Gresham Town Fair Chiropractic

2011-03-10T15:02:00.000-08:00

What is Really Making Your Child Fat?

The modern-day food system has become exceedingly reliant on high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), refined grains, processed foods and artificial sweeteners, all of which are part of a recipe for big-time weight gain. As you might already know, it is the number one source of calories in the US.

In addition, the fact that most fructose is consumed in liquid form, such as soda -- which is the number one source of calories in the U.S. diet -- significantly magnifies its negative metabolic effects.It should be obvious then that limiting or eliminating fructose from your child’s diet is of primary importance if you want to protect your child’s health and well-being.

Processed foods are yet another major source of HFCS and other health-harming substances such as MSG, while providing very few natural nutrients.Most Americans spend 90 percent of their food money on processed foods, which promises to make you pack on the pounds by interfering with your body’s ability to regulate insulin and leptin.

On top of this, many of you have been deceived into thinking that all fat is bad, but rather than making you thin, low-fat diet foods actually cause weight gain in the majority of people. As it turns out, fructose is the main culprit that promotes weight gain, not dietary fats.

The Challenge of Making Good Choices

School lunches make up a significant portion of your child’s diet, and the good news is that some school systems are taking the bull by the horns when it comes to student access to poor food and drink choices. Hopefully the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity will have an even greater impact in this area.

However, simply removing temptation doesn’t necessarily teach your children to make healthy choices on their own.It’s important to remember that children learn most of their health habits at home. So as a parent, you must lead by example and teach your child the importance of good nutrition, physical activity, and emotional health.

Below are five basic health strategies every parent needs to know and impart onto their children.
-Replace sugary juices and soft drinks with pure water. Children can easily cut down on the amount of sugar they eat by eliminating soda and juice and only drinking water. This step alone can have a dramatic effect on your child’s weight and health, since every soft drink or sugar-sweetened beverage consumed increases the risk of obesity by a whopping 60 percent.

-Learn your child’s Nutritional Type and plan meals accordingly. It’s important for parents to encourage their children to eat healthy, nutritious foods, focusing on fresh whole foods (preferably organic whenever possible).This does not mean you should not allow your child to eat when he’s hungry, however. Children need calories and nutrients to grow and develop -- just make sure to encourage healthy foods geared for your child’s nutritional type, and bypass junk and processed foods.

-Remember that any meal or snack high in carbohydrates or sugars generates a rapid rise in your child’s blood glucose level. To adjust for this rise, the pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream, which lowers your child’s glucose (sugar) level. Insulin is essentially a storage hormone, which is used to store the excess calories from carbohydrates in the form of fat. Insulin, stimulated by the excess carbohydrates in overabundant consumption of grains, starches and sweets, is responsible for your overweight child’s bulging tummy and fat rolls.

-Decrease or eliminate TV time and remove the TV from your child’s bedroom.TV is often a destructive influence on children. Not only does it encourage inactivity, but it also exposes them to commercials promoting worthless foods. Just as you don’t want your child exposed to ads for cigarettes during Saturday morning cartoons, neither should your kids be bombarded by non-stop commercials for sugary foods and snacks. Alternatively you can implement a rule that allows your child one minute of video (TV or game) time for every minute of exercise.

-Increase exercise.Exercise is extremely important for all children. Your overweight or obese child needs at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, and major studies have shown that 60 minutes a day is best. Any activity that gets your child up and away from the television set, video game or computer is a good idea. Start out with a daily walk with your child, and then gradually increase the intensity to include activities such as jogging and using an elliptical machine.

-Help your child address emotional eating. Emotions play a major role in childhood obesity and often, weight loss efforts get sabotaged by emotional eating. Your child may also have a hard time giving up junk food snacks.

2011-03-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

Whiplash

Injuries to the neck caused by a sudden movement of the head, backward, forward, or sideways, is referred to as whiplash. Whether from a car accident, sports, or an accident at work, whiplash or other neck injuries warrant a thorough chiropractic check-up. The biggest danger with whiplash injuries is that the symptoms can take years to develop. Too often people don't seek treatment until more serious complications develop. Even after whiplash victims settle their insurance claims, some 45% report they still suffer with symptoms two years later.

In the past a typical whiplash injury, where no bones were broken, was hard to document. Soft tissue injury didn't show up on normal x-rays/radiographs and insurance companies would deny coverage. Literally adding insult to injury, the patient suffering all too real pain was considered to be a fraud, a liar, or at best a hypochondriac. New imaging devices (CAT Scans, Magnetic

Imaging, and Ultra Sound) now show soft tissue injury and insurance companies now cover most whiplash injuries. When no bones are broken and the head doesn't strike the windshield, typical symptoms are as follows: 62% to 98% complain of neck pain, which typically starts two hours up to two days after the accident. This is often the result of tightened muscles that react to either muscle tears or excessive movement of joints from ligament damage. The muscles tighten in an effort to splint and support the head, limiting the excessive movement.

Sixty-six to 70% of those suffering from whiplash complain of headache. The pain may be on one side or both, on again off again or constant, in one spot or more general. These headaches, like the neck pain, are often the result of tightened, tensed muscles trying to keep the head stable and, like tension headaches, they are often felt behind the eyes.

Shoulder pain often described as pain radiating down the back of the neck into the shoulder blade area, may also be the result of tensed muscles.

Muscle tears are often described as burning pain, prickling or tingling. More severe disc damage may cause sharp pain with certain movements, with or without radiation into the arms, hand and fingers, which are relieved by holding your hand over your head.

Basic Whiplash Symptoms

Neck pain and/or stiffness Blurred vision Difficulty swallowing Irritability Fatigue Dizziness Pain between the shoulder blades Pain in the arms or legs, feet and hands Headache Low back pain and/or stiffness Shoulder pain Nausea Ringing in the ears Vertigo Numbness and tingling Pain in the jaw or face

How Does Whiplash Happen?

Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck form behind, or collides with another vehicle. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine can be over-stretched or torn. In a rear end collision for example, the victim's car is first pushed or accelerated forward and then, because their foot is on the brake, or their car hits the vehicle in front, their car is rapidly slowed down, or decelerated. As the vehicle accelerates forward, it pushes the body forward too, but the head remains behind momentarily, rocking up and back, until some of the muscles and ligaments are stretched or torn. Too often the injury occurs before the head rebounds off the headrest.

These muscles, in a reflex action, contract to bring the occupant’s head forward again, and to prevent excessive injury. This overcompensates because at this point the head is already traveling in a forward direction as the car decelerates. This violently rocks the head forward, stretching and tearing more muscles and ligaments. The soft pulpy discs between the vertebrae can bulge, tear, or rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve roots get stretched, irritated, and choked. If the victim is not properly restrained the occupants head may strike the steering wheel or windshield, possibly causing a concussion.

The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues are noteworthy and depend on several factors.

If you or a loved one has recently been in an auto accident, please contact our office immediately. The earlier whiplash is addressed, the less the damaging effects on your body! TIME IS VITAL!

2010-12-10T08:47:00.001-08:00

2010-12-01T15:35:00.000-08:00

LOW BACK PAIN

A new study finds that low back pain care initiated with a doctor of chiropractic (DC) saves 40% on health care costs the American Chiropractic Association(ACA) announced today. The study, featuring data from 85,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield beneficiaries, concludes that insurance companies that restrict access to chiropractors for low back pain treatment may inadvertently pay more for care than they would if they removed such restrictions. Low back pain is a significant public health problem. Up to 85 percent of Americans have back pain at some point in their lives. In addition to its negative effects on employee productivity, back pain treatment accounts for about $50 billion annually in health care costs—making it one of the top 10 most costly conditions treated in the United States.
The study looked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee’s intermediate and large group fully insured population over a two-year span. The insured study population had open access to MDs and DCs through self-referral, and there were no limits applied to the number of MD/DC visits allowed and no differences in co-pays. Results show that paid costs for episodes of care initiated by a DC were almost 40 percent less. After risk-adjusting each patient’s costs, researchers still found significant savings in the chiropractic group. They estimated that allowing DC-initiated episodes of care would have led to an annual cost savings of $2.3 million for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee.
“As doctors of chiropractic, we know firsthand that our care often helps patients avoid or reduce more costly interventions such as drugs and surgery. This study supports what we see in our practices every day,” said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “It also demonstrates the value of chiropractic care at a critical time, when our nation is attempting to reform its health care system and contain runaway costs.”

Sucking Life Through A Narrow Straw

2010-11-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

Just like air moving through a snorkel, the energy of Life flows from your brain through your Nerve System and permeates every part of your body. The more "open" and unrestricted your nerve pathways are, the easier Life Energy flows and the Healthier you'll be.

Subluxations (misaligned spinal bones) squeeze nerves and restrict the flow of Life Energy. The effect is like trying to snorkel through a narrow straw. Sure you may get some air through, but not enough to make your diving experience very comfortable!

When Subluxations constrict nerve pathways, Life Energy flows at a weaker rate, making everyday tasks, jobs and experiences more difficult. Chiropractors believe it's the reason so many people walk around tired, stressed out and fatigued. They're literally sucking Life through a narrow straw because of Subluxations... and they don't even know it!

The ultimate goal of Chiropractic is to keep your nerve pathways open so your Life Energy flows maximally, 100% ALL the time. This way you'll get all the Power you need to function at your best and you'll enjoy more health and a better life. Until next time... Stay open, get adjusted!

Drop a cinder block on your foot

2010-10-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

Question: If you dropped a cinder block on your foot, what’s the first thing you must do to start the healing process?

Answer: Get the cinder block off your foot!
Sounds simple, but it’s true. Your foot WON’T heal until the offending pressure is removed first. And once the cinder block is removed don’t expect your foot to look or feel normal right away! It’s going to take time to repair all that carnage. The same principle applies to your Chiropractic care.

A misaligned vertebrae (Subluxation) acts like a cinder block on a nerve, causing damage, pain and inflammation. Healing can occur only when the offending pressure is removed and kept off the nerve with regular Chiropractic adjustments. But that won’t necessarily bring instant relief. Removing the pressure is simply the first step in a timely process.

So if you don’t feel great immediately after your adjustment, don’t be discouraged. With time, damaged tissues will heal and you’ll feel like new again. For now, be confident the healing process has at least started because the cinder block (subluxation) has been removed. Until next time...

When Life's Pressure Leaves You Flat

2010-10-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

The boss just dumped more work on your desk, your kids have to be picked up late from practice tonight and you still need to get a gift for your niece’s 5th birthday party. It feels like every time you finally get a break, something else comes along and refills your stress load. It’s like constantly pumping air into a bicycle tire with no end in sight. If some air isn’t let out soon your inner tube’s gonna pop! Daily stress can have that effect on your nerves..

Your nerve system experiences the stress of everyday living like a bicycle tire unceasingly being pumped with air. It can only hold so much before it gets over inflated and something gives. That something is usually normal sleeping patterns, the ability to fight off colds and flu and innate disease prevention. But like an over inflated inner tube, releasing built up nerve pressure will help you avoid a potential blow out.

Regular adjustments act like the relief valve on an overinflated bicycle tire. Just a gentle push and PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.... all that pent up tension comes out! That’s why you feel so light and depressurized after a great chiropractic visit. The next time you think you’re “too busy” to come in for an adjustment, remember that’s the MOST important time to come in to get depressurized before something POPS!!! Until next time...

Chiropractics 115th Birthday!

2010-10-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

On September 18, 1895 the first chiropractic adjustment was given in Davenport, Iowa by Dr. Daniel David Palmer, (born a Canadian from Port Perry, Ontario) The first chiropractic patient was Harvey Lillard, a janitor in the building D.D. (as he was most commonly called) had his office (the Ryan building on the corner of Brady and 2nd Street in Davenport Iowa). Harvey had lost his hearing from a fall 17 years before meeting D.D. D.D. offered to check his spine for what appeared to be a misaligned spinal bone, that may have influenced the function of his hearing.

Within three days of that first adjustment, Harvey had his hearing completely restored, and D.D. had established himself in the eyes of the community as a healer. This is the true story of the first chiropractic adjustment. While the story appears miraculous, D.D. had been preparing himself for the opportunity that presented itself in the form of Harvey Lillard. Prior to that adjustment, D.D. had been practicing magnetic healing, studying anatomy and physiology, and studying the work of his contemporaries such as A.J.Still, the founder of Osteopathy.

From his studies, D.D. reasoned that since the nervous system was known to be the communication system in the body, interference to the nervous system would interfere with normal body function and homeostasis. Examining the anatomy of the body, he reasoned that due to the location of the spinal cord within the spine, and the departure of paired spinal nerves from the spinal cord through holes formed by two adjacent vertebrae, misalignments of those adjacent vertebrae would interfere with the function of those paired nerves. The first adjustment he gave was the first opportunity he had to test his theory in practice. The public response to the first adjustment was very enthusiastic.

The news spread very quickly, and people with very diverse ailments were responding to Palmer's new "hand treatments" - those with asthma, skin conditions, digestive problems, headaches, epilepsy, sciatica...the list went on and on. One of Palmer's early patients was Rev. Samual Weed, a scholar who took the Greek word for "hand", cheir, and "done by", praktos, and put them together as chiropractic, meaning, literally, "done by the hand."

Palmer began to research and refine the art, science, and philosophy of this new healing system. He is known as the "Discoverer" of Chiropractic. Within 3 years, the Palmer School of Chiropractic was started, and in its first class of 12 students, 6 were practicing medical doctors. However, the most important student in that first class was D.D.'s son, Bartlett Joshua Palmer. B.J. took over the school shortly after his graduation.

B.J. is often referred to as "the Developer" of Chiropractic, for his role in developing new techniques and for introducing the newly discovered X-rays for chiropractic diagnosis of the Subluxation. Given the modern perception that chiropractic is an effective treatment only for back or neck pain, it is significant that the first adjustment did not address pain of any kind. Chiropractic was founded as a health care system that has an impact on the entire body, and that foundation has allowed chiropractic to grow into the second largest health care system in this country that has over 50,000 practicing chiropractors adjusting over 5 million different people each year. Please remember that everyone needs to be free from subluxations so visiting local chiropractor may be the most important thing you can do!

What is Wellness Care Versus Medical care?

2010-09-28T09:22:00.001-07:00

What’s the main difference between wellness care and standard medical care? Wellness care seeks to turn on the natural healing ability, not by adding something to the system, but by removing anything that might interfere with normal function, trusting that the body would know what to do if nothing were interfering with it. Standard medical care, on the other hand, seeks to treat a symptom by adding something from the outside – a medication, a surgery or procedure.

Creating Healthy Space at Home

2010-09-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

There is nothing that says "home sweet home" quite as much as making your house a place that fosters great health. I believe that your motivation starts within the walls of your casa. After all, you have complete (or at least a good amount) of control as to what comes into your house and happens here AND this is where you are spending a good chunk of your time.

There is a big difference between a home that's filled with unhealthy habits and one that is dedicated to the best you possible. Here are a few tips to make sure your home is good for your health.

Clear Out a Space for Your Workouts. I don't care if it's a whole spare room or just a special corner in your otherwise cramped apartment. Make sure that you make your workout spot inviting. Invest in a good quality mat, a proper exercise ball and weights. Buy some cheap weights at a discount store. They don't have to be pretty ones. Put your family on notice that your workout spot is off limits to everyone.

Keep the Enemy Out of the House. If you can't resist chocolate, soda, chips or whatever your vice then don't test yourself. It's not called willpower; it's torture! Just make sure that the enemy is not living with you. Don't use the excuse that your kids and husband need to eat these things. What better favor could you do them than to get rid of sugary or processed foods?

Restock With the Good Stuff. Now that you actually have some counter space and fridge shelves that are free make sure you stock up on healthy treats and make them accessible to everyone in your family. Keep fresh berries in a bowl and cut up salad greens ready. If it's easy and convenient, you'll be more likely to make smart choices.

Make Your Bedroom Your Sanctuary. You need 7 to 9 hours of unbroken, quality sleep each night. Get rid of the TVs and computers. Keep your cell phone in the kitchen or out of the bedroom. Buy beautiful linens and comforters for your bed. Kick out the critters (children and pets) and then make sure you keep the room nice and cool for great restorative sleep. Get a Water Filtration System. You need to drink water (not soda or sugary juices), so make sure that your water is as clean and healthy as possible. You can also invest in an alkalizing system so you have ready access to pure water.

De-clutter the closet. Lose the clothes that you are holding onto for when you drop that last 10, 20 or 30 pounds. Guess what, you are in the process of burning that fat off now and as a reward you get NEW HOT INSTYLE TOGS not those ones that are so yesterday (or yesteryear…). AND more importantly, the minute something is too big, either get it tailored to fit your new svelte bod or give it away… never give yourself the option to gain weight!

Make your goals visual. In our Fast Track to Fat Loss Program we teach you to set inspirational goals and then get a photo of your fave celeb body and put your head on it and then post it everywhere to keep reminding you of what you want and where you are going. Carry one with you as well - think of her or him as your “protective armour of inspiration”.

6 Ways to Kick Start Your (Fading) Health Resolutions

2010-09-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

There is a common bug that many people pick up. I call it "I Can't Do It-itis." It's that feeling that you've tried to eat healthy, tried to workout and tried to get your body in shape. Now, you think, "I can't do it." Stop and don't let this bug get into your system.

Here are a few ways or "booster shots" to jump start your plan and see real progress. There is nothing more motivating than the number on the scale going down or that special skirt or skinny jeans actually fitting you. Here's a few ways to get there.

1. Eat a big breakfast. Research shows dieters who get up to half their calories at breakfast lose more weight than those who spread those same cals throughout the day. Go for 400-600 cals at breakfast – and be sure to eat within an hour of waking up.

2. Start your day with a meal replacement shake. People who replace a meal with a shake lose more weight and KEEP it off, plus it is EASY & FAST and you can throw in some great nutrition into it as well.

3. Do a dairy free/gluten free trial. I'm finding that roughly 50 percent of my clients are dairy sensitive and 30 percent are gluten sensitive which causes gas and bloating, cravings and make them hold onto “false fat”. Test yourself by yanking these from your diet completely for 30 days.

4. Avoid the high fructose corn syrup. This is the worst of the sugars out there. It can cause leptin and insulin resistance which means it makes you hungrier AND a better fat storer. IF you eat it after exercise it can block fat burning. Don’t be fooled by fructose – save it for your fruit and Emergen-C packets!

5. Make friends with fat. Coconut milk and oil can help you burn more fat AND crush your hunger by raising the neuropeptide CCK that signals your brain that you are full.

6. Limit your fluid intake at meals to 4-8 ounces total to avoid making a STEW of your stomach acid which can impair protein digestion.

Allergies

2010-09-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

Allergies are often treated with chiropractic care. Many allergic and asthmatic reactions are caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system and/or respiratory system. Researchers have found that the immune and respiratory systems depend on normal communication from the brain and spinal cord to control and coordinate their functions properly.

Therefore, if your neck is misaligned, it could cause an imbalance in your nervous system function. This upper cervical spinal joint irritation could possibly produce or exaggerate asthmatic and allergic symptoms. For example; many asthma and allergy sufferers experienced traumas such as head injuries, auto accidents, or falls which could have injured their upper cervical spines. The good news is that we can perform an upper cervical examination to determine if chiropractic care can reduce your allergic and asthmatic reactions. Schedule an appointment today!

Ways to Save Money While Eating and Drinking Healthy

2010-09-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

Since my mission is to empower the world to be proactive about their health by consistently implementing simple action steps, I realized that I needed to make sure that I removed as many “excuses” as possible. I realize that the two reasons I hear most often as to why people don’t take better care of themselves are time and money. Now, I do agree, when we tell you to switch to organic and buy wild fish and high quality grass fed beef it can definitely cost more. So here are some cost-cutting techniques to compensate for that increased and necessary expense.

1. Spin your salad.
Okay, so I broke down and bought a salad spinner (they have very cool ones at Target) because I realized that I was spending a small fortune on bagged lettuce that I still had to wash (yep, you do remember that e. coli scare, right?), so I really wasn’t saving any time and it was definitely costing more money. Actually, Leanne Ely and I were recording our Ultimate Meal Planning Guide and she was talking about which kitchen tools you must have and she went on a tear about salad spinners and I didn’t want to admit that I didn’t have one!

2. Go to your local farmer’s market.
Go to your local farmer’s market and get to know your local growers. Many growers use organic growing principles but don’t have the $$$ to spend to get the organic “label”. This is also great because it ensures that you are buying local and seasonal which means fresher, more nutritious food.

3. Pack your own.
I carry a safe drinking bottle with me to fill out with filtered water on my travels – no more $4 plastic water bottles at the airport for me. Plus, I always keep PaleoBars with me so I have emergency food. The last time I forgot I ended up having to spend $9.50 for a small bag of turkey jerky at the airport. I also travel with nuts, apples and jerky so I don’t get caught empty handed and have to choose some high cost, low nutrition option that will hurt my body and my bank account.

4. Go simple.
Okay, I admit that I do have a daily Starbucks habit, but I have an Americano (half decaf/half caf) which is far less than those gourmet coffee drinks. Plus I usually end up working there for an hour or so, so I justify it as paying office rent . If you are having one (or more…) of those $4 gourmet coffee drinks daily, switch over to green tea, an Americano or coffee and look at how much money you save over the month.

5. Stock up.
When your local grocer is having a sale on grass fed beef, free range chicken, organic olive oil, etc, stock up! And the same goes for those coupons. I always laughed at them but the ones they hand me at the store are usually for things that I am already buying so I now carry them in my wallet. BTW, in the spirit of saving money, I have decided that we are going to have a 24-hour “Buy 3, Get One Free” Stock Up Sale on our shakes, bars and supplements soon, so stay tuned for that.

6. Brew your own.
Have you checked out how much they charge for organic iced green tea in plastic bottles (so you are paying for toxic phthalates from the plastic too) at the store? Our local grocery sells it for $5 per quart of brewed tea whereas I can make a gallon for $5 worth of organic tea bags. My favorite green tea of all is Japanese Cherry from Coffee Bean -- it makes amazing iced green tea.
You’ll be amazed at how much you can actually save each month by following these simple tips (easily $100 to $200 each month). Finally, there are the items that you want to spend all that saved money on: high quality cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, wild fish and grass fed beef.

Children & Ear Infections

2010-08-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Almost half of all children will suffer from at least one middle ear infection (otitis media) before they're a year old, and two-thirds of them will have had at least one episode by age three. The symptoms of otitis media include ear pain, fever, and irritability. If you look into the ear of a child who has otitis media, you will be able to see a buildup of fluid behind the ear drum, and the inside of the ear will appear inflamed.

Otitis media is caused by either a bacterial or viral infection and frequently results from another illness such as a cold. For many children, it can become a chronic problem, requiring treatment year after year, and putting the child at risk of permanent hearing damage and associated speech and developmental problems.

Otitis media commonly emerges when there is improper drainage of the lymph system in the neck, or when the muscle that is supposed to keep bacteria or viruses from entering the Eustacean tubes (the tubes in the back of the throat that lead to the inner ear) doesn’t work correctly.

While both of these things can happen in adults, it usually does not result in an ear infection for two reasons: First, the shape and the length of the eustacean tubes are different in adults, allowing easier drainage and making it more difficult for a bacteria to invade. Second, adults tend to spend more time upright than young children do, which also encourages better drainage and decreases risk of infection. In either case, the underlying root cause of otitis media is usually a mechanical problem.

There is either a reduced or blocked drainage of the lymph vessels in the neck lymphatic chains that causes a buildup of fluid in the inner ear, or a loss of normal function of the small muscle at the opening of the eustacean tube in the throat that allows bacteria and viruses from the mouth to enter the inner ear. Instead of treatment that tries to kill the bacteria or virus, a more natural approach would be to restore normal drainage of the ears and neck lymphatics.

This is most effectively done through chiropractic. Unfortunately, the current treatment of choice for medical doctors is to prescribe oral antibiotics, usually amoxicillin, which can be helpful to get rid of a bacterial infection. But, according to many research studies, antibiotics are often not much more effective than the body's own immune system. And repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria.

Most people have heard about the common practice of placing ‘tubes in the ears’ to relieve the pressure, and therefore pain, of otitis media. During this surgical procedure, a small opening is made in the eardrum and a small tube is placed in the opening. This opening helps to relieve the pressure in the ear and prevents fluid buildup. After a couple of months, the body pushes the tube out and the hole closes. Although the treatment is often effective, it does not address the underlying cause of the infection, which is the abnormal mechanical functioning of the lymphatics, muscles and nerves.

If your child experiences recurrent ear infections, it is important that you talk to your chiropractor. Doctors of chiropractic are licensed and trained to diagnose and treat patients of all ages and will use a gentler type of treatment for children. By helping to restore the normal function of the tissues of the neck, otitis media can usually be significantly reduced or completely eliminated in most children, without the use of antibiotics and surgery.

5 Stupid Things Healthy People Do

2010-08-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

-JJ Virgin, PhD, CNS/Celebrity Wellness Expert

In my work on the Dr. Phil Show, the entire crew utilizes Chiropractic care. We have directly seen its positive effects on our own health and well being. But more so, we have keenly observed those guests on the show in our "Biggest Loser" segments that do not use Chiropractic care. The difference in overall health is markedly different.

It is my sincerest suggestion to you that the greatest gift you can give yourself, and those of whom you love, as well as those that love you, is the gift of health and well being. Your Chiropractor is an expert in these areas. Please ask for suggestions to make your life and the life of your loved ones the very best it can be.

5 Stupid Things Healthy People Do

You are not a stupid person. Not by any means. In fact, it's my guess that you're healthier than most. You probably exercise regularly. You watch what you eat. You keep up-to-date on the latest health concerns. You don't binge on sugar. And you never - ever - eat fast food. Well, almost never. But you do have a few unhealthy skeletons in your closet -ones that you probably aren't even aware of. The following 5 Stupid Things are frequently committed by health conscious people. Once you break these bad habits, you'll find that achieving your weight loss goals just became a whole lot easier.

1. You're Dehydrated
It has been said that 75 percent of the population is chronically dehydrated. Would you disagree? When was the last time that you actually drank 8 glasses of water in a day? Dehydration occurs when more fluid leaves your body than is taken in. Symptoms include: fatigue, irritability, headaches, nausea, rapid heart rate, and, in extreme cases, even death. Dehydration also slows your metabolism, which hinders weight loss. You shouldn't wait until the feeling of thirst or dry mouth hits you, at that point damage has already been done. Instead, constantly rehydrate throughout your day to avoid dehydration.
The best way to do this is to incorporate water into your daily schedule. Have a water bottle at your desk and train yourself to sip on it often, and get into the habit of drinking a full glass of water with each meal and snack.

2. You Eat Out Too Often
Research suggests that most people eat out one out of every 4 meals and snacks. That's an average of once a day. Restaurant food is designed to do one thing: to taste good. In order to increase eating pleasure, each item is loaded with fat, salt and sugar. This causes you to eat way more calories than you actually need. Even when you order ‘healthy' items, you're still taking in more calories and fat grams than you would if you had prepared the item at home. Imagine the last salad you ordered out. Didn't it come with cream dressing, croutons, cheese sprinkles and a piece of butter laden bread on the side?
The main reason people eat out is for convenience, so with a little organization you'll find that preparing your own meals takes less time than you thought it would. On the weekend sit down and plan out your meals for the week. Then go to the grocery store and stock up on everything you'll need for those meals.
Pack your lunch and snacks each night before bed, then grab it on your way out the door in the morning. When you prepare dinner at home, make enough for at least the next day as well. Your efforts will pay off both in terms of weight loss and in money saved.

3. You're Sleep Deprived
In Gallup Poll surveys, 56% of the adult population reported that drowsiness is a problem in the daytime. That's more than half of us that clearly don't get enough sleep. Healthy adults require 7-8 hours of sleep each night. When you fail to meet this need your body goes into sleep debt, which continues to accumulate indefinitely until you catch up.
A lack of sleep negatively affects your immune system, your nervous system, and interferes with healthy hormone release and cellular repairs. The best way to combat sleep deprivation is to set a scheduled bedtime. Your body will benefit from a consistent sleeping and waking routine, and you're sure to get all the rest you need.
If you have trouble falling asleep once you're in bed, then try these two tips. First, make sure that you don't drink any caffeinated beverages after lunchtime. Second, don't eat for three hours before you go to bed. This helps eliminate sleeplessness due to indigestion, and will also turbo-charge your weight loss.

4. You're Stressed Out
I don't have to tell you that we are living in a fast-paced world and that most of us have stress levels that are through the roof. But what you might not realize is that your stress levels are making you fat. Stress creates an increase in the hormone cortisol, and chronic stress creates a chronic increase in cortisol. This is a problem because is slows your metabolism, leads to cravings and is linked to greater levels of abdominal fat storage.
The vicious cycle of stress and weight gain goes around and around. Stress causes you to eat emotionally, and your raised cortisol levels cause that food to be stored as fat. One of the most effective ways to instantly eliminate stress is to sit down and write out a list of all the things that are bothering you. This should include things that you need to get done, issues that weigh on your mind and anything you believe contributes to your stress level. Once it's all down on paper, organize it like a to-do list and start resolving each item. Doing so will get the stress off of your mind and will put your body into the motion of resolving each issue.

5. You're on Exercise Autopilot
You do the same thing each and every time you exercise. Same machines, same pace, same duration. While your routine sure feels comfortable, your results have long since halted. A plateau occurs when your body adapts to your routine and weight loss stops. It is incredibly frustrating, and totally avoidable. You don't have to increase the amount of time that you spend exercising in order to see quicker, faster results. It's all about challenging your body. There are two simple ways to instantly increase the effectiveness of your exercise routine. First, increase your pace. Secondly, increase your intensity. Constantly vary your speed and intensity in order to keep your muscles guessing and adapting. Another way to break through the exercise plateau is to do something totally new. If you regularly use weight machines then start using free weights. If you normally jog on the treadmill then start using the bike.

The Chiropractic Approach

2010-08-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

What truly differentiates doctors of chiropractic from any other healthcare professionals is the fact that chiropractors are the only professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat what are called spinal subluxations. The word “subluxation” comes from the Latin words meaning “somewhat or slight" (sub) and “to dislocate” (luxate). So the term ‘vertebral subluxation’ literally means a slight dislocation or misalignment of the bones in the spine.

When a subluxation occurs, a chiropractor can correct the misaligned bone and allow it to return to its proper position. This procedure is appropriately called an adjustment, and the adjustment enables the body to heal. The chiropractic adjustment is a quick thrust applied to a vertebra for the purpose of correcting its position, movement or both. Adjustments are often accompanied by an audible release of gas that sounds like a “crack.”

The sound sometimes shocks people a little bit the first couple times they get adjusted, but the sensation is usually relieving. Occasionally, minor discomfort is experienced, especially if the surrounding muscles are in spasm or the patient tenses up during the chiropractic procedure. There are times when the audible “cracking” does not occur. This is often due to either significant muscle tightness or that the patient may be having a hard time relaxing during their adjustments.

However, the chiropractic adjustment is still important. The leak is fixed. The wiring is fixed. Information is flowing again. To keep the wiring fixed, several adjustments over a course of time may be necessary, in addition to massage, physical therapy, stretching exercises, or strengthening exercises. In the chiropractic world, keeping the problem fixed and preventing its reoccurrence is just as important as the initial remedy.

What is Chiropractic?

2010-08-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

What is Chiropractic?

What truly differentiates doctors of chiropractic from any other healthcare professionals is the fact that chiropractors are the only professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat what are called spinal subluxations. The word “subluxation” comes from the Latin words meaning “somewhat or slight" (sub) and “to dislocate” (luxate). So the term ‘vertebral subluxation’ literally means a slight dislocation or misalignment of the bones in the spine.

When a subluxation occurs, a chiropractor can correct the misaligned bone and allow it to return to its proper position. This procedure is appropriately called an adjustment, and the adjustment enables the body to heal. The chiropractic adjustment is a quick thrust applied to a vertebra for the purpose of correcting its position, movement or both. Adjustments are often accompanied by an audible release of gas that sounds like a “crack.” The sound sometimes shocks people a little bit the first couple times they get adjusted, but the sensation is usually relieving.

The chiropractic adjustment is important. The leak is fixed. The wiring is fixed. Information is flowing again. To keep the wiring fixed, several adjustments over a course of time may be necessary. In the chiropractic world, keeping the problem fixed and preventing its reoccurrence is just as important as the initial correction.

H1N1

2010-07-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

H1N1 a Scam?

A stunning new report reveals that top scientists who convinced the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare H1N1 a global pandemic held close financial ties to the drug companies that profited from the sale of those vaccines. This report, published in the British Medical Journal, exposes the hidden ties that drove WHO to declare a pandemic, resulting in billions of dollars in profits for vaccine manufacturers.

Several key advisors who urged WHO to declare a pandemic received direct financial compensation from the very same vaccine manufacturers who received a windfall of profits from the pandemic announcement. During all this, WHO refused to disclose any conflicts of interests between its top advisors and the drug companies who would financially benefit from its decisions.
All the kickbacks, in other words, were swept under the table and kept silent, and WHO somehow didn't think it was important to let the world know that it was receiving policy advice from individuals who stood to make millions of dollars when a pandemic was declared.
Here's a summary of how the WHO vaccine scam worked:

Step 1) Exaggerate the risk: WHO hypes up the pandemic risk by declaring a phase 6 pandemic even when the mortality rate of the virus was so low that it could be halted with simple vitamin D supplements.

Step 2) Urge countries to stockpile: WHO urged nations around the world to stockpile H1N1 vaccines, calling it a "public health emergency."

Step 3) Collect the cash: Countries spend billions of dollars buying and stockpiling H1N1 vaccines while Big Pharma pockets the cash.

Step 4) Get your kickbacks: WHO advisors, meanwhile, collected their kickbacks from the vaccine manufacturers. Those kickbacks were intentionally kept secret.

Step 5) Keep people afraid: In order to keep demand for the vaccines as high as possible, WHO continued to flame the fears by warning that H1N1 was extremely dangerous and everybody should continue to get vaccinated. (The CDC echoed the same message in the USA.)

This is how WHO pulled off one of the greatest vaccine pandemic scams in the last century, and it worked like gangbusters. WHO advisors walked away with loads of cash, the drug companies stockpiled huge profits, and the taxpayers of nations around the world were left saddled with useless vaccines rotting on the shelves that will soon have to be destroyed (at additional taxpayer cost, no doubt) or dumped down the drain (where they will contaminate the waterways). Meanwhile, nobody dared tell the public the truth about vitamin D, thereby ensuring that the next pandemic will give them another opportunity to repeat the exact same scam (for yet more profit).

2010-07-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

Bombay Chicken

2010-07-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

Bombay Chicken/Serves 4

4 (6-oz.) boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons olive oil oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons minced fresh gingerroot
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon curry powder, or to taste
1 cup diced fresh peaches
1/2 cup gluten free chicken broth
1/4 cup white wine
1/3 cup coconut milk
2 teaspoons arrowroot starch

Heat the oil in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat; add chicken and cook for 3 minutes per side or until golden; remove from skillet and set aside. To the same skillet, add onion and cook for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Return chicken to skillet. Add broth, salt, chili powder, cayenne pepper, curry powder, peaches and wine; stir to combine. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until chicken is fork-tender. In a cup, combine coconut milk and arrowroot starch; gradually add to skillet; bring to a boil and cook until thickened.

SERVING SUGGESTION: Serve chicken on a bed of brown rice (1/2 cup serving size), a serving of steamed broccoli and a spinach salad with avocado on the side.

What is a Spinal Subluxation?

2010-06-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

What is a Spinal Subluxation?

There are actually five components that contribute to the Vertebral Subluxation complex (VSC).
Bone Component-where the vertebra is either out of position, not moving properly, or are undergoing degeneration. This frequently leads to a narrowing of the spaces between the bones through which the nerves pass; often resulting in irritation or impingement of the nerve itself.

Nervous Component-is the disruption of the normal flow of energy along the nerve fibers, causing the messages traveling along the nerves to become distorted. The result is that all of the tissues that are fed by those nerves receive distorted signals from the brain and, consequently, are not able to function normally. Over time, this can lead to a whole host of conditions, such as peptic ulcers, constipation and other organ system dysfunction.

Muscular Component-since nerves control the muscles that help hold the vertebrae in place, muscles have to be considered to be an integral part of the vertebral subluxation complex. In fact, muscles both affect, and are affected by the VSC. A subluxation can irritate a nerve, the irritated nerve can cause a muscle to spasm, the spasmed muscle pulls the attached vertebrae further out of place, which then further irritates the nerve and you have a vicious cycle. It is no wonder that very few subluxations just go away by themselves.

Soft Tissue Component-the VSC will also affect the surrounding tendons, ligaments, blood supply, and other tissues as the misaligned vertebrae tug and squeeze the connective tissue with tremendous force. Over time, the soft tissues can become stretched out or scarred, leaving the spine with either a permanent instability or restriction.

Chemical Component-is the change in the chemistry of the body due to the VSC. Most often, the chemical changes, such as the release of a class of chemicals called “kinins,” are pro-inflammatory; meaning that they increase inflammation in the affected area.

These changes get progressively worse over time if they are not treated correctly, leading to chronic pain, inflammation, arthritis, muscle trigger points, the formation of bone spurs, loss of movement, as well as muscle weakness and spasm. Chiropractors have known the dangers of the vertebral subluxation complex ever since the birth of the profession.

More and more scientific research is demonstrating the tremendous detrimental impact that subluxation have on the tissue of the body. In order to be truly healthy, it is vital that your nervous system be functioning free of interference from subluxations. Chiropractors are the only health professionals trained in the detection, location, and correction of the vertebral subluxation complex through chiropractic care.

June's New Patient Special

2010-06-15T08:40:00.000-07:00