Do You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

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Posted on 23rd February 2011 by admin in Family Health Tips

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You may have heard of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but do you know if it’s something that effects you?

According to the National Institute of Neurlogical Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), these are common symptoms of Carpal Tunnel:

- Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers.

- Some carpal tunnel sufferers say their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent.

- The symptoms often first appear in one or both hands during the night, since many people sleep with flexed wrists. A person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up feeling the need to “shake out” the hand or wrist. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day.

- Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks.

- In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away.

- Some people are unable to tell between hot and cold by touch.

To read the full article from NINDS, visit http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm

Chiropractic care may be able to help reduce or eliminate these symptoms of carpal tunnel.  To find out if you have carpal tunnel and to see if a chiropractor can help, please call our Dallas GA office at 678-777-3116 for a free consultation.

Agave Nectar: A Healthy, Natural Sweetner

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Posted on 7th February 2011 by admin in Family Health Tips

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Most people have heard about the dangers of chemical sweeteners.  If you’re looking for a natural alternative, try Agave Nectar.  Agave Nectar is extracted from the Agave plant (the same plant used to make tequila) and available at most grocery stores.  Agave Nectar is slightly lighter and sweeter than honey and tastes less bitter.

One of the most beneficial aspects of Agave Nectar is it’s low glycemic index.  According to AllAboutAgave.com:

Especially in the last century, the western diet has become increasingly dominated by refined sweeteners such as granulated sugar and corn syrup. The problem with these substances is their high glycemic index and glycemic load – both measures of the relative impact that foods have on our blood sugar. Foods that raise blood sugar quickly trigger the release of the hormone insulin. Excessive releases of insulin and, more specifically, chronically high blood sugar and insulin levels are linked to Metabolic Syndrome (also called Syndrome X), which is a complex of health disorders. Associated ailments include insulin resistance and type II diabetes, abdominal weight gain and obesity, problems with blood lipids (raised triglycerides and cholesterol) and high blood pressure.

One of the most health-promoting properties of agave nectar is its favorable glycemic profile. Its sweetness comes primarily from a complex form of fructose called inulin. Fructose is the sugar that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables. The carbohydrate in agave nectar has a low glycemic index, which provides sweetness without the unpleasant “sugar rush” and unhealthful blood sugar spike caused by many other sugars. Agave nectar is a delicious natural sweetener that can be used moderately – by dieters, some diabetics, and health conscious cooks – to replace high-glycemic and refined sugars.

To reade the entire article, please visit http://www.allaboutagave.com/index.php.

If you get a chance to try Agave Nectar, let us know how you like it!  We’d love to hear you’re feedback.