Health Professionals October 2018

Health Professionals Brought to you by The Adviser

A healthy spring in your step From left, local residents, Kerry Morse and Nicole Morse enjoying the spring weather. Photo: Katelyn Morse.

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Health Professionals Your vitamins and minerals

from A to Zinc VITAMIN P WHILE ‘Vitamin P’ is not actually a vitamin at all, it is however the term given to a group of super-healing plant substances from the 1930s to the 1950s. Today these substances are better known as flavonoids (or sometimes bioflavonoids) and they can be found in thousands of plant species.

Flavonoids are super-concentrated packets of nutrition for the human body and are essential for the functioning of virtually every cell and organ. Some common flavonoids you may have heard about include myricetin, apigenin, hesperidin, quercetin, rutin, luteolin, and catechin.

Each type of flavonoid plays a different role in your body. In general, however, flavonoids are crucial for two specific reasons. First of all, they all are essential to the absorption of Vitamin C - the key nutrient responsible for tissue growth and repair. They are also essential for the maintenance

of bones and teeth and for the production of the protein collagen used to create blood vessels and muscular tissues. Without the help of flavonoids, none of this would happen!

Second of all, flavonoids are powerful antioxidants. Besides Vitamin C absorption, which also helps the immune system, preventing and reversing oxidative stress is the key element in how flavonoids help prevent and heal cancer.

Foods rich in Vitamin P • Hawthorn • Apricots • Lemons • Blackcurrants • Mangoes • Broccoli • Milk thistle • Buckwheat • Onions • Carrots • Oranges • Cherries • Other citrus fruits • Ginkgo • Plums • Grapefruit • Rosehip • Grapes • Tomatoes • Green peppers • Yarrow • Green tea

Benefits of

stretching DO YOU stretch when you exercise? Stretching is a popular exercise regimen that may have many benefits. Your physical therapist can show you the best ways to stretch to help keep you moving with a full range of motion, but to show you just how important it is to stretch we have listed the top five benefits of stretching below.

Increased flexibility and joint range of motion: Flexible muscles can improve your daily performance.

Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring. Flexibility tends to diminish as you get older, but you can regain and maintain it.

Improved circulation: Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles.

Blood flowing to your muscles brings nourishment and gets rid of waste byproducts in the muscle tissue. Improved circulation can help shorten your recovery time if you’ve had any muscle injuries.

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Better posture: Frequent stretching can help keep your muscles from getting tight, allowing you to maintain proper posture. Good posture can minimize discomfort and keep aches and pains at a minimum.

Stress relief: Stretching relaxes tight, tense muscles that often accompany stress.

Enhanced coordination: Maintaining the full range-of-motion through your joints keeps you in better balance. Coordination and balance will help keep you mobile and less prone to injury from falls, especially as you get older.

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Caring for Our Community

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tips to kick start your body spring clean

SPRING time is all about renewal, regeneration, new beginnings and spring cleaning. But not just our homes, we need to spring clean our bodies too.

It is estimated that around 40 percent of Australians do not participate in any sporting activities during the winter months. Letting our bodies lie dormant during the colder months can mean it is vital to focus on regenerating the energy within our bodies in the spring time.

Here are our top five tips to get the energy of your internal body organs moving to kick start your body spring clean:

1

Ease back into exercise. We have been inactive for a couple of months, so it is always best to choose exercises that are not intensive or strenuous on our

bodies that could risk injury. Yoga and Tai Chi are a perfect option.

They are designed to tone, stretch and slowly wake our bodies back into regular exercise routines.

2

Sing and dance like no one is watching. Singing, music and dancing are not only enjoyable but also fantastic ways to keep that energy moving through the body. It can increase your endorphins making you happier and is also a great de-stressor on the body and the brain.

3

Get outside. Just being outdoors is rejuvenating and with movement or activity, the energy is pumped around that stagnant body. Go for a walk around the neighbourhood, do some gardening or just sit outside and breathe. Any outdoor pursuits will be beneficial.

4

Eat greens. Green is the colour of the wood element and spring in Chinese medicine.

Therefore eating fresh, leafy greens will also help recharge the liver and gallbladder energy in particular.

5

Choose sour. Adding vinaigrette dressings or adding fresh lemon to your water every day is a healthy and fast way to get some pep.

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