Chiropractors in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex present the Chiropractic Life Blog

Ridiculously Simple Steps To Transform Your Health (and Life) : Step Twenty Eight

by Chiropractors Brighton on March 10, 2010

Eat a light and healthy dinner

Dinner Like a Pauper

There are so many conflicting “expert” opinions and information offered about how, when, and what to eat for health that it is almost impossible for people to decide which is the correct advice. Each Ridiculously Simple Step To Transform Your Health (and Life) draws on inspiration from our ancestors who were in tune with their environment. In keeping with this philosophy of looking to nature and copying it, it appears to make sense to eat less towards the latter part of the day, however culturally it seems that dinner is the time of day when people generally eat the most.

Adelle Davis’ words Breakfast like a King, Lunch Like a Prince and Dinner like a Pauper is certainly in keeping with the rhythms of the universe. If we consider food as fuel, which it is, to ensure that our machine (body) works efficiently, breakfast is preparing us for the work of the day, lunch to ensure our peak concentration and our evening meal to prepare us for sleep.

All meals should begin with a piece of raw fruit or vegetable to stimulate enzyme activity which prepares the body for healthy digestion. The calories we put into our bodies late at night cannot be burned off or processed in a healthy way. This leads to weight gain and fat storage in the body’s tissues. It has been suggested that the last meal of the day should be at 6pm, or no later than 7pm, which allows time for the food to digest and prepare the body for a restful sleep.

What we consume is as important as when it is consumed, especially in the evening. Dinner should really be a lighter version of lunch with a little carbohydrate (which is calming and prepares us for rest) and proteins to carry us through the night. Diabetics who snack on carbohydrate foods late in the evening increase the risk of a high blood sugar reading the following morning. Following the advice for diabetics is also a healthy approach to eating for everyone – light protein and vegetables. Many people who have not been diagnosed as diabetic also experience blood sugar fluctuations (hyperglycaemia/hypoglycaemia) which can be controlled by eating more and regular protein. Keeping carbohydrates to a bare minimum, especially in the evenings will help to regulate blood sugars.

Consuming food later in the evening is an invitation to the world where people are struggling to prevent weight gain and since obesity has become a real problem in the western world it makes sense to pay attention to this forgotten piece of advice to “eat dinner like a pauper. Unfortunately, many people eat late at night (and over indulge on the wrong foods) because of stress, anxiety, apprehension and other negative emotions and problems and then this ends up becoming an all-day problem. It helps to feed the vicious cycle of overeating and making poor food choices because it affects the following meal at breakfast, which is likely to be skipped, so it is not hard to see how this becomes a negative cycle of events, each dependent on the one before. The poorer the food choice, the worse the weight gain is going to be, and therefore the overall decline in health.

To follow this week’s Ridiculously Simple Step To Transform Your Health (and Life) is to consider what, how and when we eat in the evening. The following suggestions may help you avoid those late night urges to eat.

1. Adopt a hobby that keeps you occupied during the hours you feel the strongest urges to eat and avoid watching TV as there are always food advertisements to entice you.

2. Take a gentle evening stroll – weather permitting

3. Drink herbal tea

4. Brush your teeth earlier than usual before bed as this signals to the body you are ready to settle down.

5. Don’t forget to Breakfast Like a King and Lunch Like a Prince – as this will help set up the cycle for you.

Please leave your comments and suggestions.

Dr Richard McMinn Chiropractor Hove

Dr Helen Martin Chiropractor Hove

Chiropractic Life

Blog

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The Power Of Your Atlas

by Chiropractors Brighton on March 8, 2010

The Power Of Your Atlas

The Atlas/Axis Connection

The first seven vertebrae of your spinal column make up what is known as your cervical spine. It begins at the top of your spine and ends where the middle 12 vertebrae of your spine, known as the thoracic spine, begin at your shoulders.

Migraines and headaches cost billions each year in lost income. The suffering that surrounds them cannot be measured. People sometimes use drugs. Drugs mask symptoms. Symptoms are messages to us that something is not right. By masking symptoms we are ignoring the body’s cries for help. Like covering something we don’t want to look at. The body has an intelligence which Chiropractors refer to as “innate intelligence” which means the body knows how to heal. It just needs the opportunity. Chiropractic is a drug free approach to healing. The idea is simple – remove the interference and allow the body to heal itself naturally as it was designed to do. Everyday around the world, Chiropractors do just that.

The top two vertebrae of the cervical spine (known as C1 and C2) are unique from all the others because they are designed primarily for rotation. The first vertebra, know as the atlas (C1) is located between the skull the axis (C2). The atlas was named after a mythical god who held the “weight of the world” on his shoulders because the atlas actually supports the weight of the head. The atlas sits right on top of the axis and is linked to it by special ligaments that allow rotation between them. The brain stem extends down into this area, which is why it has such an impact on our overall health

Proper alignment of these two vertebrae can affect the way your entire body functions and any type of misalignment can exert pressure on the brainstem, causing your entire body to malfunction. This sets up a compromise that can affect every organ, every system, and eventually every cell in your body, allowing a greater possibility for you to develop disease.

Headaches and Migraines are not the only result of spinal misalignments in the atlas/axis. Learning difficulty and behaviour problems can sometimes be the end result of spinal misalignments in the cervical spine. Sometimes this area of the spine can be damaged at birth since the bones of a new born baby are still soft. We have many children in our practice whose lives have been changed by having their spines adjusted, allowing them to express health at every level. Chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical spine help correct any misalignments and restore proper alignment of the atlas and axis so they function as they were designed to do, allowing the rest of your body to function as it should.

Give your child the best chance in life to reach their fullest potential.

Contact our clinic Chiropractic Life, 88 Portland Road, Hove BN3 5DL. Phone 01273 208188.

Your comments and suggestions are invited on this blog post.

Dr Richard McMinn Chiropractor Brighton

Dr Helen Martin Chiropractor Brighton

Chiropractic Life

Blog

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Gordon Brown, Anger, Stress & Chiropractic

by Chiropractors Brighton on March 5, 2010

The media has been alive with reports and counter reports of Gordon Browns bullying. The Telegraph reported rumours that the Prime Minister had shoved an aide aside, that he had sworn at officials and was fond of throwing mobile phones across the room. They also reported that the back seat of his prime ministerial Daimler was covered in pen marks inflicted in anger and while we, as mere mortals may never know fact from fiction, one thing that chiropractors know for sure is that stress is a sign of nervous system overload.

We experience the world through our nervous system. D.D. Palmer stated that “Life is the expression of tone” Tone is the normal degree of nerve tension, likened to the strings of a guitar. When tightened to the right degree a beautiful sound is made, tightened beyond its capabilities and the guitar string snaps. The same is true with our nervous system. A little stress can be productive, however lots of stress over long periods of time can result in “snapping” – which is what we can read into Mr Brown’s alleged reactions to life’s daily irritations. Accumulated stress causes emotional (and sometimes physical) reactions. The modern world has become increasingly complex, and the demands on our time and attention, unrelenting. Health practitioners are becoming increasingly aware of many illnesses being caused, or worsened by stress. Stress is so common that most people just take it for granted.

One effect of chronic stress is prolonged muscle tension (as in the case of the guitar). Muscle tension can create uneven pressures on the bony structures of the body leading to minor misalignments of the spinal column, often leading to nerve irritation. Chiropractors are Spinal Nerve Specialists who work with the spine which houses the nervous system through which nerve impulses travel to and from the brain to the rest of the body. Chiropractic adjustments release muscle tension, allowing the body to return to a more balanced and relaxed state with patients often reporting improved sleep as an unexpected bonus.

Your chiropractor cannot create a calmer, quieter world or make your job less stressful, however they can help your nervous system respond more positively to the stressors in your environment.

Your comments and suggestions are invited on this blog post.

Dr Richard McMinn - Chiropractor Hove

Dr Helen Martin - Chiropractor Hove

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Ridiculously Simple Steps To Transform Your Health (and Life) : Step Twenty Seven

by Chiropractors Brighton on March 3, 2010

Heathy Lunch

Lunch Like a Prince

Keep your lunch hour sacred! It is the time to refuel and refresh your body and mind.

Following on from last week’s Ridiculously Simple Step To Transform Your Health (and Life) we continue our discussion of the optimal way to eat. Perhaps it’s boring, old fashioned even, to consider taking your own lunch to work , however this is often your best protection against consuming the wrong foods while at work. Whether we are in fact at home or at work, lunch should be a considered meal and should definitely be seen as an important part of your day. Many people, especially those working in an office environment have acquired poor eating habits simply because of the lack of available healthy, fresh foods. Bringing your own from home will help you avoid the temptations of unhealthy alternatives that are paraded at check outs. The smell of baked goodies drifting on the air, inviting us to buy can often be overwhelming when we are hungry. Basic tip number one – never go shopping for food of any kind when you are hungry as you will inevitably make unhealthy choices and spend much more than you intended.

What we eat can definitely help us stay alert and energised during the day and into the afternoon, however food cannot compensate for other lifestyle factors that may be affecting our concentration and productivity. If we are all ready sleep deprived,( see Ridiculously Simple Steps To Transform Your Health (and Life): Step Fourteen), bored or disinterested in our job, or the activities in which we are involved, no food of any kind is likely to keep us alert and healthy.

To be productive all day long we need to prevent our metabolism from becoming sluggish. By eating high fat, high sugar foods we place an unnecessary burden on the digestive system which causes us to become drowsy, because the body is using all it’s energy to digest and process. The body is a magical machine and it knows where the most energy is needed at any time and digestion becomes high priority to the detriment of focus and clarity. Many people like to finish their meal with a piece of fruit but we recommend to always start the meal with a piece of fresh fruit or vegetable which will help to make enzymes readily available for digestion – remember the rule – Fresh Fibre First! By consuming whole, natural foods that provide us with dense nutrition, high-protein and high-fiber, we give ourselves the very best opportunity to be alert and productive during the afternoon. Eating lunch like a prince is all about eating a good sized nutritious lunch, although obviously not a “king-size” one as at breakfast. Lunch should be heavily weighted in favour of soups, salads/vegetables and lean meat with a smaller portion of grains if desired. Your nutritional strategy for maintaining your mental edge after lunch is similar to breakfast – eating foods that will give a gradual, steady release of energy. A healthy lunch sets us up for a high energy afternoon and will also help to curtail that evening bingeing. The wrong foods can wreck our mood and bring on early afternoon cravings which can again cause us to reach for the wrong foods by dinner time.

Planning is the key to eating well. Being organised with healthy foods from home will help to prevent the cycle of events that leads to making wrong food choices when we are in a hurry. It will also save you money! A lunch of delicious fresh food brought from home not only provides you with the very best nutrition but you have the opportunity to avoid the lunch crush at the local deli and you can find a quiet spot outside in some sunlight (if possible) where you can eat in peace. This gives your mind and body a break from the intensity and demands of the office and will refresh and renew your spirit. Take your allotted lunch hour – you will be more productive for doing so and you will even have time for a stroll and some deep breaths to prepare yourself for your demanding afternoon.

While introducing this weeks Ridiculously Simple Step To Transform Your Health (and Life), to lunch like a prince, you pave the way to health and vitality and clear your head of fog and confusion so that you are more focused, creative and decisive all day long.

Your comments and suggestions are invited on this blog post.

Dr Richard McMinn Chiropractors Brighton

Dr Helen Martin Chiropractors Brighton

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Where Is All the Love in Hove & Brighton?

by Chiropractors Brighton on March 1, 2010

Most Loved Chiropractic Clinic in UK

It is now official!

Chiropractic Life is the most loved small business in Brighton and Hove.

Click here to see the LoveMeter

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/brighton-and-hove/business-guide/feature/chiropractic-life/69749/review

According to a massive nationwide search run by TheBestOf to find the best local shops and companies in towns and cities across the whole of the UK, Chiropractic Life was voted Most Loved.
Chiropractic Life was also voted Most Loved Chiropractic clinic in the WHOLE of the UK!

Now that’s something!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We want to thank all our loyal practice members for their wonderful testimonials collected over a two week period. It is heartwarming and encouraging to know people love to visit our practice.

Enjoy the testimonials below: -

It is a pleasure to come to Chiropractic Life every month to recharge my battery to get the best wellbeing treatment to set me up for another good month. Connie Morris

Best treatment- best value- best atmosphere. Nick King

I have been very impressed by the combination of professionalism with genuinely compassionate and responsive client care. It would be very hard to match the service of such a dedicated, family-run business with a strong, principled vision of holistic health care. I knew this practice was special when every member of staff remembered my name after my first consultation. They make me feel less like a walking revenue stream and more like a human being, which many other businesses fail to do. Taylor Damion

If you need years of experienced, detailed personal care, warmth and support-Chiropractic Life is the place to go. Kirsty Murray

Friendly professional practice providing good service and advice. Made a whole difference to my life. Lorraine Puttock

Changed my life, have recommended friends and will continue to spread the great news. 10/10! Helen Brophy

By far the best welcome and service in Hove. Derek Charles

Very good helps me sleep (baby). Victor Rennie

Brilliant, very experienced. James Rennie

Fantastic service. Anna Rennie

Always a great welcome! After 10 years of chronic back problems, mine has never been better-thanks to Richard. David O’Neil

Very friendly and caring, helped me out a lot! Damon Power

Would recommend to everyone! Amazing results and fantastic care. Julia Osborne

They give a very good personal service and always very helpful. Pat Fowler

Friendly and helpful. Family orientated, excellent service. Nicky Fowler

Has improved my condition beyond belief. Eva-Lisa Crawford

Every session I have received an extremely kind service and they have been like that since my first appointment. Thania Lopez

Everyone is friendly and helpful and treatments have made my comfort a lot better. Wendy Redwood

A great improvement in my posture and aches and pains have gone. Reallygreat. Mick Petrovic

Good feeling coming here. Bessie Gibson

Good at what they do and friendly and open-hearted. Mark Radcliffe

Friendly, helpful people, great results. Whole family visit. Trevor Gibson

Very friendly staff, always accommodating and reliable. Russell Gibson

Fab team-great treatment-best place to visit. Jacqui Pamment

Professional skill, tailored to my needs, delivered with personal care and concern. I’m important. Graham Shaw

Excellent and friendly service. Colin Wardley

I would recommend to everybody to try at least once before saying no. Malti

It works! R.W. Bello

For quality of life visit our STARS at Chiropractic Life, you will always be grateful, but more importantly healthy. Pat O’Gorman

Friendly and caring family run business. Mary Thorp

Very caring and friendly, listen to what people say, effective treatment. Ann Bolton

Always excellent service from everyone at the practice. Sara Tyler

Life would be more painful without them. Nigel Kift

Excellent care, would recommend. Amanda Weller

Friendly, helpful, make you feel at ease. Steve Standing

Always made to feel welcome, great progress with my treatment. David Maskell

I found everyone really friendly and clearly explained things to me. Annabella Brown

Best place I found! Couldn’t do what I do today without them. Lesley Standing.

Very friendly service and excellent care. Very happy customer. Sam Tamlyn

A star on Portland Road. Rachel Sefton-Smith

So beneficial and a great support. R.E. Abbott

This practice has made such a difference to my lifestyle. I am so glad to be part of it. Ruth Butcher

This is a very caring business with friendly staff. Flexible to customer needs. Heather Burgis

Friendly staff and great service and treatment provided. Louisa Curtis

Highly satisfied with everything they have done for me. Jill Shoosmith

I spent a year not being able to work, I came to Chiropractic Life and was back at work in 2 months. Samantha Courtnage

Chiropractic Life is amazing. Ever since we started going there 2 and 1/2 years ago, their service has been excellent and we are always made to feel welcome. Sarah Rowntree

Fabulous welcome, skilful, warm holistic approach-don’t miss it. Andy Bradley

Very friendly, caring and experienced chiropractor. Charlotte Gravestock

First class service and results. Highly recommended. Darran Hathaway

Gentle, courteous and effective, a great relief for body and soul. Zam Walker

I’m a fan because they have really helped me with my shoulder and everyone is so lovely. Kristy Woodruffe

Brilliant professional treatment, embracing total healthy lifestyle. Valerie Cable

They are the best in the county. Michael Martin

An oasis of healing! David Coleman

They provide the best chiropractic care in the UK-with no doubt!! Friendly and helpful, just brilliant. Phil Nisbet

Friendly, informative, supportive-the best chiropractic clinic I have visited. Carla Nisbet

I’m a regular visitor from Chichester. Rebecca Streeter

I’m a fan. Matt Streeter

Fantastic, friendly. Have changed my life for the better. Thank-you. Tania Bonaldi

They have helped me so much I wouldn’t go anywhere else. Jill Clarke

My neck pain is better and no more headaches. Great service and such lovely people. Louise Lewis-Dowell

Good customer service. Sara Winnington

For the best chiropractic service in the country! Davina Payne

Excellent service and have changed my life with my back! Johnny Jarvis

I’ve visited Chiropractic Life for several years-superb treatment and understanding of issues. Paul Billett

Friendly, helpful and fantastic chiropractors ever! Tina Martin

I’m a fan. Andy Martin

Good service. Seth Winnington

It really helped and sorted me out. Matthew Lewis

Great for newborns-helps with sleeping. Benjamin Tamlyn

Very good, my back has really improved. Mike Monk

I cannot fault the service I have had. J.Higgs

Visit and feel better-you won’t regret it. Bev Strevens

Good customer service. Tim Hayes

Really life-changing! Friendly staff, very knowledgable, great results. Nina Hepworth

Relief from back pain and headaches. Hugh Rhodes

They are friendly, helpful and have sorted my health completely. Jesi Lawes

One of the best services Brighton and Hove has to offer. Excellent customer service and they care deeply about their clients. Adrian Miskelly

Warm welcome, comfortable atmosphere and a fantastic treatment- the best yet! A.Lindup

Highly recommend. Best for self wellbeing. Any aches & pains can be sorted. Muscles, bone with adjustment and alignment. Best form of treatment-feel the difference. Sandra Golby

Chiropractic Life is a very reliable and friendly organisation. Guy Austin

I’m a fan. Tom Simpson

Always extremely helpful and my back problems have improved tremendously since I have been coming. J.Flowers

Fantastic service from friendly, caring people. Made a big difference to my health and wellbeing. Neil O’Halloran

Always a warm welcome, wonderful friendly business. Steve Richards

A fantastic and friendly service, I am a big fan. Ben Phillips

Always friendly and really interested and care about patients. Jean Carpenter

Always ready to help and heal. If any pain, drop in and feel better. Henrik Hilker

Very nice people and service, I have never felt better! Clare Cates

Highly recommend. Would recommend to all. Karen Noakes

A really welcoming and friendly approach to health problems. M.Herriott

Comfortable and friendly, make me feel at home-like family. Angela Turner

Great people-good atmosphere. Michael Turner

Chiropractic Life is a great chiropractic clinic and I highly recommend it. Emily Croucher

They are very good at their job, very friendly and always book urgent appointments when needed. Debbie Stevens

A really welcoming place, who do amazing work to help me. Victoria Griffin

Very good staff- kind and helpful. K.Phillips

Warm atmosphere, welcoming environment, friendly faces. Liz Cleminson

Highly recommended! Simon Ringer

They are very nice people, they listen to you. Sonya Phillips

After years of stiff necks and shoulders, I look forward to my sessions every month, for ongoing relief and comfort. Cindy Trafford

Just being there helps me to feel better about myself. Stefan Woodward

You have to go there to find out they are the best. Carol Robertson

A fabulous, caring practice that turns pain into happiness! Neil Harrison

Improvement in your life with care and skill and a personal touch, see the benefits, highly recommend Chiropractic Life. Patricia Herriott

As a tradesman I rely on my back to earn a living. Chiropractic Life made work possible again, following a back injury. Paul Muzzall

Been at this for 8 years and without it I would be in really bad shape. Bryan Butterworth

Really friendly staff, would highly recommend. Thomas Bridge

My back is a lot better-thanks a lot. Mark Back

I always feel terrific after my care and the staff are all saints! Llewelyn Moss

Helpful, friendly, staff. Always try to please. Matt Harper

Friendly, professional service, clean environment and always helpful. Cindy Chick-Bass

Always a warm welcome! Truly professional and a pleasure to know. Leonie Lawmon

My back is feeling so much better, I can now look forward to weekend lie-ins without chronic pain! Rick Coles

All the staff- friendly, caring and helpful : great atmosphere! Julia Sandiford

If you ever had a back pain or whiplash then you really deserve the best remedy and treatment with excellent staff, then visit Chiropractic Life.
Cath Hogarth

Recommend Helen Martin and excellent, friendly service. L. Warburton

Professional, friendly, welcoming and brilliant. I can recommend the practice. Liz Murphy

Very professional service – lovely surroundings, very accommodating. Virginie Vincent

Good atmosphere – professional approach. Steve Redwood

Very friendly staff. Ingrid Offer

Very efficient and helpful both mentally and physically. Hazel Coppins

Highly recommended. Steve Reed

Richard keeps me moving and active. Angie Ridge

Chiropractic Life has always been supportive , loyal and extremely friendly. Jose Heasman

If you have any back or related pain you must see these people first! J. Jenkins

Friendly, brilliant completely sort (or straighten) me out! Tom Dover

I most sincerely recommend Chiropractic Life as a STAR! Valerie Sinclair Stevens

Chiropractic Life has been very helpful when I injured my back. I continue to come back to stay healthy and feel very comfortable and find them very friendly. Samantha Hiscox

For relief from back problems. Nina Castillo

I always get very good treatment and the best service. Tom Pike

Personal touch and great results. Adele Tomasin

They identified the problem and sorted me out! A very good experience. Graham Madigan

Its a great clinic and there are life changing people here. Claise Martin

Excellent knowledge and care shown by all and an extremely friendly team. Alex Ouezzani

Very good, relaxing treatment. J.R. Hinton

Great treatment with recurrent problem. Always service with a smile! Theresa Reid

My aches and pains disappear after a consultation, a great relaxing and enjoyable experience. Brian Risby

Great adjustments, friendly, supportive and caring. Carolyn McIlvride

I like the staff because they make me feel welcome. Ella Hampson

The best chiropractic practice I have encountered. Louis Leclercq

The best treatment – the best people – the best feeling – just wonderful! Ann Wall

Very special service, welcoming, professional and effective. Jane Leclercq

They cured my back after two sessions when I fell from my swing. Amelia Leclercq

Very holistic – more than just back care. Alison Hatton

It’s a very friendly environment. A lovely place to be! Holly Helliwell

I like my treatment. It’s a friendly place. Jake Helliwell

I have found that the care and attitude is at the highest quality to the elderly. Adelaide Lewis

Very friendly when you arrive you feel you’re stepping into your own home. Adam Sullens

The hospital signed my husband off physio but he had limited movement. Helen has given him a fully working arm and shoulder again. I recommend you try it. Rose Langston

A very relaxed and friendly clinic. They have certainly made a difference to my life being pain-free. Gillian Adamson

I’ve been coming to Chiropractic Life for over three years and have had a definite improvement! Robin Woodward

All the chiropractors are very lovely and I always come out very relaxed. Ellen Edwards

I would like to say how much I have benefited from my visits. Pauline Hands

They are so friendly and helpful, I look forward to my visits. Sam Edwards

Fantastic friendly service – which can be so rare nowadays. K.Edwards

Always feel better after an adjustment. Sonja Pullan

Chiropractic Life- for a caring professional service. Mike Bayton

All at Chiropractic Life are passionate about what they do and are so friendly and helpful. Janet Brown

A family run business, at the heart of the community – offering care. N.Alldis

I can’t recommend Chiropractic Life highly enough – friendly, efficient knowledgeable. Go and visit there soon! Lucy Oakley

Five star service. B.Buczkowski

I come once a month now, and can’t praise CL enough! Abi Henty-Morgan

Very professional, friendly. Recommend to everyone – 5 star. Jacquelyn Westwood

Helping to relieve back pain. Dougal Ansley

Tender care, with good results. Penny Goslett

My back does not bother me now and that is totally down to the care I have received . Liz McAlister

No longer suffer back or neck problems due to superb care. Jason McAlister

Absolutely wonderful. Glenda Tait

Has made me more flexible & more mobile and pain-free. Anthea Maskall

Great standards, professional, excellent customer service. Dean Mosdell

Excellent care- always sorts out the problem. Louise Jones

Try it – it really works wonders! Chiropractic Life is wonderful. Heather Milton

Relaxing, welcoming and without them I would be in pain each month. Abi Meyer

Five star service. N. Lesley

A feel good factor as soon as you enter the door. Very professional and friendly. Gillian Barber

I highly recommend Chiropractic Life for their brilliant service and welcoming atmosphere. Jack Bradley

To get a good healthy feeling. Ken Pemble

Excellent service and the friendliest place in the city. Derek Reeves

A simply wonderful, caring and conscientious practice in the heart of Hove, East Sussex. Julian Barrett

Friendly, professional and first class in all respects. Barry Barber

It is so reassuring to be served by a family run business and good value for money. Philippa Muzzall

An oasis of calm in the hustle and bustle of the city. Michael Turner

A very thorough and professional service. Very happy. Stella Wilson

I’m a fan. James Redwood

The warmth I get from the clinic solves all my problems. Sylvia Willard

Smiling, friendly and nothing hurts anymore. Sue Pratt

Excellent care- always warm and welcoming. Claire Heward

Such a friendly, warm practice, who are dedicated to your wellbeing. Michelle Strong

Always very welcoming and healing. Thank-you for your care. Niki Hudson

I love Chiropractic Life because I not only get my spine realigned but I receive tips/hints for health/wellbeing. Joanne Dixon

Very good treatments when suffering back problems. Always very helpful and supportive. Gail Kerpel

Really sorted out my whiplash injury and spine-fantastic! Geoff Shears

They help my pain and posture and my ability to put on my own socks! Thank-you. Lesley Dickson

A brilliant practice has helped my back no end. Friendly and polite. David Cox

I’m a fan of Chiropractic Life as I always feel tons better after my appointments. Charlotte Dixon

I would highly recommend, everyone is so friendly and helpful! Clare Park

A warm and welcoming practice where the chiropractors are helpful and friendly as well as being professionally very skilled. Veronica McGivney

A very friendly and genuinely caring practice. Nick Lawden

Since coming here I have felt wonderful and welcomed by caring professional staff. Melanie Gibson

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Ridiculously Simple Steps To Transform Your Health (and Life): Step Twenty Six

by Chiropractors Brighton on February 27, 2010

Breakfast like a King

A healthy breakfast is important

During the sixties I grew up with the words of Adelle Davis ringing in my ears – “breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper” which simply means eating more food earlier in the day and less food later, which is generally opposite to what most people do. Adelle was a keen advocate for healthy eating. Through our Ridiculously Simple Steps To Transform Your Health (and Life) we aim to help you focus on eating well, moving well, thinking well and living well. When taking our Ridiculously Simple Steps collectively, there is an increased likelihood of attaining and maintaining improved health and wellbeing.

It is common knowledge that breakfast is the meal that “breaks the fast”, however many have lost sight of Grandma’s advice which was to have a hearty breakfast. This simple lifestyle habit can have a profound effect on our health all year long. We believe that breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day. Numerous scientific studies performed over the past twenty years have shown that eating a nutritious breakfast improves our overall nutrition, performance and affects our ability to concentrate. It also helps control our weight since breakfast jump starts our metabolism early in the day. When we skip breakfast our body goes into a defense mode and tries to conserve the energy by slowing our body down. Due to this, our overall daily calorie burning process is affected and makes gaining weight much easier. A nutritious breakfast not only supplies vital nutrition, it also helps to balance our moods. Food is energy which we need to get us from dawn to dusk! The brain (and central nervous system) run on glucose — that’s the fuel we use to walk, talk, and carry out all activities. Maybe your last meal at night is at 10 or 11 PM (common, but not optimal). The following day, breakfast is not eaten until about noon. That’s thirteen or fourteen hours with nothing in your system. The brain is deprived of nutrients and the body has to work extra hard to break down any stored carbohydrate or turn fat or protein into a usable form for the brain to function. This can cause fatigue. I have seen this happen to co-workers over the years, those who steadfastly refuse to make time for breakfast but by lunch were having difficulty focusing.

The best breakfast will supply nutrients that release energy over differing lengths of time throughout the morning. In other Ridiculously Simple Steps To Transform Your Health (and Life) we discussed the value of drinking water infused with lemon first thing in the morning and eating fruit before your meal (every meal) and this is especially true at breakfast. It is also absolutely essential that protein is part of our breakfast, because it is protein that helps to regulate our blood sugar levels, postponing the symptoms of hunger. Protein can be found in many breakfast foods including good quality muesli (see recipe below) which contains nuts and seeds, oatmeal porridge, spirulina food drinks, natural yoghurts, eggs, fish and meat. Accompany these foods with fruit and you have the perfect breakfast. Check out Jamie Oliver’s website for further healthy breakfast ideas. Dr James Chestnut (www.thewellnesspractice.com) recommends giving our body foods we were originally designed to eat. Unfortunately the breakfast cereal marketers have done great harm to people’s health in cleverly marketing their ready made cereals which mostly lack essential nutrition and are often packed with hidden sugars.

Many people find they just cannot face breakfast, however during the morning when they are looking for that quick burst of energy they are more likely to reach for that unhealthy food which also lacks nutrition and is loaded with sugar. Lack of hunger in the morning is mostly due to what was consumed the night before – often a heavy meal late in the evening. As a result, the body has spent most of the night digesting and processing the meal. After working all night, the last thing our body wants to do first thing in the morning is eat! For those trapped in this scenario, we suggest avoiding an evening meal for several days to rebalance the body. You may be pleasantly surprised by your new found desire for breakfast!

Eating breakfast is important for everyone, but is especially so for children and adolescents. According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom and playground, with better concentration, problem-solving skills, and eye-hand coordination.

If you are among the many millions of people who skip breakfast every day or fuel your body with a single cup of strong black coffee, now is your opportunity to kick the habit. Knowing that this Ridiculously Simple Step To Transform Your Health (and Life) has the ability to make such a positive difference to your health, all you need do is to make a plan to have your breakfast foods ready to use. To help you, I have included the muesli recipe which we use. We hope you will consider taking this Ridiculously Simple Step To Transform Your Health (and Life) and make it a “must do” every morning, since to breakfast like a king will give you the best possible start (and finish) to your day and may well be one of the best kept secrets to manifesting health and vitality through to old age.

Karens Organic Breakfast Muesli

1 kilo breakfast oats (not quick cook ones)
250 gms Raisins
125gms Flax seeds (crushed)
125 gms Pumpkin seeds
125 gms Almond flakes
125 gms Ground almonds
125 gms Sunflower seeds

Mix all ingredients and store in airtight container. Serve with organic blueberries and banana. I use almond milk and/or natural yoghurt Use honey or virgin maple syrup for sweetener if desired.

P.S. I top my muesli with a dessertspoon of Innate Choice Omega Sufficiency (omega 3 oil) (now available at Chiropractic Life)

Your comments and suggestions are invited on this blog post.

Dr Richard McMinn Chiropractor Hove

Dr Helen Martin Chiropractor Hove

Chiropractic Life

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