The health scourge of our time has always been cancer. Health care professionals and members of the public, alike, debate whether or not there will ever be a cure. Therefore, it goes without saying that it would be best to avoid cancer altogether. Cancer treatments have advanced with time and have saved many lives, but cancer treatments are extremely rough to undergo and are harsh on the body. In many instances, the breakdown of the body’s overall health goes hand in hand with the treatment. If a person has a choice between 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 are, and what you can do to reduce your risk. The report’s most interesting finding 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. Being over weight leads to heart disease, diabetes and stroke. It is also a major contributing cause of cancer. (Spoiler Alert: The primary health care crisis in our country isn’t about a lack of insurance coverage, lack of medical funding or the cost of prescription drugs. It is truly about being over weight!) The report also gives a list of recommendations of how to avoid cancer. The most important recommendations were to be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight for your height, and to exercise on a regular basis. To combat cancer with the best overall health possible, physical activity must be a part of your 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. Decrease consumption of salt. Avoid moldy grains or legumes. In addition, recen t research has recently found a strong link between immune system function and cancer. The stronger the immune system, the less the chance that cancer cells will proliferate. Keep your immune system strong by eating right, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, exercising and improving spinal nerve flow. As you can see, the list of recommendations makes sense. It may take a big effort to stick to the list, but it will be well worth it. Just ask someone who has gone through chemotherapy.
I recommend the concept of directed healing for muscle tissue that has chronic pain. Chronic mean pain and discomfort that has been present for months or even years. As opposed to an acute injury (fresh injury) of the muscle tissue.
The omega-3 fatty acid EPA is the direct precursor for the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins E1 and E3, whereas DHA is of primary importance for the structural integrity of neuronal membranes. DHA is essential for brain and visual development and is vital throughout pregnancy to support fetal brain growth and formation of the retina and visual cortex. As the most abundant fatty acid in the brain, adequate amounts of DHA are needed throughout infancy and adulthood for ongoing optimal function. Low levels of DHA may adversely influence behavior and mental performance, and have been correlated with changes in disposition, memory loss, and visual and other neurological conditions.
Studies have shown that DHA, along with EPA may play an important role in cardiovascular health. One landmark study, the GISSI-Prevenzione Trial, involved over 11,000 people who had already survived myocardial infarction. This was the first large scale trial that showed supplementation of essential fatty acids significantly lowered the risk of death, and that use of this supplement was safe. The exact reasons for such dramatic benefits with respect to heart disease remains unknown, but may be related in part to the ability of fish oil to support healthy inflammatory processes. Some researchers believe that the body’s inflammatory response to certain factors, along with a fatty diet, can increase the amount of plaque in the arteries, leading to atherosclerosis. Studies indicate that EPA and DHA can act as precursors for the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins E1 and E3, and decrease the formation of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane A2. Scientists have also suggested that omega-3 fatty acids can have a direct cardiac effect on arrhythmogenesis. Omega- 3 fatty acids may be able to modify sodium channels by binding to the channel proteins. This could then help support healthy heart rhythms.
There are many times that I find myself stooping down low to pick something up off the ground and lifting it to at least waist high. It might be a 50 pound bag of dog food or lifting a lawn mower into the back of a truck. In other word this motion of bend down low and give it a heave happens to just about everyone and that’s when doing straight leg dead-Lifts comes in handy. I also think of this exercise when people are having discomfort in the lower part of the spine. The effort put forth by doing this lift really pays of if you have a job where you stand slightly bent forward at an angle like a massage therapist or a auto mechanic.
I enjoy the modified Up Dog Down Dog because it is very good for the spine. Specifically, the lower back and sacral area. This exercise becomes a rhythmic traction type of movement for the lower part of the spine which helps increase flexibility and reduces pain. When people have a great deal of pain and have a hard time finding a comfortable position the down dog portion of the stretch can provide that comfort. In fact, if this is a position that feels good to you I would recommend staying in the down dog for 5 to 10 minutes while taking large slow breaths. I think of the up dog portion of the stretch when people have discomfort in the upper mid back. Its a great way to undo hours of sitting at the computer or in the car.
Sinus infections and inefficient digestion are related: Poor sinus function may result from a diet with little nutritional value, high sugar, and high yeast; or lowered immunities through prolonged or misdiagnosed use of antibiotics for previous illnesses. Antibiotics kill good bacteria along with the bad which inhibits both digestion and mucus functions. Good “gut” health is the key to healthy elimination. Probiotics are needed to re-populate the intestines for proper digestion.
The sinus mucus membranes need healthy, thin mucus to clear nasal passages of unwanted elements. Poor digestion may inhibit the body’s mucus membranes – including the bronchial tubes, and many bronchitis victims will tell you it started with a sinus infection. Probiotics leave less opportunity for bacteria and yeast fungus to cling to membrane walls. This can even help prevent ear infections which may accompany sinus or bronchial problems.
People are often told to eat “yogurt with active yeast cultures” during or after antibiotics (all other sources of sugar and yeast should be avoided because they thicken the mucus). But diet is not enough. Probiotics must be introduced to restore the body’s bacterial balance. You have probably heard words like “lactobacillus” and “acidophilus”. These are part of that balance.
Ultra Bifidus® DFNon-Dairy Bifidobacteria for Infants, Children, and Adults
I have lived long enough to have had many failures. There are time that failure is disappointing and hurtful. Its at this time I remind myself that the most successful people typically have failed the most. It’s what’s done with the failure that is important. Taking each failure and finding the learning lessons within. Dr Cory Koch
“There is no doubt in my mind that there are many ways to be a winner, but there is really only one way to be a loser and that is to fail and not look beyond the failure – Kyle Rote Jr.
I recommend reading the book Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell
I can say I do not enjoy doing full squats but certainly enjoy the benefits. In a short period of time the squats work the whole body. The muscles and flexibility gained by doing this exercise are very useful on a day basis. As you get good at doing squats life’s motions become easier. If you are interested in loosing weight squats can get you off that weight loss plateau. Doing squats will help you develop the large muscles of the lower back, buttocks, and legs. These are the largest muscles of the body which means they burn the most fuel. When the muscles are working hard and burning fuel they will seek the energy stored in fat which has the effect of you losing weight. If you have chronic pain in the lower spine especially in the sacral area the squats can help provide relief. I have a love / hate relationship with the full squats. Love what they do for me but I hate to do them. This video demonstrates the basic squats for the beginner.
The upright row exercise is an exercise I think of when people need to develop strength in their hands, forearms, and elbows. This is an exercise that can be used to solve chronic pain in these same body parts. Choose a weight that will be heavy enough to fatigue the muscle group in about 10 to 15 repetitions. Hold the weight at your waist level. Pull the weights up to the level of your clavicles right below your chin. Slowly allow the weights to return to your waist level. Do four to five sets of the upright rows two to three times per week. Click the link to watch me demonstrate.
