Minnesota Get Together

Summer is coming to a close and we all know what the means in Minnesota, the Minnesota State fair is back! This is a great time of year for Minnesotans to gather, walk around, get on some rides and even attend some concerts. Most importantly let's not forget about everyone's favorite fair attraction, all the amazing food!

The State fair offers a variety of delicious and adventurous food, however these foods are not very healthy. Because of this it is important to eat your favorite fair foods in moderation. This will help you maintain all of the healthy habits you have been working on all summer. With that in mind, remember that everything is fine in moderation and it is okay to treat yourself to special foods that are only offered 12 days a year. Instead of indulging in foods that you can find at many restaurants throughout the Midwest, save up for this one time of the year and sample a variety of treats. A suggestion is to go to the fair with a hand full of people and share your food. This will not only help cut down on cost but will also give you the opportunity enjoy some of your favorite foods!

Every year we attend the Minnesota state fair as a clinic and it is our favorite time of the year! Some food we like to share when we attend the fair are: fried pickles, cheese curds, fried green tomatoes, fried olives, fried veggies, beef jerky, fried spam bites, French fries and sweet Martha's cookies. We also enjoy walking around the fair grounds and seeing all the attractions. Dr. Klug and Dr. Zimmerman enjoy going to machinery hill and looking at the snow mobiles, four wheelers, campers and log carvings. Chelle enjoys going on the rides and testing her skills at carnival games. Julia and Denise love to go see the animals and to watch the dog shows!

Here are a few tips to use when attending the great Minnesota get together; stay hydrated and drink lots of water, between the heat, crowds and salty food it is easy to become dehydrated. Don't over indulge, remember moderation is key.  Try something new whether it is a new food, strange drink, activity or experience, be open minded. Also prepare for the weather, Minnesota can be unpredictable this time of year, check the local weather and plan accordingly. Lastly, have fun as the fair is only here for 12 days a year! To find out more ways to keep yourself happy and healthy visit our website at www.oxborochiro.com.

By: Dr. Travis Klug, D.C. & Julia Jacobson, Office Manager

Oxboro Family Chiropractic, P.A.

Finding the Right Sunscreen

It is that time of year again to break out the sun block! With summer in full force it is important to know that there are many different types of sunscreens to consider when trying to protect yourself. 

Here is some advice when choosing the proper protection this summer. The FDA says that using 50 plus SPF may not be as useful as manufacturers claim them to be. SPF values only refer to protection from sunburn and they do not indicate protection against UVA rays, the harmful UV rays that contribute to skin cancer and skin aging. Another piece of advice is to specifically look for UVA protection labels on the sunscreen. Most sunscreens do not protect against UVA rays but rather protect against UVB rays, however the UVA rays are much more harmful. A suggestion is to look for mineral-based sunscreens as they effectively block UVA rays. Stay away from sunscreens that contain oxybenzone because it has been linked to allergic reactions and potential hormone disruption.

Try to use lotion over sprays or powder sunscreens because sprays are more often inhaled and go directly to the bloodstream.  Another one to avoid are lotions with vitamin A. Lesions are quicker to form on skin slathered with creams containing retinyl pamitate, which is also labeled as retinol or vitamin A. You should also avoid a sunscreen with insect repellent. Those two things need to be applied on different schedules. When the UV radiation is at its highest you should not rely on sunscreen solely. Try wearing hats and sunglasses for the ultimate protection. Last but not least reapply, reapply and reapply. Sunscreen washes off with water and can rub off with towels. Lastly men are twice as likely to die from melanoma in 2018 than women so protect yourself when spending long hours in the sun.

Source: https://experiencelife.com/article/which-sunscreen-is-right-for-you/

Be Tick Free This Summer

It is that time of year again for ticks. There are several different types of ticks and it is important to know which ones are considered a threat and which ones are harmless. The keys to protecting yourself from ticks are to learn the different types of ticks, which ones live in your area and how to identify them. 

It is important to understand that not every tick carries Lyme disease. Deer ticks carry Lyme disease and wood ticks do not. This link can help identify deer ticks from woods ticks; www.tickencounter.org. Like any disease, it is a good idea to take the proper precautions to reduce your risk of contracting Lyme disease. If you are going to be in the woods hiking it is always a good idea to tuck your pants into high socks and wear long sleeved shirts tucked in at the waist. It is also not a bad idea to spray your clothes with a tick repellent or even purchase clothes that are pre-treated. If you spend a lot of time in wooded areas you should always perform daily tick checks. Another suggestion to help reduce the risk of tick bites is to put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for up to 10 minutes after outdoor activity. This helps to disengage the tick.

If you do end up with a tick, you should remove it with needle nose tweezers. Then try to identify if it is a deer tick or a wood tick. If it is a deer tick and you think the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours you should seek medical attention immediately. They recommend bringing the tick to your physician so they can identify the type of tick.

Source: https://experiencelife.com/article/how-do-i-protect-against-ticks/