Feb/Mar

Cafe of Life 32 Berwick Ave. Suite 201

647-352-2233

wellness@

cafe-of-life.com

Chemical Stress? What’s That?

Chemical stress does not receive as much attention as physical and emotional/mental stress when health is concerned. Most people are aware of the negative effects that stress has on health. Repetitive motion, poor posture, a bad fall or a car accident causes physical stress to the body. Family conflict, financial worry, pressure at work, such as deadlines and hectic schedules cause emotional /mental stress that can also lead to illness and decreased health. Chemical stress, on the other hand, seems a little more elusive. Pollution, pesticides, bleaches, dyes, cigarette smoke, caffeine, drugs (both prescribed and recreational), hormones, preservatives and excess refined sugar are examples of chemical stressors that are common today. Even in low doses, these chemicals interfere with the body’s natural processes and toxify the body. A large output of energy is required from the body to eliminate them and heal from their effects. This robs the body of both optimal health and energy. Ever wondered why you feel fatigued or have low energy after a very sugary meal? The body tightly regulates every chemical -called biochemicals in the body. Any slight change in our chemical balance can have drastic effects on our sleep, energy levels, digestion, immune function, reproduction, cardio-vascular function, as well as healing. When your body’s attention and energy is focused on eliminating toxins, less is available for your vitality.

Unfortunately, toxic chemicals are often used in the final treating of fabrics, which is one of the reasons that new bedding and textiles often have a foul smell and/or rough texture. Children are especially vulnerable to chemicals, so we will focus on the prevention of chemical toxification of children by fabric. Fabrics clothe them, warm them, and comfort them while they sleep. Childrens’ immature immune and liver detoxification systems cause them to be much more sensitive than adults to such things as bleach, dyes, and toxic compounds.

Even if these children are receiving regular chiropractic care, if they continue to wear toxic clothing and sleep on chemically treated mattresses and bedding, assault on their nervous systems will persist. In general, the less chemical processing and fewer dies and finishes added to the fabric, the less likely the material is to cause an adverse/allergic reaction.

When choosing the right fabrics for your children, as well as for other members of your family, many factors should be taken into account:

a All new clothing and bedding should be washed and dried 3 times prior to wearing it for the first time.

a Use fragrance-free laundry detergent to which no perfumes have been added. Avoid the use of fabric softeners, antistatic products, chlorine bleach and stain removing products as they often contain fragrance and toxic substances that can irritate children's skin, eyes, nose and throat.

a Avoid "dry clean only" products as they may contain residual toxic chemicals that can pollute the air for up to a week after they are brought home. If you have to dry clean a product, remove the item from the plastic covering immediately and let the fabric air out (preferably outside your home) for a few days.

a Synthetic fibers should be avoided for children. They are generally made of the primary sources petroleum and cellulose (cotton liners and wood pulp). They are not breathable, nor absorbable, which makes them hot in summer and cold in winter. Frequently, they hold an electric charge, which produces static cling and requires chemical sprays.

a Poly blends and cellulose-based synthetic fabrics (rayon, acetate, and triacetate) require heavy chemical finishes. These toxic chemicals can cause allergies, chemical sensitivities and serious health problems. Pure untreated synthetic fibers (100% polyester and nylon) rarely cause such reactions.

a Natural fabrics include cotton, linen, wool, cashmere and silk. The best fabric for children is 100% cotton. Conventional cotton is the type sold in most stores. Although it has a few environmental drawbacks due to pesticide use, it is generally hypoallergenic, washable, breathable, soft and durable.

These tips were drawn from: "The Natural Nursery: The Parents Guide to Ecologically Sound, Nontoxic, Safe, and Healthy Baby Care," by Louis Pottkotter, M.D., 1994, Chicago: Contemporary Books.

Chiropractic: for your Life

There are 2 major categories of stress: distress and eustress. Distress is stress that compromises the body’s ability to stay well. One way to improve our health is to eliminate all of the distress in our life. Eustress is the stress that promotes healing, growth and evolution in the body. Examples of eustress include: exercise workouts, breath work, proper sleep and nutritious meals. Chiropractic adjustments are another lifestyle choice that promotes healing, growth and evolution of the body. By enhancing the function of the nervous system the mind/body is better able to process and adapt to our daily distress. Living a wellness lifestyle allows us to live a more energetic, engaging and fulfilling life.

Soft Drinks Hurt Bones !

We’ve frequently been warned that soft drinks are bad for us. The main reason, we’re told, is the sugar content. There are about 9 teaspoons of sugar in a regular Coke, and other brands do not fare much better. Sugar is linked to diabetes, hyperactivity, nutritional deficiencies and various other health problems. However, aspartame has been added to create sugar-free soft drinks. Is this a solution, or just another new health problem? Studies have shown that when heated, aspartame becomes a poison for the human body. Perhaps the drink stays cold in your fridge, but could it possibly have had a chance to warm up anywhere along its trip from the Cola factory to your grocery store storage room?

Now that we’ve touched on the sugar and aspartame issues, what about the carbonation? According to a report in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, girls who drink carbonated beverages have a heightened risk of bone fracture. This study tracked 460 girls in 9th- and 10th-grade. The girls completed questionnaires detailing physical activity, behavioral habits, carbonated beverage consumption and history of bone fracture. Findings revealed that girls who drank carbonated beverages had 3.14 times the risk of fracture, compared with their peers who did not drink soft drinks. These results were especially pronounced among physically active girls who drank cola. Specifically, drinking cola boosted the risk of fracture by nearly five-fold in active girls. Experts speculate that the abundance of phosphorus in cola inhibits calcium metabolism, in turn weakening bones and predisposing them to fracture. So, not only are soft drinks empty calorie foods that may cause harm with too much sugar or artificial sweeteners (depending on your preference), but the phosphorus content can affect bone density – not a good start for children, considering bone density reaches its peak in adults between the ages of 30 & 36, and decreases in the following years!
Wyshak Grace. Teenaged girls, carbonated beverage consumption, and bone fractures Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2000 (Jun); 154 (6): 610-613

Health Spa Day Raffle Winner!

In 2004, Health Winds Spa generously donated a “Stress Away” Spa Day for our referral raffle. Everyone who brought a visitor to one of our weekly Wellness Workshops, or referred a friend or family member to Café of Life for an initial assessment was eligible to enter the draw. Thank you to everyone who participated. For more information about Health Winds Spa, visit www.healthwindsspas.com . Dec 20, 2004 was the official draw date. We’re excited to announce the recipient of the day at Health Winds Spa: Juliette Wood! Congratulations Juliette. We hope you enjoy this opportunity to be pampered for a day.

New Referral Programme

Since Jan. 2005, we have established a new thank-you programme for your referrals. Each time you refer a friend or family member* to the Café, you are eligible to receive a book following their initial assessment. Healing Myths, Healing Magic, by Dr. Donald Epstein, or Chicken Soup for the Chiropractic Soul, by Jack Canfield, are the books of choice.

*For immediate family members, this offer begins 10 days following your initial assessment.

Café of Life Schedule of Events for February and March 2005

Wellness Workshops:

Wed. Feb. 2: 7:30 to 8:30pm – Unleash Your Potential

Mon. Feb. 7: 7:00 to 8:00pm – Unlimited Potential

Mon. Feb. 14: 7:30 to 8:30pm – Unleash Your Potential

Mon. Feb. 21: 7:00 to 8:00pm – Unlimited Potential

Wed. Mar. 2: 7:30 to 8:30pm – Unleash Your Potential

Mon. Mar. 7: 7:00 to 8:00pm – Unlimited Potential

Mon, Mar. 14: 7:30 to 8:30pm – Unleash Your Potential

Mon. Mar. 21: 7:00 to 8:00pm – Unlimited Potential

External Events:

Wed Feb 2: Wellness Info Booth in York Hall- Glendon Campus: 9:00am – 6:00pm

Wed Feb 2: 12-1pm & 4-5pm : Wellness Workshops in Salon Garigue

Tues Feb 15: 12-1pm: Wellness Workshop in Salon Garigue

Open House: Sat. March 19^th: 2pm-6pm. Everyone is invited to attend our SRI workshop, nutritional presentation, healthy home seminar and movie showing.

February Break

Drs Evan and Shaian will be away from Wed Feb 23^rd until Wed. March 2^nd on a personal mission to revitalize while exploring British Columbia. During this time, Dr. Allison will be available to ensure that you are able to continue your care during our absence.

wellness@cafeoflifetoronto.com