In this edition of the Newsletter: Send this Newsletter to a friend
-Peace returns
-What are cruciferous vegetables?
-Five Tips for Better Sleep
-Cranberry Breath

-PEACE RETURNS!
No a war is not over.  Peace Mitchell, the massage therapist, will return from maternity leave on October 3rd.  She will be in on Tuesdays and Saturdays to help with all your tight sore achy muscles.  If you'd like to make an appointment with Peace or any of the other massage therapists, please call the clinic at (763) 566-1042 to schedule an appointment.

-WHAT ARE CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES?
Cruciferous vegetables are part of a family that includes cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale and kohlrabi. All are excellent sources of vitamin C, but what makes them unique are their phytochemicals, the natural substances that may help reduce cancer risk.

Several of them, called dithiolthiones and isothiocyanates, seem to stimulate body enzymes to detoxify carcinogens that could otherwise damage our body cells and begin the process of cancer development.

Cruciferous vegetables also contain phytochemicals called indoles, which appear to affect estrogen metabolism in ways that might help prevent breast cancer. By including cruciferous vegetables in our diet, we get these and other phytochemicals that the American Institute for Cancer Research believes may play an important role in stopping cancer before it starts.

-FIVE TIPS FOR BETTER SLEEP
One often-overlooked cause of daytime fatigue is nighttime posture. "Sleeping on your stomach can cause a strain on your back that might be just painful enough to keep you from getting a good night's sleep," says Peter Slabaugh, MD, spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. For a more restful repose night after night, follow the example of a model sleeper:

1. When sleeping on your back, a pillow under the knees comfortably flexes your lower spine, making it say ahhhh.

2. To avoid neck and shoulder aches, use a pillow that's low enough to support your head without flexing your neck. Down and orthopedic pillows work very well.

3. Be sure you're warm enough. If you have to stay curled up all night to keep warm, your back's likely to get sore.

4. You need enough room to maneuver. "It's normal to move your arms and legs during the night, and to roll from side to side," says Dr. Slabaugh. This prevents your joints from staying in one position for too long and getting stiff overnight.

5. People who snore or have trouble breathing at night may prefer to sleep on their sides to breathe easier.

-CRANBERRY BREATH
Wish you could sweeten your breath . . . and the breath of people around you? Serve cranberries.

Cranberries just may have the power to crush the offensive-smelling bacteria that can build up in your mouth and lead to bad breath. Apparently, the tart berries make the bacteria less sticky, so plaque is less likely to form. Plaque not only makes your breath less than aromatic, but also it can lead to cavities and gum disease.
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Information in this Newsletter was compiled from Men's Health Magazine, Real Age Health Systems, and InteliHealth. ©2000