For individuals with diabetes or who are watching their sugar intake, is sugar-free candy a healthy choice? Sugar-Free Candy Sugar-free candies can be an option for individuals with diabetes and those watching their sugar intake. Different types of sweeteners are used in sugar-free candies, with pros and cons and possible side effects. Ingredients Sugar-free candies use artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes to generate a sweet taste. Most of these sweeteners have fewer calories and carbohydrates than sugar, but not all are calorie or carb-free. Some sugar substitutes on labels include: Aspartame Saccharin Sucralose Aspartame, saccharin, stevia, and sucralose are calorie-free and carb-free. Stevia is a non-alcoholic, non-artificial sugar substitute made from plant leaves. Sugar alcohols - erythritol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol, and sorbitol contain some carbohydrates. Pros Pros over candies sweetened with sugar. Satisfies Cravings Sugar-free candies can satisfy sweet cravings wi
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For individuals who are getting older, can increasing bone strength help prevent fractures and optimize bone health? Bone Strength Bone strength is important, as a fractured hip can be serious for older individuals. A study found that for individuals in their 60s who had a hip fracture, 6.5% of women and 9.4% of men died within a year. Among individuals in their 80s, 13.1% of women and 19.6% of men died within a year. ( Dimet-Wiley, et al., 2022 ) Increasing bone strength can help prevent various issues. A small increase in bone mineral density has been shown to help reduce the risk of fractures, especially hip fractures. A decades-long study found that just a 3% increase in bone strength helps lower the chance of breaking a hip. Researchers enrolled two groups of individuals aged 60 and older, one in 1989 and the second in 1999. The bone mineral density of each subject’s femoral neck joint at the top of the thigh bone near the hip was measured. They then followed the subjects for ye
Individuals suffering from a jammed finger: Can knowing the signs and symptoms of a finger that is not broken or dislocated allow for at-home treatment and when to see a healthcare provider? Jammed Finger Injury A jammed finger, also known as a sprained finger, is a common injury when the tip of a finger is forcefully pushed toward the hand, causing the joint to become compressed. This can cause pain and swelling in one or more fingers or finger joints and cause ligaments to stretch, sprain, or tear. ( American Society for Surgery of the Hand. 2015 ) A jammed finger can often heal with icing, resting, and taping. This is often enough to allow it to heal in a week or two if no fractures or dislocations are present. ( Carruthers, K. H. et al., 2016 ) While painful, it should be able to move. However, if the finger cannot wiggle, it may be broken or dislocated and require X-rays, as a broken finger or joint dislocation can take months to heal. Treatment Treatment consists of icing, test
For individuals who are dealing with constant constipation due to medications, stress, or lack of fiber, can walking exercise help encourage regular bowel movements? Walking For Constipation Assistance Constipation is a common condition. Too much sitting, medications, stress, or not getting enough fiber can result in infrequent bowel movements. Lifestyle adjustments can regulate most cases. One of the most effective ways is to incorporate regular moderate-vigorous exercise, encouraging the bowel muscles to contract naturally ( Huang, R. et al., 2014 ). This includes jogging, yoga, water aerobics, and power or brisk walking for constipation alleviation. The Research A study analyzed middle-aged obese women who had chronic constipation over a 12-week period. ( Tantawy, S. A., et al., 2017 ) The first group walked on a treadmill 3 times a week for 60 minutes. The second group did not engage in any physical activity. The first group had greater improvement in their constipation symptoms
For individuals looking to improve their fitness health, can a fitness assessment test identify potential areas and help evaluate overall health and physical status? Fitness Assessment A fitness test, also known as a fitness assessment, helps evaluate an individual's overall and physical health. It comprises a series of exercises to design an appropriate exercise program for general health and fitness. ( National Strength and Conditioning Association. 2017 ) Fitness assessment testing benefits include: Identifying areas that need improvement. Assisting professionals in understanding what types of exercise are safest and most effective. Helping measure fitness progress over time. Allowing for an individualized plan that can help prevent injuries and maintain the body's overall health. An assessment can comprise a wide range of tests, including: Body composition tests. Cardiovascular stress tests. Endurance tests. Range of motion tests. They are meant to ensure the individual w
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The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to contact us.
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*
