1. Chilli Peppers help Your Immune System
Due to their high content of vitamins, specifically Vitamins A and C, Chilli peppers have long been valued as a powerful immunity booster.
2. Chilli Peppers help to ramp up your metabolism. Capsaicin is the compound that is the source of a Chilli pepper’s spiciness. It is an alkaloid compound found primarily within the seeds and veins of a pepper, and it seems to be a veritable fount of good health. It is thought that the heat you experience as you eat the Chilli can also increase your body temperature. Known in the scientific community as thermogenesis, this production of heat requires increased work from your metabolism.
3. Chilli Peppers could be enhancing your Heart Health. The benefits of capsaicin don’t end with metabolic support. This amazing compound has been shown to help in the reduction of cholesterol and triglyceride levels while reducing the risk of blood clot formation. Reducing these risk factors in your cardiovascular system translates into lowered risks of suffering a heart attack, stroke or deadly blood clot.
4. Chilli Peppers could be reducing body wide inflammation. Capsaicin seems to be a sort of Jack-of-all-trades in relation to the health of human body, supporting and maintaining the health of nearly all of our major systems. It has been shown to be a powerful anti-inflammatory, actually inhibiting the action of certain peptides in the body that cause irritation and swelling. Pain, such as arthritis, headaches, sinus pressure and muscle and joint aches, are usually caused by inflammatory responses that your body produces in an attempt to eradicate an irritant.
5. Chilli Peppers – helping to fight against Diabetes.
Research has shown that eating meals containing Chilli peppers can be highly beneficial for those suffering from diabetes. It seems that Chillies reduce the amount of insulin needed to digest food, translating into a lowered overall level of blood sugar. This reduction in insulin production also helps to reduce the strain on the liver, leading to a more fully functional enzyme cascade within the digestive system.
A rare opportunity to see all Cedar Hall Clinics practitioners in one place! With clinics in Thurrock & Benfleet they are usually working at one or the other & seldom together. But a recent photoshoot for new website & social media images saw the practitioner team together and includes practice manager Angela Kellman.
From left to right : Sports & Remedial Massage Therapist Emma Hall– Emma is also in her final year of studying for a degree in Osteopathy; Jacki Milne, Clinic Director & Principal Osteopath; Angela Kellman Practice Manager; James di CiccoAssociate Osteopath; Sara Lovett, Clinic Director & Principal Osteopath; Kimberley Hughes Physiotherapist; Laura JonesAcupuncturist; Samantha Wilkins Associate Osteopath
Being pregnant is a unique and powerful life experience. It is a time which you can, and should enjoy. During pregnancy your body undergoes immense physical, hormonal and emotional changes.
These changes occur over a relatively short space of time, and your body has to continually adapt to accommodate these changes. Up to 10 kilograms in weight of baby, placenta and fluids may be. carried, putting a fair amount of physical strain on the body. In order for you to adapt to all these changes you have to find new ways to sit, sleep & walk resulting in various aches, pains and discomfort.
Many pregnant women find osteopathy treatments very helpful throughout their pregnancy for pain reduction and preparation for labour. As well as helping to reduce back, hip or leg pain, neck and shoulder discomfort, osteopathy can also help the body prepare for labour and delivery. Many women suffer pain in the groin or lower abdomen with a feeling that ‘something is about to give’ is often diagnosed as Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) or Pelvic Girdle Dysfunction. This can make walking and even moving extremely difficult. SPD is often misdiagnosed in pregnancy and the majority of patients with these symptoms respond incredibly well to Osteopathy
Your osteopath can also:
Give advice on exercises and stretches and breathing techniques you can do to maintain your health and wellbeing throughout your pregnancy
Help prepare ‘the way’ for a more trouble free childbirth, by improving flexibility in the pelvis and abdomen
Help the mother to recover after birth
After the birth you may want to have a mother and baby health check with your osteopath. For mum this will check and correct any remaining strains in the back & pelvis and also help you regain your strength and flexibility. For baby this will address any effects from the moulding process of birth.
If you would like more information our osteopaths will be happy to answer any questions. Call us on 01375 678877 or 01268 774249.
Cedar Hall Osteopathy, Acupuncture, Physiotherapy & Sports Injury centres are family clinics where people of all ages, from infants through to the elderly are treated for a wide variety of conditions. Our practitioners regularly collaborate on cases to ensure you are provided with the best possible hands on treatment for your individual needs. Through effective manual therapy, rehabilitation & prescriptive exercise we aim to help you with your health & fitness goals. We have clinics in Benfleet & Thurrock, Essex
We are here to help reduce your pain, improve your mobility, restore function and get you back to doing what you love.
There is definitely a buzz in our reception areas at the moment. Even though the wintery weather is stubbornly clinging to life, there is at last a touch of Spring in the air and our many gardening fans are raring to go!
Gardening can lead to problems though:
Low back pain & wrist stiffness from digging, raking, lifting, weeding and prolonged use of shears
Neck & shoulder pain from pruning and maintaining a hunched over position for too long
Sore joints from bending down in the same position without break
Sore fingers from gripping the various tools of the trade.
Here are a few simple tips that may well help you to enjoy pain free gardening:
A few stretches before gardening can help prepare your body for action!
Vary your posture & stretch while you’re working – it’s great for blood flow. A static posture can lead to muscle spasm or cramp.
Bend from the knees and hips when lifting or bending – this keeps muscle strains at bay.
Drink plenty of water thus replacing fluids lost through sweating.
Take time to stretch immediately you have finished your gardening session. This will restore your body balance and iron out those nagging knots whilst your muscles are still warm and flexible.
A large number of new patients are recommended by word of mouth & we treat a variety of painful conditions. Our reputation is based on patient experience which is very important to us. Recommendations also come from local GPs, midwives, personal trainers & hospital consultants. Our free assessments give you a chance to decide if Osteopathy is right for you with no obligation and no signing up for a specific number of appointments. If a couple of sessions is all you need – we’re happy!
With a strong connection to dance & performing arts, practitioners at Cedar Hall Clinics understand the demands on the body both in training & performance.
Common performance injuries treated by our osteopaths & physiotherapists are:
Neck strain; low back strain; muscle spasm; acute ligament strains; muscle tears; hip injuries; knee injuries and more.
We treat many golfers at Cedar Hall Clinics for various conditions, but lower back pain (lumbar spine region) is one of the most common ailments and can be a problem for golfers of all ages. Various studies have estimated that roughly a third of all golfers will struggle with lower back pain at some point in their lives.
What causes this pain?
Each individual case is different and the cause of the lower back pain can vary but in our experience a lack of mobility in the ankles, hips, middle back (thoracic spine) and shoulders forces the lower back to work excessively hard. This puts a lot of pressure on the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) – the spot where the spine connects with the pelvis – as many golfers will rely on their lower back to generate the turn and power in their swings. This is particularly true for golfers with weak glute and hip muscles and those that have a poor range of motion in their mid-back region.
Another issue is that golf is a one-sided sport and golfers tend to put more stress on one side of the pelvis than the other. Most golfers also aren’t very good at stretching and warming up prior to teeing off and this can be a significant contributor to back pain after their round.
So what can be done?
Warm up properly
Going straight to the first tee from your car or the clubhouse without doing a warm up is one of the surest ways of ending up with lower back pain. Give yourself an extra 15 minutes and start your warm up with some simple stretches on the following areas;
Shoulder & Torso: Hold a golf club with both hands across the shoulders and gently rotate the torso on both sides
Hips: In a seating position, pull one knee to the chest and repeat on the other side
Hamstrings: Starting in a standing position, bend over and try to touch the toes. Having flexibility in your hamstrings is essential if you want to avoid back pain as it will allow more movement in the pelvis and help reduce the stress on the lower back.
Practice smooth swings with good rhythm
With a proper swing you should be using the shoulders, chest, pelvis (hip) and lower back muscles to share the load of the swing. Practicing smooth rhythmic swings helps to develop muscle memory and prepares the muscle groups for the torque (force) and torsion (twisting) that a golf swing produces. Begin with the smaller irons and progress up to the larger woods, as this process will allow the muscles to warm up incrementally.
Use a trolley to carry the golf bag
Golf bags can be heavy and very often you will see golfers carrying them with just one strap on the shoulder. This will create too much pressure on one side of the pelvis. We would always recommend using a golf trolley or buggy, but if you want to carry your bag make sure to use the dual straps to evenly split the weight across the back. This will reduce the chances of developing low back pain from an uneven load.
How osteopathy can help
If none of the above tips are making any difference to your pain it may be time to see an osteopath, who are specialists in relieving the pain associated with golfing injuries. Very often the treatment will involve not just treating the area of pain but also focusing on the associated muscles, nerves, tendons and ligaments to ensure that they are all functioning optimally. This will help reduce the chances of the same injury recurring while also enhancing the body’s resilience to future injuries.
If you have any concerns over an injury you have picked up playing golf or one that is affecting your game please feel free to give us a call. Or make an appointment for a free assessment to find out what’s going on. We’re always happy to give advice or address any concerns you may have.
Osteopath & keen gardener Lorraine Scates passes on some helpful tips on how to enjoy a pain free time working in your garden.
When the sun comes out and the weather improves many of us head outdoors and begin to get the garden in shape for the summer. This is the time we see gardening related lower back injuries and other joint complaints. However, with simple changes, the chance of injuring ourselves can be greatly reduced.
Firstly, try to limber up for the task in hand. Try some gentle stretching before attempting tasks that are strenuous.
Avoid lifting objects that are heavy ie paving slabs, so get a friend to help out to even the load.
Be aware of your posture at all times when performing these tasks. Avoid excessive slumping and try to maintain an upright position.
You wouldn’t spend 5 hours in the gym at a time so avoid performing a single task for a lengthy period of time & keep things varied with frequent breaks
When weeding avoid stooping over whilst keeping the legs straight, instead try to bend the knees and squat down to the level you are weeding at or sit on a small stool or cushion to avoid knee discomfort. If you are feeling very energetic you may prefer a lunging position. Whichever position is easiest for you please be mindful of maintaining an upright posture and avoid slumping.
When digging, avoid stooping forward at the hips. We advise partly bending the knees using a shallow squat stance. Keep your chest proud to help keep an upright posture. Many back injuries occur when we are slumping forward combined with a twist or turn.
When potting try to set pots at a level you can work with at an upright posture – for example at a level where you can sit and work. This reduces the strain involved and makes it easier to maintain a good posture.
Finally repetitive strain should be considered when performing tasks that you may not have done since last summer. Strains can sometimes occur when a mild activity is performed over a long period of time. If you have been hibernating over the winter don’t expect to be fit enough to be able to perform gardening for numerous hours in one go and not suffer pain and injuries as a result. Take regular breaks. Be kind to your body and allow your body to adapt to the new physical demand you’re putting upon it.
Enjoy your garden! We’re here to help if you overdo it!! Call us at our Benfleet clinic on 01268 774249 or our Thurrock clinic on 01375 678877.