The Doctor of the Future is In!

The Doctor of the Future is In~

By Dr. Jordan Leasure, DC 

“The Doctor of the Future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”  -Thomas Edison

The Irish Times stated that ‘resolutions are only as good as the will of the resolver’. How true. Any of us could resolve to work out for ten days in a row; not eat that extra helping at dinner this week or quit smoking for a few hours. It has now been six months since we all made those New Years resolutions. How many of you are still getting up at 5 a.m. to hit the gym? Eating your five servings of fruits and vegetables? Spending more time with your families or finally fitting in some quality time for yourself? 

If you are like the rest of Americans, it is about now that you start waning on your commitment. That second slice of pizza is looking pretty good, it is ok to hit snooze ‘cause you will go to the gym after work, or your boss really needs that report by tomorrow so you will sacrifice your yoga class. Every day is a struggle, but having the ability to look yourself in the mirror and know you have accomplished a great feat is priceless. If you have already given up on your plans for a healthier 2011, do not despair. There is time to reconfirm what you know to be true; that you deserve to live a happy and healthy life. It is my hope that the following is going to show you how to begin doing just that!

Leading a completely healthy lifestyle is more than just working out and eating right. Health has to integrate mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. An individual cannot be truly healthy if there is a weak link in their chain. Health requires the blatant decision to live life to the fullest. You must make decisions everyday that will affect your health in either a positive or negative way. Make sure that those decisions will push you toward the healthier side of the spectrum. Maintenance of good spinal health can do nothing but positively contribute to the other aspects of your health goals. A properly aligned spine will ensure you are sleeping well, improve your immune function, give you energy and improve your appearance!

Health incorporates the correct diet for your lifestyle and weight management criteria, as well as the appropriate exercise routine for your body type and fitness level. It includes challenging yourself on a mental, emotional and spiritual level. I would like to focus on the former; healthy eating habits and personalized exercise plans.

A small, but well known location that can help you achieve your fitness goals is The Fitness Loft on Peterson Rd. in Libertyville, owned and operated by Mary Albrecht. At the Loft one can participate in a variety of Yoga and Pilates classes as well as schedule individual training sessions on a Pilates reformer machine. (my personal favorite!) Both the classes as well as reformer work are perfect additions for those attempting to maintain or improve their overall well being and especially their spinal health. Strong abdominal muscles are a fantastic complement to a properly aligned spine. Weak abdominals put additional pressure on your back muscles which in turn may induce subluxation (spinal misalignments) and cause overall decreased health and dis-ease!

Mary has been a believer in Chiropractic for many years. In addition to her extensive education and experience in the fitness and health fields she continually tries to improve the lives of her clients through any means necessary. Those means may include enlightening some people to the benefits Chiropractic has brought to her life. Any fitness related questions can be directed to Mary at the Fitness Loft at 847-367-5645.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends running to increase bone mass. Implementing even 60 seconds of running sporadically into your walking routine can improve your current bone mass. This means if you are finished warming up, briskly walk for five minutes then increase the intensity to a run for 60 seconds. Repeat this ratio throughout your scheduled workout time.

An appropriate exercise plan can decrease the risk of heart disease, diabetes as well as depression.  Exercise can actually increase your HDL, the good cholesterol in your body as well as help to cure insomnia. Ideally individuals should have a personal trainer who is skilled and knowledgeable enough to assist the client in developing a routine that’s manageable yet beneficial. A routine that is too simple will not provide enough aerobic stress to modify their heart health or challenge their muscles enough to build those strong sleek forms. If a program is developed that the client does not enjoy or dreads participating in will, it only provide the catalyst needed to not continue. At the same time, having someone you must be accountable to will provide that extra motivation to follow through and reach those fitness goals.

Mary Albrecht and the staff at the Fitness Loft in Libertyville are ideal candidates to create a personalized workout routine scripted to your needs.  Whether that be losing weight, maintaining your physical health status, or improving muscle tone. 

A healthy diet can vary as greatly as the individual consuming the food. What works for me may be inappropriate or even harmful for you and the same goes for you and your significant other or your children. Time should be spent with a trusted professional to determine your metabolic profile, your current health status and what goals are necessary for your individual situation.   

There are some people who attempt to maintain their metabolism functioning at the highest level possible.  Yet most people “diet” and think it is appropriate to quit eating after a certain time at night.  In reality, your metabolism is like a roaring fire; why let the logs burn out overnight and have to rekindle everything from scratch when it is just easier to keep throwing a log on little by little?  This is accomplished quite easily in the evening by consuming some sort of slow absorbing protein powder.   

Caffeine intake should be limited to 1-2 servings per day. Caffeine is a stimulant so it not only alters the way you feel, but also the way you view food. It chemically modifies the absorption of nutrients from your stomach and intestines. Who wants to spend all that time and money preparing a beautiful, healthy meal only to have the absorption ruined by that coffee after dinner? 

A misaligned spine will not allow the body to function at its optimum level. That includes poor dietary absorption of vitamins and nutrients, slowed digestion which may result in constipation and obviously pain and discomfort. 

Your posture and spine are abnormal if:

1. Your head is visibly tilted, shifted or rotated in one direction.
2. Your head is jutted out in front of your chest and shoulders.
3. One hip is higher than the other, turned in one direction, or shifted to one side.
4. One shoulder is higher than the other, turned in one direction, or your whole upper body is shifted to one side.

Working out with a poorly aligned spine will stress the spinal cord and in turn even lower the level of functioning further. It is advisable to always consult with your physician before starting an exercise program of any kind. It is also advisable to consult with a Chiropractor to evaluate your spinal health to ensure that you are swinging the pendulum of health as far in your favor as possible!

I am not sure if it is the endless hours I spent as a child at the Edison-Ford Estate in Florida or more recently watching my grandmother suffer thru 18 prescription medications but I am inspired by the aforementioned quote by Thomas Edison. That quote is complimented by one we learned in Chiropractic school. “There is a doctor inside every one of us, it needs no assistance just no interference.” So simple yet so complex an idea, I implore everyone to make the commitment not only to themselves but to everyone that loves them to create a happier and healthier self.

North Shore Pro-Active Health at 112 W. Lake Street, Libertyville, offers a free consultation if you are interested in learning about how chiropractic care can enhance your life.  Dr. Jordan & Dr. Jade can be reached at 847-362-4476. www.drleasure.com

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