Tag Archives: healthy living

Take a Hike! Health Benefits of Nature Walks

michele jangBy Michele S Jang, PT

The next time someone tells you to “take a hike”, maybe you should! Research shows that nature walks result in greater mental health benefits as compared to urban walks. Maybe this is why the San Luis Obispo area ranks as one of the happiest cities in America. We are still fortunate to have exposure to natural environments; unlike urban dwellers surrounded by concrete jungle. Continue reading Take a Hike! Health Benefits of Nature Walks

Are Cellphones Hazardous for Your Health?

michele jangBy Michele S Jang, PT

How often do you carry your cellphone on your body; in your pants or shirt pocket for example? Cell phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy and scientists have been conducting studies to determine if release of this energy can adversely affect your health.
Back in early 2000 when pagers were more popular, I would perform an experiment for a class of therapists that demonstrated how pagers can affect your body. I would have one of the students wear their pager, usually on their hip. As a class, we would observe their posture and measure range of motion and strength.  Then I would ask the student to remove their pager from their body.  The change was remarkable!  Posture, range of motion and strength all improved!
Current communication technology has resulted in much more powerful equipment that we hold or wear in close proximity to our tissues for longer periods of time.  Not only do we have cellphones, but we have smartphones which transmit electromagnetic radiation signals at a much higher rate than pagers do. Continue reading Are Cellphones Hazardous for Your Health?

Let’s Knock Out Hep C in SLO

hcvWhy is it important for you to get tested for Hep C? Because then you know! This is the easiest and most important answer to the question of why get tested. The bottom line is that nobody knows with absolute certainty that they are Hep C negative until they’ve taken the test. Most people don’t know much about Hep C or what it means to live with this disease. The truth is that Hep C can and does affect all kinds of people across many different situations.
One of the biggest risk factors is age. In fact, if you were born 1945-1965, you are 5x more likely to have Hep C, and not even know it! We aren’t sure why Baby Boomers are particularly affected. It may have to do with certain medical procedures (or a lack of) during that time. All we know is that the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends that Baby Boomers should get tested for Hep C at least once, and as soon as possible. Continue reading Let’s Knock Out Hep C in SLO

A Personal Drought?

FullSizeRender(1)By Dr. Monika Allen

Water restriction is the talk of the town in San Luis Obispo County, but are you facing a personal drought?
We all have water on our minds as we live through a drought in California but do we remember the importance water plays within our bodies as well? As a doctor, I consider both the external environment in which we live and the internal environment of our bodies. As an acupuncturist, I recognize the duality in the nature of water as described by the five element acupuncture theory. It has the potential to be powerful and yet remarkably peaceful and serene and it can evoke fear as well as utter peace and calm.  It is the one thing that all forms of life depend on and where life on Earth began.   Continue reading A Personal Drought?

Healthy Recipe: Chicken Quinoa Salad

quinoaProvided By Connie Rutledge

1 cup cooked and cooled quinoa
6-8 ounces organic chicken breast or thigh grilled or steamed
¼ cups of dried cranberries
1/4 cup of chopped roasted almonds
½ cup of diced carrots
¼ cup of chopped mint
¼ cup of scallions, cut thinly diagonally
¼ cup of chopped parsley
4 cups salad greens tossed with 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the dressing:
1 tablespoon of chopped parsley
¼ cup or more of lime
2 tablespoons of honey
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 cup olive oil

Prepare quinoa according to package directions. Allow to cool.
Cook chicken on the grill or by steaming. To steam, cook the chicken in ½ inch boiling water in a covered pan for approximately 7 minutes. Slice chicken lengthwise.
In a small bowl, blend together the dressing ingredients you may add a splash of water if it appears to thick. Place all ingredients except chicken and salad greens in a bowl, and toss together with quinoa and dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Create a bed of greens and top with quinoa mixture and chicken!  Enjoy!

Connie is a Certified Nutritional Counselor and an advanced Certified Metabolic Typing® Advisor with certifications in Functional Diagnostic Nutrition and Amino Acid Therapy.  She attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and continues her education routinely through educational conferences within her area of expertise with emphasis on Nutrigenomics, biochemical individual health, digestion and detoxification. She believes we are just scratching the surface in our understanding of the human body.