Foods To Avoid Eating If You’re Prone To Headaches

Headaches are often brushed off since we tend to just power through them. But frequent headaches may not only be a slight discomfort but can also be completely a nuisance. So the less you experience them, the better not just for you but for everyone else. The problem is, people hardly ever seek medical attention for headaches unless they become incapacitated with it. As a result it can be hard to manage at time because we basically don’t know what to do about it aside from taking painkillers. But did you know that you may be able to manage it by avoiding certain foods?

Chocolate

A lot of people, not just women, find chocolate a comforting food. But did you know that if you tend to get headaches a lot, chocolate may have a different effect? It’s said to be due to tyramine or phenylethylamine, two amino acids found in chocolate that is triggering the headache.

Alcoholic Drinks

Whether you’re a habitual drinker or not, you’re probably aware of how much of a pain hungover can be.  But you don’t even have to be that drunk or have a hungover to experience the headache from alcoholic drinks. Since alcohol in any drink causes increased blood flow to your brain and can also result in dehydration, both of which might be headache triggers.

Coffee

The high or energy boost that coffee can give you can also cause headaches, especially after the effect of the caffeine has worn off. But this depends on how often you drink it. Moderate consumption may help relieve pain since it gives that sense of alertness. But daily intake, especially if you have more than a cup in a day, makes your brain develop a tolerance for it. So the effectiveness becomes weaker and your body expect an additional dose right away which when unmet the withdrawal syndrome which includes headaches kicks in.

Cheese

Substance called tyramine that forms as the proteins in cheese break down over time. And the longer the cheese ages, the more tyramine it contains which is a known headache causing element. So if you’re a fan of cheese and you add it in anything that you eat, you may wanna start cutting back on that and see if your headache improves.

Foods Containing Soy Sauce And MSG

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is found in soy sauce and as a food additive in many other foods, has been found to cause cramps, diarrhea, and a horrible headache in 10 to 15 percent of people who get migraine headaches. This is possibly due to the saltiness which can lead to dehydration that we know leads to headaches too.

Ice Cream

Drinking or eating something cold very quickly can cause what we call brain freeze which basically is headache due to the cold. Therefore, it’s actually not the ice cream itself that’s causing the pain. You can still enjoy it, just eat it slowly no matter how much you love it or have been craving for it for days!

Banana

Shocker, I know. Banana is hardly found in any not-to-eat-food list because of how nutritious it is. But apparently, headache or migraine sufferers have found that banana triggers the pain for them. This is because banana also contain tyramine which if you’re sensitive to it, headache takes over!

Processed Meat

Nitrites used as preservatives in hot dogs, bacon, and lunch meats may dilate blood vessels and trigger headaches after eating in some people. There may not be a solid study that can back this up but we know that too much processed foods in your body is not good because of all the preservatives added in them. If you can’t eliminate them in your diet altogether, you should at least limit your consumption of them.

Eliminating or even just limiting these food items from your diet may help, but probably the safest, surest way to headache relief is to seek chiropractic care. Because it’s a great alternative treatment that doesn’t involve drugs or surgery to eliminate the pain but is effective in improving your overall health. Aside from that, it’s best to work with your primary care physician, neurologist, or headache specialist too. With some trial and error, you may find a treatment that finally relieves your pain.

Pointers That Will Make Your Boss Agree To Provide Height Adjustable Desks In The Office

When you spend majority of your time sitting, chances are back pain, shoulder pain, and neck pain have become your constant companion. This isn’t good. Not only that this can make your entire day uncomfortable, but it can also lead to spinal injuries and affect your performance at work in general.

But don’t worry because utilizing height adjustable desks in your workplace is a good way to alternate sitting down and standing up throughout the day and avoid back pain and stiffness. The question is, how do you get your boss onboard with this? Well, you suggest this idea in your next meeting and to convince him or her, here are the pointers you definitely want to highlight!

Return On Investment

Businesses don’t like spending money on something that they won’t profit from, that’s why it’s called business. So if you’re going to present this idea of investing on new desks, you have to explain how the management would gain from it. So you explain that while the cost of such desks may be off-putting at the beginning, it actually benefits them as time goes because of how it helps employee perform better.

Improved Employee Health

Did you know that back pain is a leading cause of missed work days as well as work limitations? That is not good for businesses as their employees’ health affects performance which affects business’s revenue in the long run. So if they invest in a desk that prevents back pain, the company enjoys increased productivity, reduced sick days and lower health insurance cost.

Improved Mood Means Increase In Productivity

Being allowed to move more by alternating sitting and standing not only lessens chances of back pain but also improves a worker’s mood. We all know that once a person starts feeling stressed out or starts getting into a bad mood, a tasks starts feeling more difficult or they get mental blocked that they can’t figure out how to do something at all. But the simple act of getting up from the desk and moving your body refreshes the brain more than staring at the computer for hours. So for a company, a happy worker is a more productive worker and if a height adjustable desk can help with that, your boss will be more willing to give it a go.

No Assembly Required

The company won’t have to hold a tutorial seminar just to teach employee to assemble these kind of desks. So it’s not like they also have to worry about wasting precious working hours because sit-stand desks nowadays require no assembly at all. You simply have to take it out of the box, place it on the existing desk and then it’s done!

No Risk

When it comes to risks, you simply have to recommend a supplier that offers return and exchange within 30 days, which most suppliers nowadays do, and it should be fine.

People say that stress is all in the mindset, but you should know that your body condition play a big role in it too. So if your symptoms persist even after improving your work setup with the help of sit-stand desks, it’s time you seek a professional. Receiving adjustments from a chiropractor here in Singapore can make a significant difference in your stress level by relieving pain or discomfort caused by misalignment, helping you sleep better at night, and even treat other health condition like constant headache and digestive problems which are without a doubt stressful. Aside from that, you’ll find that when your body is in tip-top condition, your performance at work improves as well and you’re less likely to feel sick and tired of going to work every day.

Gift Ideas For Your Special Someone This Love Month

Chocolate, flowers, candle light dinner or couple items are great, but sometimes it’s even better to gift your special person with something that is beneficial for his or her health. It may not be a common option but thinking about your partner’s health condition is showing love too, on a grander scale even, because you’re looking after his or her well-being.

So, on that note, here are some gift ideas that are guaranteed to be highly appreciated.

Massage

If you and your partner’s days recently have been stressful, going for a massage is a better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than watching a movie or going to typical lover’s destination. It will allow you both to relax but it’s still just as romantic. Professional massages can be an excellent and relaxing way to ease back pain. Since it’s for Valentine’s Day, consider getting a gift certificate for a couple’s massage. Massages can help with back pain by relieving the tension that often contributes to muscle spasms.

Ergonomic Chair

Most people who have an office job have a common complain—back pain, being uncomfortable all day, and being more and more tired by the day. Those complain boils down to the fact that they spend a great deal of time in an office chair. Moreover, most often than not, the chair they’re using do not have proper support for the lower back nor promote good posture. Sitting all day is already detrimental to one’s health and using a poorly designed chair for prolonged sitting is adding more stress to the structures in the spine. So if you’re feeling a bit more generous consider an ergonomic chair as your valentine day gift.  Just remember to look for features that maintain his posture without restricting his movement.

Lumbar Cushion

Sitting for extended period of time is not good for your back and your health; however, it has become unavoidable nowadays due to desk jobs, sedentary lifestyle, and even prolonged driving. If you know your special someone tend to spend a lot of time sitting for whatever reason, how about give him or her a lumbar cushion this coming hearts day? Designed to be used anywhere, lumbar cushions minimize stress on spine-supporting muscles and help the user maintain correct posture. Consider cushions made from memory foam, which is designed to naturally adjust to the user’s curves for added support.

Neck Support Products

Does your special someone complain about neck pain a lot? Do you notice him or her always massaging his or her neck area? Then take this coming Valentine’s Day to get him or her, a neck wedge. Neck wedges is a great tool that can help restore the neck curve, reduce pain, develop better posture and improved health. Neck wedges is a simple foam wedge that you can use like a pillow but unlike the typical pillow, this neck cushion focuses on the curve of your neck instead of your head. It is a comfortable orthotic device that is lightweight and easy to use. Skip the tradition Valentine’s gifts and consider this one because this could be the best gift for your loved one.

Chiropractic Care Appointment

Even if you have never heard your partner complain about back pain or the like, book him or her, an appointment with a chiropractor you know and go together. The modern lifestyle nowadays takes a toll on the body especially if your partner sits all day at work. An appointment to a chiropractor can help with a lot of different health issues, especially when it comes to musculoskeletal system in which area chiropractors specializes in.

7 Benefits Of Jojoba Oil Which You Probably Didn’t Know

You probably know by now that ayurvedic oils are great for nourishing and maintaining healthy skin and hair. Jojoba oil, for that matter, is one of the popular oils that are often used for hair care. Jojoba oil being the closest in construction to the human sebum is a natural replacement for it. When the body is unable to produce enough sebum to protect against harsh external elements, jojoba oil can be the perfect skincare solution.

1.      Retains Moisture

Jojoba oil helps moisturize the skin, without clogging the pores, allowing for a healthy skin type. Aside from that, it also fights off bacteria build up in your pores which tends to develop into blackheads and acne.

2.      For Soft Lips

Instead of buying lip balms or chapsticks, why not use jojoba oil to moisturize your lips? It’s a natural way to keep your lips from being dry and from cracking.

3.      A Natural Sunscreen

It has always been drilled to us that we must splatter sunscreen all over our body if we want to prevent the damaging effects of sunlight. However, did you know that chemical sunscreens that have the potential to greatly increase skin cancer risk and reduce Vitamin D production in the name of avoiding skin cancer, and increase our risk of more widespread diseases related to Vitamin D deficiency? A good natural alternative for that would be jojoba oil.

4.      Treats Skin Burns

There are times that despite your efforts to prevent getting burned while enjoying the beach, it still happens. When that happens, you wouldn’t want to apply lotion or any other chemical cream for that since your skin is already sensitive from the burn. But Jojoba soothes any burnt skin by going deeper into the tissues and healing them. It can even reduce skin burn that often happens after shaving.

5.      Good For Your Hair

Jojoba oil helps strengthen hair follicles on the scalp causing hair to grow stronger and healthier. The presence of Vitamin E & B conditions the hair shaft making the hair shinier, adding volume and density. The stronger hair shaft prevents hair breakage due to drying wet hair everyday. Head massages with jojoba oil help to also condition the scalp which removes scalp dryness. Thus avoiding dandruff and itching.

6.      Great Makeup Remover

Makeup is great, but we gotta admit that removing it after a long day can be pain especially since most makeup remover in the market stings which is especially true around the eye area. Since giving up makeup would be completely unrealistic, why not look for a makeup remover that is just as effective minus the burning effect that often comes with chemical ones? Jojoba oil is a great alternative! Even the most stubborn eye makeup glides right off with this.

7.      Pain Relief

Did you know that essential oils can help relieve different kinds of pain naturally? Well, jojoba oil is one of the carrier oils that are often used for therapeutic purposes. To blend your essential oils into a synergy, you only need to use a few drops of essential oil. The dosage varies, but the standard practice is to add 4 to 10 drops of essential oil to every tablespoon of your carrier oil.

Essential oils whether they are purchased as pure oil and prepared at home or in therapeutic products are particularly useful in the management of chronic pain as in the case of arthritis and sciatica. Essential oils have been proven to be a great addition to any pain management program. So don’t knock it until you try it!

Isn’t amazing how much jojoba oil can do for you? Sometimes, all you really need is take a moment to assess the hair and skin issues you’re dealing with and think that maybe you have to reconsider what you apply to them. With that said, start looking for an alternative. It may not be jojoba oil for you but you’d be surprised that there are a lot of natural ingredients that can actually replace all your chemical ones. And when you find a natural alternative that works for you, stick to it!

Causes Of Lower Back Pain And Chiropractic Care

Hectic work schedule, chaotic family life, crazy partying, trying to look perfect in social media. Nowadays, the demands of modern living can really take a toll on your health, no wonder most people are complaining about lower back pain.         

   

However, while the stress of daily living can no doubt bring all sorts of pain to your body, sometimes low back pains are also due to health conditions. Here are some most common causes of low back pain.

Subluxations

Also known as misalignments. This means some vertebrae in the spine are not in their normal position. Unless these subluxations gets corrected or adjusted by a chiropractor, it will continually cause pain. Aside from pain, misalignments can also lead to systematic dysfunction and disease.

Disc Herniation

This condition may not show symptoms like lower back pain. However, it may bring intense and debilitating pain in other parts of your body. What’s worst is that it doesn’t heal completely but you can prevent it from deteriorating further by seeking regular chiropractic care.  

Sprain, Strain, And Spasm

If you’re the type of person who has little to no physical activity during weekdays, then tries to do extreme ones during the weekends, you’ve probably experienced this already. Overworking your muscles and ligaments leads to small tears in the tissues and cause sprain, strain, or spasm. Consult a Chiropractor here in Singapore for early detection and treatment.

Stress

As mentioned above, with the modern lifestyle majority of us have nowadays, stress will be a part of your life too. While a little stress is a good motivation, too much of it can lead to muscles becoming weak, sore, and loaded with trigger points which often materialize as low back pain. If this is your case, knowing how to take a break is often the key. If there’s no sign of improvement, time to consult a professional.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors in Singapore are aware how fast-paced life is in the Lion City which often results to people suffering from low back pain. But through spinal manipulation, the pain can be relieved, it also gets to the root cause of the problem, and prevents it from coming back. Therefore, you longer have to live with pain relying on painkillers that just numbs the pain without actually treating the problem itself.  

Athletes And Other Celebrity On Chiropractic Care

Just when you think chiropractic care is exclusive to back pain sufferers and is not really a known form of alternative medicine, here are some famous personalities to prove you wrong.  

Tiger Woods, American Professional Golfer

“I’ve been going to a Chiropractor for as long as I can remember. It is as important to my training as the practice of my swing.”

Could you imagine how would his swings be if chiropractic care wasn’t a part of his routine?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hollywood Actor And Former Mr. Universe

“Chiropractors are miracle workers”

If his spine weren’t in good shape, lifting all those weights to build his body which won him Mr. Universe back in 1969 would be next to impossible.

Mel Gibson, American Actor And Filmmaker

"Chiropractic is about health and fitness. Chiropractic is about natural, preventive health care. What you are doing, and I have experienced this for the last 30 years myself on my own body, means that whenever I have a problem—or even if I don’t have a problem—and I go to a chiropractor, my problems are gone for a long time."

Chiropractic care is not only about relieving pain, it’s also about health maintenance.

Marlo Thomas, American Actress, Producer, And Social Activist

“Chiropractic solved my neck and shoulder pains; it put me back on my feet. I think chiropractic is great!”

Neck and shoulder pain doesn’t have to be endured because chiropractic don’t just eases the pain but also goes to the root of the problem and eliminate it.

Peter Fonda, American Actor

“Regular chiropractic adjustments go hand in hand with good health.”

Eating healthy and exercising is good, but combines it with chiropractic adjustments will give you great results.

Melvin Belli, Prominent American Lawyer

“I had headaches for over 30 years until I tried chiropractic. They have completely disappeared.”

Aside from treating neck, shoulders, and back pain, chiropractic can also help with headaches, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, premenstrual discomfort, inflammatory bowel disease, and more.

Lou Waters, CNN Today

“I like to go to the Chiropractor at least once a week and have done for the past 20 – 25 years. I feel better when I go; I have more energy”

Always feeling tired? Go for regular chiropractic adjustments and you’ll start feeling and having more energy.

Dan O ’Brien, Double Olympic And World Championship Decathlon Gold Medalist.

“You obviously can’t compete at your fullest if you’re not in alignment. And your body cannot heal if your back is not in alignment”

Proper alignment in your spine is crucial so that your body can function well and to allow your body’s natural healing process.

Workouts That You Can Do If You Only Have 5 Minutes

We hear this a lot, statements like “I’m too busy for gym” or “With work, kids; I barely get any sleep, let alone spare time to work out”. Yes even if deep down you know the lack of exercise is killing you and that you’d love to do something else outside of work and family that’s healthy at the same time, the fact remains that time flies, not just when having fun, but also when you have a lot to do.

But, wait! Don’t give up yet! Here are some exercises that you can actually squeeze into your hectic schedule. A five minute workout is better than nothing right? And the best thing about these workouts is that you can do them anywhere and you won’t need any fancy gym equipment.

Mountain Climbers

All you have to do is drop on the floor and be on a push up position, contract your abs and then alternately bring you knees closer to the chest. This can really tone your core, especially if you try to speed up your pace.

Split Leg Squats

This is a great exercise to work your glutes, quads, back of your legs, and your calves. To do this, position one foot in front to go down into a lunge. Then switch feet as you jump up with your arms going up as you jump then down as you drop.

Squat Jumps

Make sure you have a good basic squat mechanics before doing squat jumps. From squat, you basically just have to jump it from there. Your landing should be slow and controlled so that your legs will absorb the jump not your joints. Exhale as you jump up, and then inhale as you jump down and use your hands to propel yourself.  While regular squats are great, squat jumps takes the game a notch higher without taking much time but targets your quads just as effectively if not more.

Burpees

Okay, this looks easy but when get down to it your whole body will swear right along as you sweat! This is a full body exercise that can really get your heart pumping even in just 5 minutes. So this is how you do it:

1.    Squat position

2.    Squat thrust

3.    Push up

4.    Frog jump

5.    Jump squat

Jumping Jacks

We probably all know what jumping jacks are. But, the trick to really reap its benefits is to do it as fast as you can go, then you’d feel the burn after a couple of rounds.