Metabolic Health: What It Is and Why It Matters

Fall is in full swing and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. For our family that means that wrestling season is here! This week is the first week of practice for our beginner’s group with Con-Kids Wrestling Club which is the group that I coach. To do that, I will be leaving the office a little early on Thursdays for the next few months. I know there’s many of you that prefer our evening times and will still be here late on Tuesdays, but I appreciate everyone working with me allowing me to coach our youth in wrestling. We have almost 30 kids registered for our beginner’s group and about 75 wrestlers in Con-Kids this year! So that will be exciting to watch them work hard this year and get better.

Also, our office will be closed on Thursday, November 27^th and Friday, November 28^th for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and will be back open for our regular hours on Monday, December 1^st.

Notice on Office Policy Change

Effective December 1st, 2025 our office will no longer be offering the Youth Discount Policy. We have been advised that we should discontinue this program and therefore will not be able to extend the discount moving forward. We encourage all patients to review this update and contact our office with any questions regarding their billing or payment options

We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your continued trust in our care.

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Metabolic Health: What It Is and Why It Matters

November is National Diabetes Month, making it the perfect time to discuss a topic that affects everyone: metabolic health.

What Is Metabolic Health?

Metabolic health refers to how efficiently your body converts food into energy and maintains balance in key systems, such as blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. When your metabolism is working well, your body can maintain healthy:

●        Blood sugar (glucose) levels

●        Blood pressure

●        Cholesterol levels

●        Weight

When it’s not, you’re at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even memory decline. Unfortunately, only about 12% of U.S. adults are considered metabolically healthy, which means most people could benefit from improving these key areas.

Signs of Good Metabolic Health

You’re likely on the right track if your body shows these healthy markers:

●     Waist size under 40” for men or 35” for women

●     Blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg without medication

●     Fasting blood sugar below 100 mg/dL

●     Triglycerides under 150 mg/dL

●     HDL (“good”) cholesterol above 40 mg/dL (men) or 50 mg/dL (women)

These numbers help measure how well your body manages energy and how susceptible you might be to chronic disease.

Signs Your Metabolism Might Need Support

If you notice these symptoms, your metabolism could be signaling for help:

●        Low energy or constant fatigue

●        Brain fog or difficulty focusing

●        Extra belly fat or unexplained weight gain

●        Sugar or carb cravings

●        Poor sleep or waking up unrefreshed

These can be early clues that your body is struggling to regulate insulin, blood sugar, or stress hormones.

5 Simple Ways to Support Metabolic Health

The good news? Small daily habits make a big difference.

1. Choose real, whole foods

   Fill your plate with vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Limit added sugars and processed foods whenever possible.

   
   

2. Move your body daily

   Walking, resistance training, and other forms of movement help your body use insulin more efficiently. Even a brisk walk after meals can help regulate blood sugar levels.

   
   

3. Prioritize quality sleep

   Aim for 7–9 hours of restful sleep each night. Poor sleep disrupts hunger hormones, making it harder to control blood sugar.

   
   

4. Manage stress

   Chronic stress raises cortisol, which can spike blood sugar. Try deep breathing, stretching, or spending time outdoors to unwind and relax.

   
   

5. Stay hydrated

   Water supports every metabolic process in your body, including detoxification and energy production.

   
   

The Takeaway

Metabolic health isn’t set in stone; it’s changeable. With the right nutrition, movement, and recovery habits, you can strengthen your metabolism, reduce your risk for diabetes, and boost your overall vitality. If you’re concerned about your metabolic health, talk with your healthcare provider. And don’t forget to check out our infographic for more simple tips on supporting a healthier metabolism.

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Smartphone Use + Heavy Backpacks Increases Neck Strain

There has been a lot of discussion lately on text neck and how prolonged staring at our phones is not a good posture for our head and neck. There was a recent research study that looked at the added stress for young people that carry a heavy bookbag around while also staring at their phones. The research showed that even a backpack that was 10% of a person’s body weight plus the posture of looking down at their phones was more than enough stress to overcome the maximum voluntary contraction capability of the neck and upper back muscles. What this means is that those muscles are working very hard during that time frame which will then cause them to fatigue quickly throughout the day. This is when we see an increase in neck injuries, tension type headaches, and general aggravation of neck pain that develops.

There were a few key differences between boys and girls noted in the study. Boys tend to have more forward head posture when looking down at their phones which increases the mechanical stress of the joints and spine of the neck and upper back. Girls did not have as great of forward head posture, but they had increased muscle activity of the head and neck to support the weight of a backpack while looking down at their phone. These different postures present different stressful loading mechanisms which is why we tend to see different complaints between genders arise.

Regardless of the posture that’s adopted, research is clear that a heavy bookbag and looking down at your phone will cause eventual issues to develop that could cause pain, headaches, or injury. Chiropractic care is a great option to help recover from these problems, but if possible, avoiding the problems by unloading the bookbag and not looking at our phones as much would help to prevent them all together.

Chen YL, Tang WH, Guan YX. Gender-specific biomechanical effects of smartphone use with backpack load during standing and walking. Scientific Reports. 2025 Oct 15;15(1):36091