The Truth About Palm Oil

Have you noticed Palm Oil appearing in our supermarkets & food stores? Perhaps you've noticed it being touted as new & improved, healthy, and budget friendly? Hmmm.......truth is, Palm Oil is highly processed (extracted and treated with heat and / or chemicals). If solvents are used in extraction, the oil may contain chemical residues. Although it is low in unsaturated fatty acids & thus  less prone to oxidation, its oxidized portions are highly inflammatory in the body. Worst of all, it is very environmentally costly. In Indonesia, thousands of acres of forests are being clear cut and burned to plant palms for production of palm oil, creating pollution, reducing forests' carbon sequestration, and destroying native rain forest habitats. 

A Shallow Fit, A Joint "Complex"

         Unlike the hip joint, which has the tight fit of a "ball-and-socket," the shoulder is more like a "ball-and-saucer"---the fit is more shallow. While this allows for a wider range of motion, it also makes the shoulder more vulnerable to misalignment or dislocation.

The shoulder is made up of several interacting articulations; it is not just one joint; it is a joint “complex.” The upper bone of the arm, the humerus, articulates with a shallow “cup” that is part of the scapula. Another projecting part of the scapula makes a joint with the outer end of the collarbone.

Many ligaments and muscles connect & attach to parts of the shoulder complex. These also contribute to the multiplicities of motion of which our shoulders are capable. But, like the “ball-and-saucer,” they contribute to the vulnerability of the shoulder to injury. 

As an ACTIVATOR Chiropractor, I am trained to evaluate the multiple parts of the shoulder complex, and to make precise adjustments as needed to relieve pain and restore normal function.

Suboccipital Tension

Chronic tension at the base of the skull is a very common cause of discomfort and often a prelude to headaches.

       The occiput is the bone across the lower part of the back of our head, just above the top of our neck. Along its lower edge are the suboccipital muscles, which help support our head, help us move and turn our head, and often bear the burden of stressful postures, especially related to computer use.

I often find a patient’s suboccipital muscles so tight that the occiput itself is stressed abnormally downward on one or both sides. This is relieved by a gentle, precise adjustment with the Activator.

Activator Chiropractic adjustments combined with ergonomic counseling and stretches are an effective solution to this problem.

Hyperextension of the Knee

Extension of the knee beyond its normal limit is a common cause of knee pain. Patients may be aware of what happened if it occurred during sports activities, a misstep, or a workout, but other causes of hyperextension may not be so obvious to them. 

For example, one common troublemaker is resting one’s foot up on an ottoman while sitting, resulting in extension stress at the knee.

Activator Chiropractic adjustments can correct the problem quickly and precisely, and bring relief. 

Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County

   

   Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County have afterschool programs for youth aged 6 - 18. Activities include help with homework, tutoring, arts & crafts, computer training, gym and sports, and game rooms.

Programs offer music lessons, swim lessons & swim team, a Basketball League, special events for teens, and Summer Day Camps.

In Social Awareness groups for teens, participants discuss news events from the past week and talk about how these events may affect their personal world. They also talk about issues teens face in their everyday lives and how to safely and wisely navigate through them.

The Basketball League runs in partnership with the Golden State Warriors Jr. Warriors program, receives lots of support from the Santa Cruz Warriors D Team, and final playoffs of Boys and Girls Club basketball competition are held in the Santa Cruz Warriors Arena. Basketball games begin in early January each year.

Find out more about Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County and their Downtown Santa Cruz and Live Oak centers at   http://boysandgirlsclub.info/programs/ 

 

Suboccipital Tension

        The occiput is the bone across the lower part of the back of our head, just above the top of our neck. Along the lower edge of it are the suboccipital muscles, which help support our head, help us move and turn our head, and often bear the burden of stressful postures, especially related to computer use.

Many people are very familiar with this area because they experience chronic tension here. Tension in these muscles is a common prelude to headaches.

I have specific, gentle Activator Chiropractic adjustments to relieve this tension, and to re-position a misaligned occiput. After treatment, it is essential for patients to avoid stressful postures that cause the tension to become re-established.

Yes, “The Knee Bone’s Connected to the........”

The two bones in the lower leg between the knee and the ankle are the tibia and the fibula. The tibia, larger and heavier, is the primary weight bearer of the two. The fibula, smaller, lies alongside the tibia on the lateral side of the lower leg, and is joined to the tibia at top and bottom by ligaments. Between them is the interosseous membrane. An injury to either bone or to their connecting tissues may affect the efficient working of the biomechanics of the lower extremity. The patella, or kneecap, glides in a groove on the upper front of the tibia. 

Surprising Secrets About Palm Oil

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Have you noticed Palm Oil appearing in our supermarkets & food stores? Perhaps you've noticed it being touted as new & improved, healthy, and budget friendly? Hmmm.......truth is, Palm Oil is highly processed (extracted and treated with heat and / or chemicals). If solvents are used in extraction, the oil may contain chemical residues. Although it is low in unsaturated fatty acids & thus  less prone to oxidation, its oxidized portions are highly inflammatory in the body. Worst of all, it is very environmentally costly. In Indonesia, 1,000s of acres of forests are being clear cut and burned to plant palms for production of palm oil, creating pollution, reducing forests' carbon sequestration, and destroying native rain forest habitats. 

Build A Nest Box For Spring Birds

Cavity nesting birds--those that like hollows for their nests, such as wrens, swallows, bluebirds, and some sparrows---often can’t find a vacant hole in a dead tree, a crack in a building wall, or other natural cavity in which to make their nest. We can provide nest boxes to help. Learn about the kinds of boxes to make and where to put them at https://www.audubon.org/news/build-nest-box-welcome-spring-birds.  Spring migrants will soon arrive, ready to nest and raise their babies.