How to Keep Yourself Healthy During the Summer

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The days are longer and the weather is warmer; summer is here! This is the best time to enjoy the outdoors and continue to stay healthy. As much as we want to be outside and enjoying our summer activities, it is still important to remember these tips to help keep you healthy while enjoying the summer days.

1) Stay Hydrated! The weather is warmer and that means we will lose fluids much easier, no matter the activity. The daily recommended water intake is 8 glasses of water, but if we are outside doing any vigorous activity, we are going to want to increase that intake to keep up with the fluid loss. A good rule of thumb is to make sure to drink AT LEAST half your body weight in ounces of water PER DAY! This will ensure that your body is getting enough water and staying hydrated all summer long!

2) Get FREE Vitamin D! Our body makes vitamin D when exposed to direct sunlight. The summer time offers you plenty of opportunity to get outside and expose yourself to the natural sunlight. 15-20 minutes a day during the strongest rays (10am to 2pm) with the most skin exposed will provide you the optimal daily dose of vitamin D. The sun is allowing you to get the vitamins you need (for free, too!) that help promote healthy bones and teeth. It also helps with easing the symptoms of depression, inflammation, and helps to increase brain development in pregnancy and infancy.

3) Take Care of Your Skin! The two most common products used in the summer time are sunscreen and bug repellent. Be careful of the products that you are using though. The skin is the largest organ of our body and has the ability to absorb all of the toxins into our body that we put on ourselves. When shopping for sunscreens this summer, you want to avoid these 6 ingredients: oxybenzone, octinoxate, retinyl palmitate, homosalate, oxtocrylene, and parabens. Some great non-toxic sunscreen brands are: Badger Balm, Blue Lizard, All Good, California Baby, Babo Botanicals, Poofy Organics, Goddess Garden, Think, Beautycounter, Kabana, and Earth Mama Organics.

Get out and enjoy the summer, but remember to protect yourself, your body, and your health!

 

By: Dr. Tod Williams

What Causes TMJ and How Do I Fix It?

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If you have found yourself suffering from TMJ disorder, you are not alone. It is estimated that temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMJ) affect more than 10 million people in the United States. The majority of that number is women, in fact, women in between 20-40 years old account for 90% of all TMJ sufferers. What are some contributing factors to TMJ disorders?

The temporomandibular joint combines a hinge movement with sliding motions. The parts of the bones that interact in the joint are covered with cartilage and are separated by a small shock-absorbing disk.

TMJ disorders can occur if:

· The disk erodes or moves out of proper alignment

· The joint’s cartilage is damaged by arthritis

· The joint is damaged by an impact injury

Other risk factors that can lead to the development of TMJ are:

· Various types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

· Jaw injury

· Long-term (chronic) grinding or clenching of teeth

· Certain connective tissue diseases that cause problems to the temporomandibular joint

Common suggestions to help relieve TMJ symptoms:

· Chiropractic care: Chiropractors check the alignment of the joint and motion of the jaw as well work on the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joint

· Muscle relaxers

· A night guard to reduce clenching or grinding of teeth

· Dental work to balance biting surfaces of your teeth

When to see a doctor:

Seek help if you have persistent pain or tenderness in your jaw or experience any of these other symptoms:

· Aching pain in and around your ear

· Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing

· Aching facial pain

· Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth

· Popping or clicking when you open your mouth or chew