The Wellness Blog

By admin October 6, 2021 Naturopathy, Wellness Wellness

Coffee – is it bad for me? | We ask Meagan Grossman, our Naturopath

Here at The Wellness Place, we sure do love our coffee! In fact, after water, coffee is reported as one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. There is nothing better than a good ol’ cup of coffee first thing in the morning, however, only a few years ago we were learning about the dangers of coffee consumption particularly regarding blood pressure, racing heart and impaired sleep. Luckily for our energy levels, the research is now suggesting some interesting health benefits linked to coffee.

Coffee is produced from the dried seeds of the Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (known as “Robusta”) plants. These are then roasted and ground to create our beloved espresso.

Interestingly, the World Health Organisation used to have coffee listed as a carcinogenic agent but was removed from this list in 2018 in light of updated research where the International Agency for Research on Cancer (2016) found that it is unlikely that coffee has any effect on the risk of developing cancer of the pancreas, bladder, prostate or breast. In fact, they also found in this review that coffee may exhibit a protective effect against the development of liver and endometrial cancers.

Coffee beans are rich in certain plant constituents such as polyphenols, soluble fibre and potassium which may exert a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system which is made up of the heart and blood vessels. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants which help to fight free radicals in the body and reduce inflammation. Among its beneficial constituents, is an alkaloid we all know very well as caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that increases activity of the brain and nervous system. It also increases circulation so it is important to note that it can increase circulation of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.

Caffeine is well absorbed by the body and you may notice it’s effects within 5-30 minutes after consuming it. You may notice an increase in mental alertness, focus and physical exertion and reduced feelings of fatigue after a cup of coffee.

In recent years, research has shown coffee consumption to be associated with a decreased risk of developing the following:

– type 2 diabetes
– cardiovascular disease (including heart attack and stroke)
– Dementia
– Glucose tolerance
– Hyperglycaemia
– Insulin sensitivity
– Parkinson’s disease
– Liver cirrhosis
– Gout

Should you drink coffee?

If you do not like coffee or are more susceptible to side effects, it is probably best to stay away from it. For those of us that do like coffee however, growing research has shown the potential health benefits of coffee consumption but it is important to avoid it in the afternoon where possible to prevent any sleep disturbances.

As you have probably experienced, going overboard with your coffee consumption can produce some uncomfortable side effects including:

– Anxiety
– Insomnia
– Digestive disturbances including diarrhea, nausea and heartburn
– Headaches
– Jitters and heart palpitations

If you already have anxiety or insomnia, it’s probably best to avoid drinking coffee while you address the root cause of these issues due to the risk of exacerbating your symptoms.

Like pretty much everything, the effect coffee will have on you is variable from person to person and should not be consumed in excess.

By admin October 2, 2021 Wellness Wellness

Why You Should Sit Up Straight? | We ask Dr Soroush Ebtash.

Remember when your mother used to say things like, “Eat all your vegetables.” And, “Look both ways before you cross the street.” Well, let’s not forget her mantra, “Sit up straight!” I catch myself reminding my kids on daily basis too.

So many people today work in sedentary jobs that require them to sit for most of the workday. However, whether sitting at a desk, a football game, or in front of a television set, good posture is imperative to your spinal health. And poor postural habits are a leading contributor to neck and back pain.

It has been a concern of mine in the last few years to note even a more drastic change in the spinal presentation of youth and teenagers with reverse spinal curvature in the neck and accentuated curvature in the mid-back regions. While I consider that there are many reasons behind this, I would also stipulate that the introduction and utilisation of hand-held devices have something to do with this rapid change.

Checking Your Posture

Let’s take a look at how you’re sitting right at this moment.

Are your feet flat on the floor, with your knees at a 90-degree angle?
Are your buttocks, back, and shoulders up against the backrest of your chair?
Does the chair you’re sitting on, provide enough lumbar support?
Does the backrest fit into the natural curve of your spine?
Are your shoulders relaxed and even, not hunched in a forward position?
Is your bodyweight equally distributed across both hips?
Are your knees level with or slightly higher than your hips?

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, you are probably exerting undue stress on your spine; this will eventually cause back pain.

Change How You Sit
Keep in mind that it is not a good idea to sit in the same position for more than 40 minutes. Chronic slouching can lead to semi-permanent postural and structural changes and may affect the discs between the vertebrae to cause them to bulge or become herniated.
Take the time to stand up and stretch your back and legs or take a short walk periodically. Australian Chiropractors’ Association has released a widget that can be downloaded for free on your computers to remind you every 30min to change your posture, take a mini-break, go for a walk or do some stretches. I highly regard this initiative.
If you’re already finding that back pain is creeping into your life, give us a call on 08 9379 3838.

By admin September 6, 2021 Wellness

Pregnancy Massage – What is it & Should I get one?

The Wellness Place offers pre-natal massage with the comfort of our exclusive pregnancy massage table. Our highly experienced and qualified team of therapists are available to help ease your aches and pains caused by the changes your body will undergo over the next 9 months.

Pregnancy or Prenatal massages are slightly different from the typical relaxation massage that you may have gotten in the past but the benefits are mostly the same. During pregnancy, the body goes through some amazing and wonderful changes as your baby grows but those changes cause you to feel aches and pains throughout your whole body. At The Wellness Place we have an adaptive pregnancy massage table that allows you to have a safe and comfortable massage which can accommodate the bodies growing belly and breasts and not cause discomfort while lying down.

Research has shown that massage can reduce the stress hormones in the body and relax and loosen your muscles. It also can increase blood flow around your body or to a certain area which is extremely important while you’re pregnant. Prenatal massages can aid your lymphatic system and if you don’t know, the lymphatic system is super important during pregnancy. While the growing foetus has the placenta which filters most of the harmful toxins in the body, it doesn’t stop viruses from entering their bodies. The lymphatic system helps to filter the body of harmful toxic build up, viruses, reduces inflammation and cleanses the blood cells. (it also aids in the reduction of swelling in your feet!!)

During pregnancy, regular prenatal massages may not only help you to relax, but may also relieve:

Insomnia
Joint pain
Neck and back pain
Leg cramping
Sciatica
Swelling in your hands and feet
Carpal tunnel pain
Headaches and sinus congestion

So, if you are at this exciting time of your life, why not reward yourself with some relaxation and time out on the massage table! Or if you are in a bit of pain with your pregnancy, let us help you! It’s time to look after you!

By admin March 2, 2021 Wellness

Helping Others Gain Better Health | We Ask Dr Soroush Ebtash

Probably one of the most gratifying aspects of practicing health care is witnessing each patient’s journey from pain to relief. Eyes brighten. Postures improve. Hope returns.

It’s a great feeling and mentally gratifying. This only becomes possible when you share your experience with others and inspire them to begin care. As the old saying goes, the biggest thank you we receive as health practitioners is a referral.

So if you know someone who may benefit from care, please “share the love” and let them know about your experience.

Here’s a few simple ways you can help others:

Request information. We have educational materials designed to help introduce your family or friends to care offered at The Wellness Place. Just ask or direct them to our website.

Tell family and friends. Share your experience and your journey from pain or difficulties you may have had to your current state. You would be surprised to know how many others may be looking for some solutions or help.

Bring them along. Do you know someone who could benefit? Bring that person along with you on your next visit so he or she can tour our practice, meet the team and ask questions.

Arrange a time for a chat. All our practitioners are very happy to have a conversation with any of your family/friends who may be wondering if the care can assist with their condition. Let our friendly admin team arrange a time for one of the practitioners to contact you to have a “chat”.

The Wellness Place continues to thrive because of delighted patients like you telling others about today’s safe and natural approach to healthcare.

We cannot thank you enough and appreciate your support.

By admin February 27, 2021 Uncategorized

What do Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Arnold Schwarzenegger have in common? | We ask Dr Soroush Ebtash

At The Wellness Place, we have been looking after athletes day-in day-out. Some of these athletes have been seeking physiotherapy care and some have chosen to see our chiropractors. Traditionally, most athletes are used to seeing physios for their injuries, however sports chiropractic is fast becoming a growing area of speciality within the chiropractic profession.

Many big names in sports such as Michael Jordan, Evander Holyfield, Tiger Woods, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Usain Bolt and many others have turned to chiropractic care as part of their routine care to enhance theirperformance.

Even locally, you would be pleased to know that while Dr Soroush Ebtash looked after the WAIS cycling team, almost all athletes who received chiropractic care, scored their PB on the track. Similar impressive results were also noted when Dr Soroush Ebtash looked after the Swan DistrictsFootball Club over 8 years and the club recorded the lowest statistics of non-impact injury list in its history.

If you’re an athlete, you understand the importance of keeping your mind and body in tip-top shape with exercise, healthy foods and plenty of rest. However, some of these results above may be surprising to you.

If you wondered how athletes benefit from chiropractic care, here’s why:

Better mind-body awareness. By improving your neurological and musculoskeletal functionality, your body can perform to the best of its ability. This means proper, free-flowing signals between your brain and body.

Improved coordination. Cerebellum is the part of your brain which controls your coordination and It receives its input from different parts of your body. The joints in your spine and extremities are crucialto “feeding” your cerebellum.

Your chiropractic adjustments provide your brain with the necessary input and information for it to perform optimally. Chiropractic is a completely natural solution to bringing your body into peak performance mode, which means you’re moving with ease exactly how your brain is telling you to.

Heightened flexibility. Proper movement on the field or the court can help prevent future injuries, keeping you in the game longer. Optimal movement is directly dependent on correct alignment. Your chiropractic adjustments ensure you are aligned and moving correctly and comfortably.

Know an athlete that could benefit from our care? Give us a call on 08 9379 3838.

By admin February 18, 2021 Wellness

Is sitting the new smoking? | We ask Dr Soroush Ebtash.

Take a minute to think about how often you sit each day. Now ask yourself what portion of that time was in ideal posture? This is a simple way for you to determine if it could be leading to back problems.

It’s commonly accepted among experts that lower back pain is related to prolonged sitting. And let’s face it, in today’s world we spend plenty of time during our day doing exactly that—we sit in the car, we sit most of the day at work and we even sit to watch television after our workday is over.

It seems that the only time we’re not sitting is when we’re moving from one location to the next. Because this is how we’re living, it should come as no surprise that back pain can be a pretty common problem.

What is also troubling is how our next generation is spending more time sitting at such earlier age, due to the introduction of the tablets and other hand-held devices. This could be one of the many reasons that we see more and more adverse changes to the spinal curvature in the youth.

Poor postures and prolonged sitting are both contributing to the major musculoskeletal complaints seen in the young and old. It would not be unusual to predict that this would be on the rise due to the change of habits and increase in morbidity in our society.

Sitting is the New Smoking

While we’re not suggesting that you stop sitting, what you should do is take some simple steps to minimise the impact by making your environment more back friendly.

Here are a few suggestions:• Take interval breaks throughout your day
• Change your position as often as you sensibly can
• Get up and walk every 45 minutes
• Stretch your spine throughout the day

If you’re dealing with frequent back pain that seems to be sticking around, consider contacting our practice for an appointment.

By admin February 8, 2021 Wellness

How do you manage a concussion | We ask Dr Soroush Ebtash.

With the summer season and the sporting activities gearing up, so does the occurrence rate of injurious. One of the important and common injuries in the sporting world is concussion.
Concussion is a brain injury and must be taken seriously to ensure and safeguard the short and long term health of all players.

The majority (80-90%) of concussions resolve in a short (7-10 days) period. The recovery time is longer in children and adolescents. One needs to remember that their brains are still developing and therefore a more conservative approach needs to be taken with them. While symptoms may resolve, the brain takes a bit longer to recover fully so this needs to be factored into the recovery protocols.

During this recovery period, the brain is more vulnerable to further injury, and if a player returns too early, before they have fully recovered, this may result in:

Prolonged concussion symptoms
Increased risk of developing Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) with symptoms lasting over 3 months
Possible increased risk of long term health consequences e.g. mild cognitive impairment or degenerative brain disorders in later life.

Concussion Recognition Tool (CRT) is the most common standard used when dealing with such events. Every parent and sports trainer should be aware of this to ensure the welfare of all players.

As a guide the following should be a minimum procedure when dealing with a player who has sustained a possible concussive event.

Step 1

Recognise the injury by using the Pocket CRT

Step 2

Any player with suspected concussion should be IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM PLAY, and should not be returned to activity (training or playing) until they are assessed medically.

Step 3

Report the incident to their club officials (if applicable)

Step 4

Monitor the player with a suspected concussion which includes:

NOT consume alcohol and keep well hydrated.
NOT drive a motor vehicle.
NOT be left alone, and be woken every 2-3 hours during the night to ensure they are well.

Step 5

Rest from all activity until symptoms recover.

Step 6

Consult with a medical professional on a graduated return to training and playing.

Step 7

Medical clearance required to return to play.

There are plenty out there to read about concussions. Please feel free to download the Pocket CRT attached to this email. Use the Christmas season to educate yourself and your family. Please feel free to speak to one of our Chiropractors or physiotherapists to discuss any questions you may have.

By admin February 1, 2021 Wellness

Can I find relief from neck pain | We Ask Dr Soroush Ebtash

The old saying “so and so is such a pain in the neck” highlights how frustrating neck pain can be. Discomfort, soreness, and stiffness can make it hard to turn your head and difficult to get comfortable while doing almost anything.

To put it simply, neck pain can be a real pain in the neck! Even minor neck pain can affect your quality of life – but relief is available, and it doesn’t come from a bottle.
While most neck pain is related to emotional stress like worrying about a deadline, physical stress is also a contributing factor.

Here are a few ways to reduce physical stress on your neck:

Take frequent breaks from sitting in front of a computer. Keep your head aligned with your spine and relax your jaw – the same goes for when you’re texting.
Sleeping on your stomach can stress your neck. Try a side or back position with a supportive neck pillow.
Move. Shrug your shoulders up and down. Pull your shoulder blades together to prevent the neck from stiffening.

Follow up your treatment plan and make regular care a part of your routine.

If you feel the emotional stress is a contributor to your neck pain then practicing mindfulness, yoga, meditation and/or seeking counselling to address the hidden cause behind the physical manifestation of the emotional pain should be on top of your list for 2021

By admin October 27, 2020 Wellness

Are you stressed in this climate? Join the ranks! | Dr. Soroush Ebtash

As I write this, I grapple with two very different thoughts and feelings. My logical side analyses the current climate and appreciates that such challenges are temporary.

We have had them before, some even worse than this and we get over them. Humans are wonderful specimens. They are adaptable and resistant. They are flexible. They are intelligent and they seek solutions. So I know that while it may feel like a lifetime, these days, weeks, or even months will pass and in a bigger scheme of things, they are only a hiccup in our trajectory

Then my emotional side kicks in. My emotional side naturally seeks a refuge. It is seeking comfort. It naturally retreats and it automatically gives in to the fear. Fear of now, fear of future. Fear of the unknown.

What I realise is that while I have to acknowledge my fears and my concerns, I have to remain logical and in control. I have to appreciate that in times like this, I need to carry out good practice and common sense. Giving in to the fear is not going to achieve anything at all. Fear breeds fear and only leads me down a very dark and windy path.

What are some useful tips that could help us all now?

We all should:
Eat well, meditate (use apps such as Headspace – they work), take our supplements (call or drop us a line to get your immune package), get ample sleep, have some “personal time”, hang out with our loved ones, and finally continue with our care.

I’ve always told our patients that ‘we make little changes yet with a big difference’. Looking after thousands of patients in the last 17 years, has shown me that when we undergo stress the effect is not isolated to our mind and soul but it has a global effect. It most often presents itself in physical aches and pains as what we call ‘psychosomatic presentation’.

It’s amazing how much change many patients feel, how clear their heads may get after care, and how much easier they may be able to tackle life following a treatment.

Don’t underestimate the effect that your health choices can have on your overall functionality and performance.

See you on the other side of this

Regards

Dr Soroush Ebtash

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