blog.kansasdc.com

Mental Attitude: Berry Good News.
Men who regularly consume foods rich in flavonoids (such as berries, apples, certain vegetables, tea and red wine) may significantly reduce their risk for developing Parkinson’s disease. Flavonoids are naturally occurring, bioactive compounds present in many plant-based foods and drinks.
Neurology, April 2012

Health Alert: Stressed?
The risk for coronary heart disease and stroke increases by 30% in a person whose partner has cancer. The cause is probably the negative stress to which the cancer patient’s partner is exposed. Previous studies show that stress can affect the nervous system, blood pressure, and inflammation, increasing the risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke.
Centre for Primary Healthcare Research in Malmö, April 2012

Diet: Pain Relief.
The supplement Methylsulfonylmethane gave osteoarthritis patients relief from symptoms of pain and physical dysfunction.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 2008

Exercise: Being Fit.
Improving or maintaining physical fitness appears to help obese and overweight children reach a healthy weight. During a four-year study, obese and overweight girls and boys who achieved fitness were 2.5 to 5 times more likely to reach a healthy weight than those who stayed underfit.
Obesity, April 2012
Examples of exercises for strengthening and stretching.

Chiropractic: Slowing Degeneration?
Morphologic changes in the endplate that occur with advancing age or degeneration can interfere with normal disk nutrition and further the spinal degenerative process. Degeneration decreases the ability of the spine to move through a full range of motion, which alters the integrity of the proteoglycans and water concentration, reducing the number of viable cells with decreased movement of solutes in and out of the disk. Say What? Basically, degeneration of the spinal bones (arthritis) interferes with the nutrition to the disc, which causes the disc to degenerate as well. So, keep the friction of the spine with periodic adjustments.
Pain, 2004

Wellness/Prevention: Unhealthy Snacks, Sodas and Watching TV.
In a study of obesity among European children, Dr. Yannis Manios, Assistant Professor at Harokopio University in Athens, writes, “We found that many countries are lacking clear guidelines on healthy eating and active play. However, there is good evidence linking sedentary behavior (like TV watching) with subsequent obesity. Therefore, TV-watching in kindergartens should be replaced by more active, non-competitive, fun activities which will promote the participation of the whole class and help children to achieve optimal growth, health and well-being. Similarly at home, TVs in the bedroom and unhealthy snacks in the kitchen cupboard are a bad idea. Parents should also remember that their role is not only to provide healthy food and drink options but to act as a role model themselves, since kids are copying their behaviors.”
Obesity Reviews, March 2012

Lately, I have had lots of patients complaining about side effects of cholesterol medication.  Some of these effects include muscle pain, tenderness and weakness, widespread swelling and inflammation, skin rashes, stomach pain, constipation, fatigue, unusual bleeding, bruising and many other symptoms.  25 years ago, the magic number for overall cholesterol levels was 300.  Now the level is 200 or lower.  Millions of people are taking cholesterol drugs and they are also being prescribed to children whose levels are not in the 200 or lower range.

I think it is about time to dispel a few myths.  First, the facts.  Cholesterol is neither good or bad.  It is what it is.  Cholesterol is a soft waxy substance that is found in every cell in the body.  It’s main function is to manufacture cell tissue linings, hormones, vitamin D and bile acids that help the body digest fat.  Cholesterol is essential for neurological function and even serves a purpose in the formation of memories.

HDL cholesterol is the High Density Lipoprotein that keeps cholesterol from building up in your arteries.  LDL cholesterol is the Low Density Lipoprotein that can build up in the arteries and cause heart disease.  In addition to HDL and LDL, triglycerides and lipoprotein {a} levels are factored in the total overall cholesterol number.

Triglycerides are the dangerous fats that contribute to heart disease and lipoprotein {a} is a combination of LDL with another protein molecule.  High levels of lipoprotein {a} is considered one of the strongest risk factors for heart disease, yet most doctors rarely check your body’s blood levels for this serum level.  The total, overall cholesterol number is not a good indicator for heart disease.  The American Heart Association recommends that everyone’s total level be below 200, but what they don’t tell you is that unless your cholesterol level is above 330 it is useless for determining your risk for heart disease.

For a more accurate guideline as to your heart disease risk, divide your HDL by your overall cholesterol number.  It should be above 24 percent.  In addition, divide your triglyceride level into your HDL level.  It should be below 2 for less heart disease risk.  The big question, is why do “they” keep lowering the cholesterol level guidelines and who actually are “they?”   Eight out of the nine doctors on the cholesterol guideline panel are making money from the drug companies that manufacture the cholesterol lowering drugs.  Ka-ching!!  To make matters worse, there is absolutely zero evidence that getting your bad cholesterol level (LDL) below 100 will decrease your risk of heart disease.  Yet, the American Heart Association continues to recommend that the LDL number should be below 100.

The key to healthy cholesterol ratios, not total cholesterol levels, lies in diet and exercise.  Make sure you eat plenty of vegetables, less sugar, zero smoking and plenty of healthy fats from olive, fish, and coconut oils.

Safflower oil is a light tasteless, odorless oil that is extracted from the Safflower plant’s seeds. The safflower is thistle plant, probably not unlike the ones that Eeyore cobbled up in the Hundred Acre Wood. One of humanity’s oldest crops, the safflower plant is primarily used for its oil. Safflower oil is a good choice for cooking oil. It stands up to high heat and does not lose its nutrients when used in a frying pan. The nutrients of Safflower oil have been the subject of much recent dietary research and the results are very good. Daily consumption of safflower oil has been shown lower internal body levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation. Safflower oil is high in linoleic acid which is very good for heart health and explains why consuming safflower oil can help lower cholesterol. Safflower oil was also shown to increase insulin sensitivity. An increase of insulin sensitivity is responsible for sugar being converted directly to energy in the blood stream. High insulin sensitivity decreases the chances of acquiring type 2 diabetes. As mentioned above, daily use of safflower oil decreases inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a benchmark for most diseases, including cancer. An important lab test for measuring inflammation in the body, C-reactive protein, was shown to decrease with safflower use. All of this news is great as far as overall health is concerned, but I am sure the following fact will be most interesting to my readers. Safflower oil, when added to the daily diet, was shown to decrease abdominal fat. Women, in one study, who added safflower oil to their diet for a 16 week period were shown to have a reduction in total body fat and a decrease in their body mass index. That being said, it can’t hurt to add safflower oil to your diet, the health benefits alone are worth the effort. Try adding it to your salad dressings or in your sauté pan for good health.

Asparagus is the one of the many vegetables that I associate with spring and summer. Perfect steamed, sautéed and grilled, asparagus is a nutrient dense treat. Asparagus is a stem vegetable. Other than the tiny, flowery tip at the top, asparagus stems are the abundant, edible part of the vegetable. Asparagus has many unique nutritional properties. It’s most valued nutrient is the anti-oxidant, glutathione. Glutathione is an extremely powerful oxidation reducer (prevents damage to the body’s cellular tissue) and has anti-inflammatory properties. Oxidation and inflammation of the body’s cells have been strongly linked to many types of cancers. Therefore, glutathione has strong anti-cancer properties, making asparagus an ideal healthy food to eat.

In addition, asparagus is high in folate, a B-vitamin that helps to prevent heart disease and birth defects. Asparagus also has diuretic properties and eating asparagus can help the body rid itself of excess water and reduce swelling, which can be beneficial to women who suffer from pre-menstrual bloating. Asparagus is also high in the hard to find vitamin K. Vitamin K has a protein component that helps to strengthen bones as well as preventing calcium from building up in the body’s arteries. This can help prevent heart disease and stroke.

Another unique nutrient found in asparagus is inulin. Inulin encourages the growth of the healthy digestive bacteria (probiotics) that are found in our intestines, helping to prevent digestive diseases and boost the body’s immune system. Recently, I was experimenting in the kitchen with asparagus. I cut the stems into small circular pieces, sort of like carrot slices. I sautéed the asparagus rounds in a ceramic frying pan with olive oil and freshly chopped garlic and a touch of ground sea salt. Once the asparagus was soft and tender, I sprinkled a little grated parmesan cheese on top. This was so tasty and delicious- I suggest you give it a try!

Honey is the by-product of bee poop. Not really, but now that I have your attention, bees manufacture honey by mixing the nectar from flowers with bee enzymes (which I guess you could consider bee poop!). Honey is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet and has been used as a food source for over 2500 years. 35% of honey is protein and half of all of the amino acids are contained in honey. High in carbohydrates due to the concentrated sugars, honey is also full of the B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, D and E. Honey is a great energy boost. The B vitamins and the sugar content make a quick pick-me-up.

According to the USDA, honey contains about 64 calories per tablespoon. The carbohydrates in the honey can be easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs. Hence it is very easy to digest. Medicinally, honey has been used to heal wounds. Recent research has found honey to be extremely effective in healing hard to heal wounds such as the kind that occur in people with poor circulation like diabetics and burn patients.

The Waikato Honey Research Unit provides details about the world-wide research that is being carried out on the benefits of honey in medicine. Furthermore, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) reported that doctors at the Christie Hospital in Didsbury, Manchester are planning to use honey for faster recovery of cancer patients after surgery. The best kind of honey to purchase is organic, unfiltered, unprocessed, raw honey. Raw honey looks nothing like regular store bought honey, which makes me question the nutritional and healing capabilities of “normal” jarred honey. One thing to remember is never give honey to an infant 1 year and under. Honey can contain a bacteria that can cause botulism. This only occurs in infants and does not present a risk for adults or bigger kids.

When we think of addiction, the first offenders that pop into our mind are drugs, alcohol and tobacco. If we think on this topic a little further, we can come up with gambling and sex. It is very rare to think of sugar as being the source of a psychological addiction. Well, guess what? It is very easy to become addicted to sugar. Sugar addiction is likely to be blamed for the rapid rise in obesity and heart disease world wide.

Just recently on the television news show 60 Minutes, a California endocrinologist showed, via brain scans, that sugar is as addictive as cocaine. Sugar triggers the release of dopamine, a brain chemical that controls the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. The same chemical that is triggered by addictive activities like recreational drugs, alcohol and gambling. Research shows that the average American eats 1/3 of a pound of sugar each day or the equivalent of 130 pounds per year.

Sugar consumption is linked with heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity. Sadly, it is not sugar we add to our own foods, like table sugar, that is causing the problem. The problem is the unseen, unsuspected sugar that is placed in all of our foods by food manufacturers. This secret amount of sugar is what is causing the sugar count to blow through the roof. Ironically, sugar consumption is down by 40% since the 1970’s. What has increased in record numbers is the use of High Fructose Corn Syrup or just plain Corn Syrup. This sweetener is artificially processed and is multiple times sweeter than ordinary sugar.

Years ago, health experts told us that high fat diets were bad for us. Food manufacturers cut out the fat, but added sugar to make up for the taste. Now, we as a population, are paying for it with our health. According to recent research, when a person eats too much sugary food and drink, the liver converts some of that fructose to fat. This fat can lead to an increase in dangerous LDL cholesterol that can form plaque in the arteries and cause heart disease. That being said, what is the solution? The answer is simple. Cut back on your sugar consumption by reading labels. Look for foods that contain 10% sugar or less. Avoid any food that contains High Fructose Corn Syrup or its new attractive name, Corn Syrup. By cutting back on sugar and eliminating as much of it as possible in your pre-manufactured foods, you can still enjoy the occasional home-made desert or treat without sacrificing your health and your weight!

You have to seriously be thankful for investigative reporters. If it wasn’t for their exposes, we would be left in the dark about a lot of serious topics that affect our lives. In addition to Watergate, Iran Contra and steroids in baseball, we now have the “Pink Slime” scandal. It turns out that 70% of all ground meat has a secret filler amongst the beef. This filler was named pink slime in 2002 by US Food and safety inspector Gerald Zirnstein.

Pink slime is made from low grade beef trimmings that come from connective, spinal, intestinal and rectal tissue of a slaughtered cow. To make matters worse (did you think it could get worse?), the pink slime is heated with very high heat, then spun in a centrifuge to remove the liquid. Once the liquid is removed, the pink slime is treated and sprayed with ammonia to kill food borne germs and bacteria that lead to illness. The ammonia treatment makes the pink slime a legally edible food product. Once the slime has been treated with the ammonia, it is shaped into pink bricks and sent to meat packing plants, supermarkets butcher shops and other places that process the meat into hamburgers or ground meat. The crazy thing is that the pink slime manufacturer, a company called Beef Products Inc., officially calls the slime product, “Lean Finely Textured Beef.” This stuff has been sold as a ground beef additive for years and 900,000 pounds are made on a daily basis.

An investigative report by ABC News in early March has led to consumer outrage and as recently as March 12th, numerous supermarkets have discontinued using this product. Costco, Safeway, Publix and Whole Foods Market will not be purchasing pink slime for their ground meat….anymore. This stuff is so bad, even McDonalds has opted out of using it in their hamburgers. McDonalds!! It’s gotta be bad if McDonalds is shying away. Sadly, the meat by-product is still used in many other supermarkets and beef manufacturers that process frozen burgers. Even in public school systems.

The USDA has recently given public schools a choice between using pink slime meat or unadulterated ground meat. Check with your school system to find out which meat your kids are eating. This issue belabors my usual point of how important it is to know what you are eating each day and how reading labels should be part of the normal shopping regimen. The days of “reach, grab, throw it in the cart” are over. Thankfully we have investigative reporters to break important news to us. The shame of it all is that if companies were more concerned about the quality of food they process and less about profit, the world would be a healthier, happier place.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is an increasingly common diagnosis among school children. ADHD is a behavioral disorder that statistics claim to affect 8-10% of the school age population. Children with ADHD have a difficult time focusing on specific activities, paying attention to details, and tend to act without thinking.

As the name suggests, there is also an issue with hyperactivity. The child tends to be “all over the place” and cannot sit still for any length of time. ADHD tends to affect boys more than girls. The diagnosis of ADHD is not a simple act. There is no medical test and it requires a complete evaluation by medical doctors, psychologists and counselors. At this time, the exact cause of ADHD is not known, but continuing research has linked ADHD symptoms to various biological causes.

Deficiency of essential omega 3 fatty acids has been shown to affect brain function. Omega 3 fats are essential in brain and nerve development. When children’s diets have been supplemented with these fats (fish oil, flax oil), research studies have shown marked improvements in behavior. In some instances, ADHD type symptoms have been related to cranial subluxations. The bones of the head are joined together by sutures. These “joints” are moveable and if they become fixated or stuck due to head trauma, the result has a negative effect on the cerebrospinal system.

Correction of the cranial fixations via cranial / sacral therapy or cranial adjusting has been shown to help children with ADHD and other various learning disorders. It is also well known that certain food additives like artificial colors, dyes, artificial sweeteners and sugar may affect behavior. Eliminating these additives should be the first step in a successful ADHD care plan. A team approach, involving a pediatric chiropractor, nutritionist, behavior counselor and holistic minded pediatrician, may be the best approach to eliminating ADHD from a child’s life.

Irish Health Tip of the Week: One of the most famous foods in Ireland just happens to be a seafood delicacy. The oyster, popular all over the world, is especially fond of in Ireland. The clean, unpolluted waters around Ireland’s 8000 miles of coastline are an exceptional environment for growing and farming oysters. Once oysters are harvested, “baby” oysters are replanted to keep the oyster culture populated. The oyster farmer’s task is to simply accompany the natural growth of oysters by managing the population.

Oysters have a unique taste. Oyster meat is delicate with a succulent texture and a crisp briny flavor. Oysters are considered a culinary delight. In Ireland, oysters are enjoyed with a pint of Guinness and buttered brown bread. The taste of the oyster is enhanced by the dryness and roasted grain flavor of the Irish Stout. Oysters are celebrated throughout Ireland with Oyster Festivals.

I thought this was the Health Tip of the Week? Where are the health benefits of oysters you ask? Well, oysters are indeed a very healthy food to eat. Oysters are low in fat, high in protein and a good source of essential nutrients such as zinc, vitamin E, magnesium and potassium.

Oysters are a low-energy-density food, meaning they have few calories in a large portion. By including more such foods in your diet you can make it easier to lose weight as you will be “filling up” with a low calorie food. A 3-oz. serving of moist-cooked oysters harvested from the eastern United States contains 87 calories. By comparison, a 3-oz. portion of roasted white meat chicken contains 130 calories. In addition, oysters are high in omega-3 fatty acids which, in addition to the other minerals previously mentioned, can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Oh, and did I mention that there are boat loads
of unsubstantiated claims that oysters are an aphrodisiac and enhance sexual prowess? I can’t back that up, but it sounds like it is worth a try! Pour yourself a pint of Guinness and have a few oysters. At the very least, you will be relaxed and a bit healthier.

The health scourge of past and future generations has always been cancer. The source of many debates on whether or not there is or ever will be a definite cure, it goes without saying that it would be best to avoid cancer outright. Cancer treatments, have advanced with time and have saved many lives, but none-the-less, cancer treatment is rough and harsh on the body.  To kill cancer, in many instances, the breakdown of the body goes hand and hand with the treatment. If a person has a choice as to having cancer or avoiding cancer, avoidance trumps the disease every time.

That being said, The American Institute for Cancer Research has released a 517-page report detailing the medical view of what your main risk factors for developing cancer, and what you can do to reduce your risk.

The most interesting finding in the report is that being overweight increases your risk of developing many different types of cancer. Excess body weight has been touted as the number one cause of ill health in the United States. Excess body weight leads to heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Now it is a major cause of cancer. (Spoiler Alert: The health care crisis in our country isn’t about the lack of insurance coverage, lack of medical funding or the cost of prescription drugs, it is truly about being over weight!)

The report also made a list of recommendations on how to avoid cancer. Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight. Be physically active as part of everyday life. Limit consumption of “energy-dense foods,” foods that are high in calories, fat and sugar. Avoid sugary drinks. Eat mostly foods of plant origin, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. Limit intake of red meat and avoid ALL processed meat. Limit alcoholic drinks to one per day for women, two per day for men. Limit consumption of salt. Avoid moldy grains or legumes. Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone, without dietary supplement. As you can see, the list of recommendations makes sense. It may take a big effort to accomplish sticking to the list, but it is worth it. Just ask someone who has gone through chemotherapy.