Category Archives: Back Support Blog

Modern Vitamin Schedules and How They Work in Your Favor

Has your doctor told you that you should be eating more nutrients? Has it been suggested that you cut out carbs? Lower your sugar intake? And increase the amount of vitamins you take in every day? For picky eaters – or those who prefer the same types of meals – it can be incredibly difficult to make these dietary changes. Or if you do make them, it often means eating foods you dislike or forcing yourself to take down less-than-tasty shakes.

This is also one of the main reasons modern society has taken to the use of vitamins – to gain well-rounded nutrition without the hassle of adding rare fruits and veggies to one’s daily diet. (Or learning how to cook them.) It’s sound logic, and folks of all nutrition backgrounds and needs are still benefiting from vitamin regimens today.

How to Choose the Best Vitamin

In today’s market, there is an incredible number of vitamins and brands available for the choosing. Recipes that include organic gummies, personalized pill packs, mix-in supplements, and more. This can also make it an overwhelming choice to decide which brand you should choose.

In order to narrow down the process, you can start by determining what type of vitamin consistency you prefer. Do you like taking pills? Chewing gummies? Drinking a supplement? Or a combination of the above? Once you determine this preference you can work to narrow down your vitamin choice even further.

Next, research various brands and what they have to offer. Are you working with a nutritionist? If so it’s likely that they have their own recommendations. You can also look within your circle of friends to see if any of them work as a company representative. (With growing brands, selling nutrients has grown into a viable second career for many.) Or take to the Internet and start researching toward what you think might be best for your nutritional needs. Check for brands that offer quizzes for an accurate way to learn what your body is lacking.

Getting the Best Benefits Possible

In order to get the best possible benefits from your vitamin routine, it’s best to stay consistent. These substances are specifically designed to take in on a daily basis, which means that in order to get your best results, you should also take them every single day. (Or as often as the instructions suggest.) Over time, your body will adjust to these nutrients and can better break them down through digestion, etc. You might not even notice the gradual change. Though it’s still important to pay attention to overall mood and how you feel – when the body is receiving all of its vitamins, you are far more likely to feel energetic, healthy, and full of good spirits. Even if having an off day.

You should talk with your doctor or healthcare professional about what vitamin regimens will best suit your needs. They will have the proper knowhow and background to help you come up with a successful plan. A nutritionist is also a good source of information in dealing with your individual needs. Or, you can talk with your vitamin representative to find a knowledge-ready source.

There are ample health benefits that can come from proper nutrition. When the body has everything that it needs to function and run smoothly, you will notice ongoing health perks such as good mood, easy digestion, efficient vitamin break down, and an increase in everyday health.

Have questions or comments? Let us know. Or stay tuned for upcoming posts and learn more toward your journey of proper vitamins and nutrition.

Fall Factors and Your Biggest Seasonal Allergies

Throughout the fall, we are often reminded – in the harshest way possible – that fall allergies are still a thing. They cause our nose to run, our eyes to water, our throats to be scratchy, coughing round-the-clock, and so on. And most oftentimes, it’s taking place from the moment we wake up, to the moment we fall asleep. But when these symptoms not only start, but continue for weeks on end, it’s safe to say that fall allergies are very much upon us. When a “cold” can’t be slept away, it’s often time to decide that it’s not a cold at all – and that the effects might be far longer lasting. And dependent on the weather, rather than germs. What we might not stop to consider, however, is what causes them. But by working to pinpoint what ails us, we can reduce allergy symptoms before they even begin to take place.

Some of the most common triggers include:

Leaves – Sure they’re pretty while changing colors, but once they hit the ground, they’re a breeding ground for common allergens. Dust and all types of air particles (not to mention whatever’s growing on the leaves themselves) collects and hides within leaf piles. And there it sits until they’re collected.

Open Windows – It might be nice out and sound like an affordable way to cool off (or warm up) the house, but it also means letting all types of air particles into your living space. Rather than risking cold-like symptoms, spring for central heat or air. It’s a much more healthy way to breathe.

The Wind – A windy fall just might be the worst type of fall. Not only does it mean you have to deal with all the allergens already in your yard, but also the ones that are blown in from miles away. When windy, try to keep your home as airtight as possible. It can also be helpful to use an air purifier for extra allergy relief.

Décor – As cute as certain fall grasses, acorns, squashes or gourds, etc. might look inside the home, they could also be containing serious allergy triggers. This can also include lesser-known side effect causes, like candles or artificial scents. If you’re suffering from allergy-like symptoms that don’t lessen once inside the home, it might be best to avoid such décor items altogether, or opt for faux versions. (Which will also allow you to use them year after year.)

Being Cold – It can be hard to keep the thermostat too level when outside temperatures fluctuate greatly. However, when it becomes colder but you’re not ready to crank the heat, put on an extra layer of clothing. This will help keep the body regulated, while eliminating side effects like a runny nose. (Or if not completely eliminating it, to a certain point.)

Being Outside – No one wants to be a hermit, but some days it’s just smart to stay inside. Check local forecasts and if a particular count is slated to be high, it might be a good day for inside activities instead. You can also have an allergy test performed so you know what airborne particles cause you the most grief, and therefore, which ones to stay away from.

Fall allergies are certainly no picnic. But by better understanding what causes them, you can work to protect yourself from ongoing symptoms. Between avoiding outdoor triggers and keeping the interior clean, you can greatly reduce fall allergens, and therefore, the symptoms they cause.

Look into these methods and more this fall in order to keep your home as allergy free as possible.

Schools are Now Implementing the Standing Desk

If you haven’t yet heard of the standing desk, it’s been an ongoing change to offices everywhere. And it’s sweeping the nation, among health gurus and long-term sitters alike. It works by creating a workspace that one can stand at and reach properly. The keyboard, mouse, etc. are all within easy reach. Must like any traditional desk, just this time around, you’re simply standing instead.

The perks, however, don’t come in height, but with one’s health. By standing, it’s been shown that muscles work harder, more calories are burned, and perhaps most importantly, you aren’t placing weight on the lower back for the majority of the day.

For years, it’s a setup that companies have been implementing. Oftentimes giving workers the choice between a standing or a sitting desk. With certain models even offering a transition between the two. Even the White House is looking to make the switch into standing models, releasing that their budget is $700,000 in order to upgrade for the entire presidential staff.

However, it’s now an idea that’s branching out into schools. This week the state of California announced that certain schools were implementing standing desks for their students. And doing away with chairs.

Elementary School Getting the Standing Treatment

Now incorporated into 19 of the school’s 22 classrooms, in just a few months Vallecito Elementary School will be a completely standing school. The remaining three rooms are on their way to being transitioned to new desks, according to administration members of the San Rafeal school.

And the kids are pretty excited about it. By staging new activities and making good use of their standing time, teachers say it’s a positive move. One that even gets the students more excited about learning. They play games at their standing desks, are able to move about more freely, and so on. Meanwhile teachers say it’s a nice change of pace to not have to worry about clanking chairs, or taking time so that students can align themselves just so.

Students are also more alert, as they’re not given the opportunity to let their leg stiffen. A fact that was a common teacher complaint before, causing them to create movement activities in order to get kids to perk back up.

In Practice

But exactly what is it about standing throughout the day that helps improve health so thoroughly?

Through ongoing tests and plenty of data to back it up, it’s been shown that standing desks hosts a wide range of benefits. Aside from those that keep kids alert, their newfound upright habits also:

Reduce the risk of obesity
Reduce the risk of cancer
Reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as additional issues with the metabolism
Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Increase life expectancy
Increase energy levels and movement throughout the day

Bringing Controversy

With every new practice, there are also claims that a product might not be as good as we think it is. And the standing desk is no different. There is also research supporting that the desks simply haven’t been around long enough to prove what it boasts. Or that standing isn’t quite as good as obtaining intermittent movement and exercise throughout the day.

Which studies prove to be true has yet to be seen. Either way, however, there’s certainly an argument that standing desks aren’t bad. And as teachers have pointed out, the ongoing energy boosts are real, allowing their students to get more done, and their teaching to be more efficient. In all likelihood, it’s a trend that will continue to expand across the U.S., especially throughout schools.

Look Out for These Halloween Health Risks

In just a few short weeks, the streets will be filled with candy-seeking kids. Adults will be in costumes, residents are there to hand out treats, and business owners will parade smiling groups of kids. These and plenty more orange, spice-scented fall traditions will be taking place. All of which is part of a time-honored tradition known as Halloween. Some of our seasonal favorites, however, leave us more apt to injury or poor health. From a number of different angles. What’s more dangerous, though, isn’t those facts themselves, but our failure to identify potential health risks.

In order to keep your best interests in tact throughout the entire Halloween season, remember to keep these potential risks in mind. As well as practices to keep their effects at bay. No matter how serious or insignificant they might become.

Halloween Health Risks

Costume-Related Injuries

Many of these instances have been the start of funny remember-when stories throughout the years. Face paints that caused zits. Heavy accessories that brought on an aching back. Or maybe cardboard shoes that didn’t support half as well as their description outlined. Whether minor or serious, however, steps can be taken to avoid costume-caused ill health.

When choosing a character to dress up as, consider your options, along with potential health risks. Then ensure you will be comfortable and protected for as long as you choose to be in costume.

Shenanigans

Kids will pull pranks on Halloween. It’s inevitable. By expecting this fact, and then looking out for toilet paper in yards, water balloons splashed, or pumpkin guts spread across a road, you can avoid any potential side effects. Anywhere from a comical Scooby Doo-like fall, to something far more damaging.

Eating So Much Sugar

In short or long-term this can be dangerous. Candies are full of artificial flavors, chemicals, and of course, sugar. While consuming sparingly might do little to the body, while binges or frequent bouts can cause much deeper issues. Like slowing the digestive system, one’s metabolism, or throwing blood sugar out of whack.

A Serious Scare

When frightened, the body undergoes large amounts of stress. If taken too far, this can lead to something deeper, like high blood pressure or a weakened heart valve. Obviously these are extreme results, but ones that can build over time. Talk to your doctor if you’re worried about being scared into sickness.

Food Allergies

Parties are full of treats and fun dips, most of which are harm-free. However, one of the biggest trends with Halloween fare is to jazz up foods with dyes or other props. Making them look spookier than their original forms. With this transformation you should pay extra attention to ensure you’re not eating anything that might cause harm. Ask hosts for a quick ingredient rundown, or check labels thoroughly when purchasing from the store.

Dehydration

Along with types of foods, themed drinks are another holiday favorite. Both those that are made with booze and alcohol free. One thing they do have in common is that most are full of sugars. (Added with candy and you’re likely taking in more sweets than you even realize.) Remember to digest plenty of water the week of Halloween, or as any subsequent parties are taking place, to stay hydrated. And to help sugars flush through efficiently.

Personal Safety

There’s likely to be more going on than usual around Halloween, so stay on the lookout for your own health. Take precautionary measures into account, and avoid potentially dangerous situations. It’s a method that should be realized year round, and given additional attention during high-risk dates.

What 8 Glasses of Water Can Do For You

Eight glasses can seem like a lot of water. Considering it’s an amount you’re supposed to drink every day, not just today – can make it seem like even more. So much so that people actually avoid consuming this much liquid. Claiming it causes too many trips to the restroom. Or that they “need” flavor in their beverage. Maybe they just feel water logged after consuming more liquid than they’re used to taking in.

Whatever the reason, the majority of folks simply don’t drink their eight glasses on a regular basis. And – it’s likely that they don’t even come close. Opting, instead, for coffees, sodas, teas, or even energy drinks instead. Over time, this is a habit that can work to dehydrate your body, even robbing cells of much-needed moisture.

Why So Much H20?

More than half (60%) of your body is made of water. Cells, organs, and more all thrive on the substance, and need it in order to remain working and healthy. Without water, our bodies would not only be unable to function, they wouldn’t exist.

Additionally, keeping plenty of fluids in your body allows you to:

Flush out toxins
Replenish liquid counts in organs and cells (water leaves the body daily through sweat, breathing, and waste)
Keep areas like ears and nasal passages moist and working properly
Allow cells to move fluidly throughout the body

Without proper moisture, none of the above can take place.

Exact Numbers

It can be argued that those of different sizes will need different amounts of water to keep themselves hydrated. However, the eight glasses of eight ounces each rule is easy to remember – so it’s stuck. And to this day, remains a common rule of thumb. Others argue that all liquid can work to replenish the body of its fluid count. Oftentimes this is true for beverages that are free of sugar or caffeine. While those that contain sugary substances can actually pull water from the cells – essentially setting you back on water intake goals. From drinking more liquid.

To avoid these types of beverages, read labels and avoid unnatural sugars or excessive amounts of caffeine. Anything that comes in a can is likely a main offender, while not everything that claims to be healthy actually is. Or, schedule a time to talk with a medical pro about what concoctions will help vs. hurt your daily water count.

If you’re looking to be more exact with your water intake, there are actually more concrete numbers you can follow. For instance, it’s recommended that men consume about 13 cups every day, which comes out to about 3 liters. And for women, 9 cups, or 2.2 liters per day. In contrast, the 8 glasses of 8-ounces each rule comes out to about 1.9 liters. Actually slightly less than the more specific count – a shocking fact for those who already think recommendations are set too high.

Another avenue is to meet with a professional nutritionist or your medical doctor in order to get a more customized idea of how much you should be drinking. You can also go over which substances will help keep you hydrated vs. those that will actually lower your water intake.

Drinking eight glasses of water might sound overwhelming, but it’s also a routine that allows for some incredible health benefits. And according to the hydrated ones among us, the results more than speak for themselves. If nothing else, it’s certainly a method that won’t hurt – and considering it’s virtually free, drinking water is a tactic every health-conscious person should consider when working toward better health.

Substances That Dehydrate You Most in the Heat

The hotter it gets outside, the more liquid you need to ingest. You sweat at a much heavier rate (in order to help keep yourself cool), and it’s likely that you’re much thirstier as well. In order to replenish itself, the body lets you know it needs water in the quickest way it knows how. To get you to want to drink it. But heat isn’t the only factor that contributes to summer thirst. So does the very beverages you drink. When caked with sugars and other chemicals, you can actually get thirstier while you drink. It’s an event that might sound counterproductive – or like it’s leading to the opposite of what you’re trying to reach – but it’s also evident within some of America’s best-selling beverages.

Without the necessary levels of water within our bodies, all sorts of functions lose their abilities. Digestion slows down, the immune system can’t work as it should, skin doesn’t look as healthy or rejuvenated, energy levels can be lowered, and that’s only the beginning. Over time, dehydration can pile upon itself and only increase symptoms. Basically, you just don’t feel like yourself. A fact that can be easily reversed through simple dietary adjustments. Like drinking more often, and drinking healthier beverages.

How to Drink for Better Hydration

To stay hydrated, it’s best to start by drinking plenty of water … which can’t be cut with sugars or caffeine. (At least not without doing so yourself, otherwise it loses its pure and recognizable title.) However, plain water isn’t for everyone, at least exclusively. While you should always drink some each day – talk with your doctor to gain more information on the subject – some of us just need a little more flavor to get us through the day.

If and when your taste buds start wanting more, explore your healthy drink options and get more out of each sip.

Drinks that dehydrate you the most include:

Alcohol – It might be satisfying to drink a cold beer in the sun, but it’s also a move that comes at a high cost. Because alcohol causes frequent urination (and in extreme cases, vomiting), it’s actually robbing your body of much needed moisture and nutrition. Remember to drink alcohol sparingly when in high heat.

Caffeine – Generally ok in moderation, caffeine has been known to pull hydration directly from the body. This is done by a number of ways: causing frequent urination, interacting with the body by introducing chemicals, and by satisfying a craving for liquid … but without providing hydrating benefits. If coffee or tea are must-haves, consider decaf versions as an alternative.

Sodas – Both regular and diet versions of soda are contributors here. Once you take a sip, they tell the body it’s thirstier than it actually is, causing you to keep sucking down the sugar, whether or not your body actually wants it. A tricky little move, but also one that’s helped companies sell thousands of sodas.

Carbonation – Also an offending party. If possible, choose versions of your favorites that don’t contain the bubbles, for instance, flat tea or unflavored water. That way you can still enjoy moisture (with flavor), but without robbing your body of its water percentage.

Salty foods also make one thirsty on a consistent basis (not always a bad thing, depending on what we’re drinking), as do meals coated with fish oil(s), desserts, and more.

By being aware of these substances and how they contribute to your overall health, you can make the decision to avoid substances that rob water content, or make necessary adjustments in order to stay as hydrated as possible.

Back Support Belts

Six Back Support Belt Choices That Could Save Your Spine on The Street Or In The Dirt, But Which Is Best?

by Scott Rousseau, photos by Dave Searle & Gina Ciolo

Excerpt taken from Motorcycle Consumer News, March 2012. (click here to read full pdf here)

There are hundreds of back support belts on the market today, including motorcycling specific styles ranging from basic motocross-style kidney belts to more substantial belts designed for long-distance road riding. Some motorcyclists believe that weightlifter-style belts are the best choice, while others swear that the utility-style belts, such as those worn by warehouse workers, are the hot ticket. So, we compiled six belts that represent the various styles of back support belts on the market today and put them to the test.

Our findings? When it comes to managing back pain, anything is better than nothing, but some models that we tested did stand out, and one of them offered just the right combination of support, comfort, fit and value to earn our MCN Best Buy recommendation.

MCN first presented the BackA-Line Dynamic Support belt as one of our Innovations of the Month over a decade ago, in our June 2001 issue. The belt’s basic design hasn’t changed since then, and it hasn’t needed to.
back-a-line-support-belt-product

The Dynamic Support features a patented, rigid lumbar support pad that covers virtually the entire lower back area (see inset)—the only belt in this test to do so. This support pad is gently curved on the inside surface and provided with a channel to avoid direct contact with the spine. The pad’s shape is designed to encourage the natural curvature of the lower back for proper posture while offering lumbar and kidney support.

The curved back area of the Dynamic Support measures 8.25″ top to bottom at its tallest point. The belt is initially closed via a 4.25″ wide strap that uses hook-and-loop material. An additional 2″ cinch strap wraps across the abdomen, through a steel loop and doubles back for added security and support and is also secured by hook and loop material.

backsupportbelts

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