There aren't too many activities that don't depend on your feet. That being the case, why do you neglect them? Whether you're a weekend warrior, a professional athlete or somewhere in between, proper foot care will help keep you in the game.

Your feet are the foundation for your entire body. They allow you to stand, walk, run, and jump; and absorb damaging shock that enters your body every time your heel hits the ground. Doctors of chiropractic can provide you with structural management to evaluate the weaknesses and imbalances in your body.

If you don't think you have foot imbalances, think again. Eighty percent of people develop some type of foot imbalance by the age of 20, and virtually everyone has foot imbalances by the age of 40. After years of standing, walking and wearing shoes, the arches of your feet gradually weaken and are not able to provide the necessary support for your body. Because structural imbalances and weaknesses can increase your risk of injury, they should be addressed immediately with treatment, support and exercises.

Once your chiropractor has evaluated your body's structure and identified any imbalances or weaknesses, they can correct the problems by developing a program that combines specific chiropractic adjustments, custom-made orthotics and a personalized conditioning program. This program usually will be based on three things: your individual needs, your fitness goals, and how well you progress with the exercises your doctor has recommended. Your feet go the distance for you; find out what you can do for them.

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Feeling frazzled at work? Answer any of the following questions in the affirmative and you're in dire need of help when it comes to managing workplace stress. The good news is there are a number of ways to reduce on-the-job stress. Try them out and see if your workplace headaches subside.

Signs of Workplace Stress

• Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you do each day and/or by the complexity of that work?
• At the end of a workday, does it feel as if you've accomplished little, or that what you did accomplish was done in a rushed or unsatisfactory fashion?
• Does it feel as if projects keep "piling up" on your desk, no matter how hard you try to catch up?
• Does your workday feel unstructured, disorganized and out of control?

Eight Easy Solutions

1. Plan your day. Create a "To Do" list, and cross off each item as you complete it.
2. Prioritize. Prioritizing your tasks from most to least important will keep you focused on what really matters.
3. Don't be afraid to say no. If an "extra" project comes across your desk, consider your current workload and priorities first.
4. Do it right – if not, you'll end up spending even more time correcting your mistakes.
5. A little at a time. When faced with a challenging or time-consuming task, don't try to complete it all at once.
6. Evaluate how you're spending your time. Keep a diary of everything you do for three days to determine how you're spending your time. Look for time that can be used more wisely.
7. Take a break. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a break. It can be a short one during the workday or a longer one, like a two- or three-day vacation.
8. Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you're having trouble managing your workplace stress, don't be afraid to talk to your boss about it.

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Are you aware of the latest "bad word" in the dietary dictionary? Trans fat has been added to the list of ingredients to avoid. Trans fats are liquid vegetable oils that are transformed via a process called "hydrogenation" into solids at room temperature. This chemical process transforms healthy vegetable oils into unhealthy fats that have been shown to raise LDL cholesterol.

In today's world of processed foods, more and more non-animal products contain hydrogenated fats/oils, a source of trans fats – which actually cause your body to make more cholesterol. Foods that contain trans fats include margarines, vegetable shortening, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, countless fast foods (especially French fries), and most commercial baked goods (crackers, donuts, potato chips, etc.).

The good news, if there is any, regarding trans fats is that as of 2006, the Food and Drug Administration required that food manufacturers list amounts of trans fats on the nutrition information labels of products. You've probably also noticed that increasing numbers of manufacturers now make it clear that their products contain no trans fats.

In addition to increasing the risk of heart disease, new research suggests trans fats may be related to increased infertility. Findings indicate that women who consume a mere 2 percent of total calories from trans fats have a doubled risk of ovulation-related infertility.

Whether you're pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or simply care about your health and the health of your loved ones, check nutrition labels for trans fatty acids and hydrogenated oils, and look for "fully hydrogenated oil" on products that claim to be "trans-fat-free."

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