straight ahead. Step 2. After 10-15 crunches, maintain the upward crunch position, but lift your feet slightly off the floor, knees still bent, and do as many “bicycles” (moving your legs rapidly as if you’re pedaling a bike) as possible to failure.

4. Leg / Knee Lifts: Lie on a padded surface on the floor, legs straight, hands at sides or at chest / ab level. Stare straight ahead and keep your head, neck and shoulders on the floor as you alternate raising both legs straight up (knees locked) as high as possible (without lifting your buttocks / lower back off the floor) and returning to the floor; and then bending both knees toward your chest, again without compromising your back, and returning both legs to the floor. Do anywhere from 15-30 total repetitions to start, depending on ability. Remember, keep the abdominals / core tight throughout and concentrate on feeling the ab muscles contract with each movement.

5. Ab Hold: Sit on the edge of a chair with your hands on either side of your body, facing you (your fingers should grab the edge of the chair so they face your knees). Tighten your abs as you raise your feet – and buttocks – several inches off the floor / chair. Maintain this “crunch” position for 5-10 seconds, lower your body back to the chair / floor, and repeat. Do 10-15 or as many as possible to start. Make sure not to lean forward, round your shoulders or use your arms for anything except support; think core tightening only.

Remember, if your neck, shoulders or back hurt during any of these exercises, you’re not doing them right. Abdominal training is all about focusing on the midsection and doing small, deliberate movements. Be strict in your positioning and execution; otherwise you may strain something – or end up not working your abs at all. Go slow, build up to more repetitions / longer exercise times, and mix things up to keep your abdominal muscles “guessing.” Trust us, you’ll be glad to feel the burn when you see the results!

Chiropractors will often use low-force manipulation methods for treating herniated disks that do not require a standard type of manipulation thrust.
These spinal methods are sometimes preferred over traditional manipulative techniques for the treatment of herniated spinal disks, but this is case dependent.
To make an educated decision about any type of care you may be considering, you must consider “relative risks”. Simply put, relative risks compare the risk of one procedure with the risk of a second procedure for the same condition.
For example, if you are taking medications to relieve your pain, how do the risks of the medications compare with the risks of an alternative treatment, like chiropractic care?
An example is chiropractic treatment versus drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include aspirin, Aleve and Advil (TM).
        THE RISK FOR SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS FROM ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG IS FROM 6000-9000 TIMES GREATER THAN THE RISK FOR SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS FROM SPINAL MANIPULATION, MEANING THAT CHIROPRACTIC CARE IS A MUCH SAFER ALTERNATIVE THAN ASPIRIN OR OTHER NSAID DRUGS FOR TREATING INFLAMMATORY BACK OR NECK PAIN. 
Further, there is no significant increased risk to add chiropractic care to an existing regime of NSAIDs, thus treating the condition with two different strategies.
Interestingly, studies have reported that patients receiving chiropractic care were able to reduce their intake of drugs, thus, reducing the risks of drug reactions/interactions.
If you are trying to avoid surgery for a spine related problem, your condition is more serious and potential side effects of surgery should be compared with chiropractic.
You should understand any patient who is a potential candidate for spine surgery has a serious medical condition. There is pressure on a nerve and the potential for permanent damage to that nerve exists. Studies show that chiropractic care often can reduce the pressure on a compressed nerve in the lower back or neck, without surgery.

Given that there are an additional 24 previous reports with similar findings, the researchers question if the “meagre benefits of hypnotics” could justify the “substantial risks.” Their data suggests that “in 2010, hypnotics may have been associated with 320,000 to 507,000 excess deaths in the USA alone.”

When the research community agrees over and over again that a class of drugs is too dangerous, it’s time to pay attention. It could be 10 years or more before a government agency finally wakes up and recognizes this issue. In the meantime, the best advice is to stay away from hypnotics and use natural sleep aids. One of the best natural sleep aids that we recommend is CNS Black’s Noctural Modulation Formula provides GABA and a balance of other key ingredients to help you fall asleep naturally promoting a deep and restful night’s sleep.  CNS Black contains pure and the highest quality GABA available.  GABA (Gamma -Aminobutyric Acid) is a naturally occurringnon-essential amino acid and one of the most important and widespread neurotransmitters in the brain.  GABA is the brain’s “natural calming agent”. GABA enhances the alpha wave production in the brain promoting relaxation for the initiation of sleep.  During sleep, GABA further enhances slow-wave sleep (SWS) and the circadian modulation for deeper sleep.  Additionally, GABA modulates the effects of daily stress and eases nervous tension.

This is our best selling sleep aid we carry in our office.

There is no other form of advertising that attracts the quality of patients as those our patients refer to us.

So, here’s some information that may help you tell others about us:
Chiropractic has been around since 1895 and is the third largest healthcare profession in the world:

• The primary focus of treatment includes the neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves, muscles, joints) such as disk herniations (e.g., sciatica, pinched nerves), sprains and strains, sports injuries, neck pain (e.g., whiplash), headaches, and many others.
• The treatment includes a “hands-on” approach where massage, manual traction, joint manipulation and mobilization are commonly utilized.  In general, the treatment typically feels good and patients look forward to the process.
• In many cases (such as low back pain, neck pain, headaches), chiropractic care may function as the primary or only treatment that is needed.  However, when other medical conditions co-exist, the combination of chiropractic and medical treatment is often better than either one by itself (depending on the condition).
• Doctors of chiropractic commonly refer back and forth with medical and osteopathic doctors, creating a “win-win” for the patient and providers.
• Over the last 20-30 years, a significant volume of research has been published finding chiropractic approaches to be either equal or superior to other forms of healthcare provision for low back and neck pain, headaches, and other conditions.
• Many hospitals, medical clinics and VA facilities have integrated chiropractic into their healthcare systems.  Medicare and Medicaid have included chiropractic coverage since the 1970′s and most private insurers include chiropractic coverage due to the significant volume of research reporting the benefits, cost savings, and patient satisfaction.

Your individual story may actually be the most important thing you can share.

If you’re an allergy sufferer who’s used to “getting away” with minimal attention to allergy avoidance, this is definitely not the year to push the envelope. With an early spring and record pollen levels, you could be asking for trouble – big trouble. Here are five ways to minimize your risk of succumbing to seasonal allergies this year:

1. Pick your spots: One of the best ways to minimize your exposure to allergens such as pollen is to make smart choices. For example, pollen levels tend to be highest in the morning or when it hasn’t rained in awhile. And let’s not get started on wind, which can not only circulate pollen, but also tends to cause allergy-like symptoms – a bad combination that can ruin your day.

2. Keep it out: Unless you’ve got a garden in your living room, the good news about pollen is that it’s outside, which means you can take a few simple steps to keep it there. For starters, keep windows closed whenever possible (especially if it’s windy). If you’ve been out, change your clothes once you get in the house, and try not to repeat-wear clothing. If it’s been a particularly bad day in terms of pollen and/or you’ve spent most or all of the day outdoors, you may want to throw your clothes directly into the washer. And speaking of that garden in your living room, avoid bringing flowers into the house – unless putting a romantic gesture on display is worth the allergy symptoms that may accompany it.

3. Seek shade: The eyes are often the hardest hit by allergy symptoms. No one wants to spend their day rubbing watery, itchy, dry, red eyes, and trust us, it doesn’t look good when you’re making that big presentation in the boardroom. Two tips: 1) Wear sunglasses whenever you’re outside during allergy season. (This is also a good idea because with spring comes sunnier skies, putting your eyes at risk for sun damage if they aren’t protected.) 2) Carry saline drops to keep your eyes moist throughout the day, which will help when pollen, dust, etc., inevitably attack your field of vision.

4. Clean up: It’s amazing how many health issues can be minimized with the simple act of washing your hands, and when it comes to seasonal allergies, it’s a great recommendation. During allergy season, it becomes even more important because pollen and other irritants transfer easily from your hands to your face / mouth if you’re not careful (much like germs that cause the common cold).

5. Eat smart: Research suggests vitamin C, which is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, in addition to being available in supplement form, provides an antihistamine benefit that may help minimize allergy symptoms. (Histamine is released from cells as part of an allergic reaction.) Probiotics or “healthy bacteria,” found in yogurt and increasingly added to a number of food products, also may reduce allergic symptoms caused by exposure to pollen. And don’t forget that in general, a balanced diet high in antioxidants and other immune-boosting compounds helps your body defend whenever it’s attacked – even by allergens.

This scenario may sound familiar to many people.

The choice of health care provision is a personal one, often influenced by those around you – family, friends, teachers, and more!

It seems like everyone is an “expert” with different opinions and their advice, often conflicting, can lead to confusion about what is best for you.

There are many ways to approach back trouble, regardless of the diagnosis or condition.

First, all health care providers are biased in that they naturally focus on their specialty.  If you choose to consult with a surgeon, s/he will look at your condition from a surgical perspective.  Various surgical options may be discussed, tests are usually recommended and the process begins.

When consulting with a family physician, the typical approach is pharmaceutical or drugs such as anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Nuprin, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Aleve, Tylenol, etc.), heat or ice, activity modifications (possibly rest or mild/moderate activity), and possibly referral for chiropractic or physical therapy.

        In reviewing the various guidelines, it is recommended to start with the least invasive, safest, most cost effective approaches first. 

Unless “red flags” like cancer, fracture, infection or progressive severe neurological losses are present, surgery is not a logical initial approach.

Chiropractic has  been recommended as a first or initial choice as it has been found to be safe, highly satisfying, non-invasive, and cost effective.

The typical approach includes a thorough history, an examination that includes an analysis of posture, motion, function and includes the whole body.

For example, if one leg is short, the pelvis will tilt and spine is often crooked.  That needs to be corrected for both long and short term results.

If the feet pronate and the arches are flat, the effects on gait/walking on the ankle, knee, hip and back can lead to trouble or perpetuate current problems.

Deconditioning or, being out of shape is an important aspect included in the chiropractic management process.

If these methods fail to bring about satisfying results, referral for more invasive approaches will be considered.