Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome to Thanksgiving! The holiday in which we can all take time to realize what we are thankful for. This, of course, may be interrupted by turkey, stuffing, and of course cranberries. You may be tempted to go for the extra helping of turkey and stuffing; however, take time to realize the many positive benefits of cranberries.

· Lab studies suggests that the chemicals in cranberries work together to help suppress the growth of some various human cancer cells
· These chemicals may also reduce the risk of hardening of your artieries. (Athrosclerosis).
· Cranberries are loaded with helpful antioxidants.
· Cranberries also contain two compounds that seem to keep certain bacteria from attacking the urinary tract wall. Some studies suggest that women who drink cranberry juice regularly may have fewer symptoms of UTI’s over a period of time.

We at Empire Health and Wellness would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We are very thankful that we are able to be a part of a wonderful and caring community. For more information on healthy living, or to schedule a consultation for physical therapy, feel free to contact us at 518-690-4406 or visit our website at www.empirehwc.com or email us at ehwc7@nycap.rr.com.

William Milhizer, DPT, PT

Caffeine Consumption

As you are drinking your daily cup of coffee in the morning you may be thinking “am I doing a bad thing?” The truth is that there are many good and bad aspects of drinking caffeine. Today I would like to help you sort through some of the many myths and misconceptions.





• Caffeine is addictive.
o Caffeine is a stimulant and if introduced to the body in a regular manner it may produce a minor dependence. This, however, should not be confused with other drug addictions. Caffeine does not and should not affect your social, physical, or economic health! Stopping that normal intake of caffeine may even give minor withdrawal symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and minor irritability. These again are not on par with symptoms from “drug addictions”.

• Caffeine may dehydrate you.
o Caffeine may make you urinate, but the amount of fluid normally taken with the caffeine seems to offset the fluid that you lose.

• There are no health benefits from caffeine
o Although high concentrations may be harmful to your health. There are some positive aspects of caffeine such as an increase in alertness, concentration, and energy. This may not be the case if you drink in excess, but in moderation it is possible to enjoy the benefits. Also some limited evidence has been shown that it may reduce the risk of some diseases such as diabetes type 2 and Parkinson’s disease.

Although a lot of the research being done is limited there may be some benefit of Caffeine. It is important to keep in mind that anything in excess can be a hazard to your health and to contact your doctor if you are having adverse effects or if you are on any medication where you should restrict caffeine intake. For more myths and misconception please refer to http://www.webmd.com/balance/caffeine-myths-and-facts?page=3 for more information on caffeine intake.

For more information on healthy living, or to schedule a consultation for physical therapy, feel free to contact us at 518-690-4406 or visit our website at www.empirehwc.com or email us at ehwc7@nycap.rr.com.

William Milhizer, DPT, PT

Staying Healthy This Winter Season

We would like to thank everyone who attended this years open house and 10th anniversary party. It was a great success! This week in our blog I would like to discuss lifestyle strategies for the upcoming change of season. After you dig out your winter clothes and prepare to turn up the heat in your house your lifestyle and habits may have to change. Here are a few strategies to consider.

• Health
Everything from eating well to washing your hands can allow you to dodge the flu bug. If you do happen to get the virus do all you can not to spread it to others.
• Exercise
If you are one who normally exercises outdoors you may need to change your routine. I may recommend joining a gym or purchasing thera-bands or a stability ball for home use. These tools may seem simple but there is a vast array of exercise you can perform with them.
• Food
With the holidays getting closer and closer it is important to continue to think about portion size and not eating too many unhealthy snacks. Take everything in moderation while continuing to exercise.
• Emotional health
Don’t let the gray skies, snow, and the darkness of winter get you down. It is said that the more depressing months of the year are to come. Take the time to relax and have fun this winter. It could be anything from catching a show to taking up a new winter hobby.

For more information on healthy living, or to schedule a consultation for physical therapy, feel free to contact us at 518-690-4406 or visit our website at www.empirehwc.com or email us at ehwc7@nycap.rr.com.

William Milhizer, DPT, PT

10th Anniversary Open House!

Empire Health and Wellness Center is celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary and we would like to extend you an invitation. Come join us Thursday, November 4, 2010 between 5:00 pm & 7:30 pm at our office for food, tours, prizes, and live demonstrations. We are excited to demonstrate the new X-box Hardware “Kinect”. Kinect is a totally new and fun way to promote movement and fitness within video games. A full motion camera will track your every move as you perform in game tasks and obstacles. During the next few weeks we plan on integrating this exciting new hardware into our unique and integrated treatment plans. Please visit our Blog for up to date news and reviews on this topic as we get our hands on the finalized product!

For more information on the open house or RSVP, feel free to contact us at 518-690-4406 or email us at ehwc4@nycap.rr.com.

William Milhizer, DPT, PT