Dr Beecher’s January 2014 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
“But all endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time.” ~ Mitch Albom
Is There One Supplement You Should Take During the Colder Months?
Find out what recent research says about this supplement and why you might need it to stay as healthy as possible.
Also this month:
- A common nutritional deficiency in athletes and how to correct it: Study shows adding this to your diet can decrease inflammation and pain while also increasing athletic performance.
- Knee arthritis attacking much younger crowd: Knee arthritis and total knee replacement surgery was once thought to be a problem only for those age 55 and older. New research shows much younger people are at risk because of one very preventable issue.
- FDA makes a statement on ingredient in processed foods: Find out what you are probably eating that the FDA said is not “generally recognized as safe” for use in food.
- Concrete proof there are still wonderful people in the world: After reading this story, you must ask yourself, “Am I a good enough person to do this too?”
Houston – Is there one supplement you should take during the colder months? Research shows there is a very good chance the answer to that question is YES, especially if you are an athlete or on a regular workout program. Here is why…
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is essential for good health. The main function of Vitamin D is to regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in our bones and aid in cell-to-cell communication throughout the body. Vitamin D is unique from other essential vitamins because humans can produce it through exposure to sunlight.
If you get enough exposure to sunlight, you will have plenty of Vitamin D so you can probably already see where this article is headed…
The first problem with all this is, due to the fear of skin cancer, even in the summer months, many people do not get adequate sun exposure for their bodies to produce enough Vitamin D.
In winter, it is simply a fact that there is a lot less sunlight. If you live in higher latitudes, chances are you are not going to get enough sun exposure during the colder months to produce sufficient levels of Vitamin D.
In fact, a study recently published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism stated: “A high prevalence of Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency, which may impact on health and training ability, is evident among athletes worldwide.”
The study investigated the Vitamin D status of elite Irish boxers and recorded the effect of Vitamin D supplementation. A group of boxers were supplemented during the winter months with 5,000 IU Vitamin D3 for 10-12 weeks. The result was that this supplementation significantly increased blood levels of Vitamin D and corrected any insufficiencies/ deficiencies in these athletes. Three out of four boxers who did not receive the supplementation were Vitamin D insufficient/ deficient after winter, and 35% were insufficient/ deficient at the beginning of the study (which was before the winter months).
The study’s conclusion: “This study has highlighted a high prevalence of Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency among elite Irish athletes and demonstrated that wintertime Vitamin D3 supplementation is an appropriate regimen to ensure Vitamin D sufficiency in athletes during winter and early spring.”
Another study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (Nov. 2013) tested their own group of elite athletes and found similar results that support the same conclusion.
Here is a quick aside if you are an athlete… A study published in the journal Cytokine (July 2013) found that Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in exercise induced muscle damage and inflammation in rats. Obviously, rats are not humans, and more studies need to be done but having your levels of Vitamin D in the appropriate range is really looking like a great idea.
According to The Endocrine Society’s guidelines published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (July 2011): “Considering that Vitamin D deficiency is very common in all age groups and that few foods contain Vitamin D, the Task Force recommended supplementation at suggested daily intake and tolerable upper limit levels, depending on age and clinical circumstances.”
Because everyone is individual, this newsletter will not give any recommendation as to anyone’s personal Vitamin D needs. The best thing to do is discuss this with a health care provider who is knowledgeable on this subject.
FDA Moving To Ban Popular
Ingredient In “Junk” Food
In a press release dated November 7, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “announced its preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not ‘generally recognized as safe’ for use in food. The FDA’s preliminary determination is based on available scientific evidence and the findings of expert scientific panels.”
It looks like artificial trans fats will be banned, and manufacturers will be forced to reformulate the products that contain them.
Trans fats are made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils. The hydrogenation of oils increases their shelf life, but it is also wonderful at clogging arteries. This was originally done so food would not spoil, but storage conditions have vastly improved and these trans fats are no longer needed.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, reducing trans fat consumption by avoiding artificial trans fats could prevent 10,000 – 20,000 heart attacks and 3,000 – 7,000 coronary heart disease deaths each year in the United States.
It’s been well documented that artificial trans fats can do very bad things to the body and are strongly linked to poor lipid levels and poor cardiovascular outcomes.
Trans fatty acids have similar properties as saturated fats in that they both increase LDL “bad” cholesterol if consumed in excessive quantities. High LDL has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
The Irony
There is quite a bit of irony here. Not too long ago, margarine was considered a healthy alternative to butter. Countless people made the switch thinking they were improving their health. As it turns out, margarine is loaded with artificial trans fats. Most brands contain between 1.5 – 3 grams per serving.
The bottom line is, try to eat as natural as you can. If it is artificial, chances are it is not your best choice.
Don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.
Inspirational Story Of The Month
(Names And Details May Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
Are You A Good Enough Person To Do This?
Here is proof that there are still amazing people in the world. Are you one of them?
Every day, it feels like all the news covers is the dark, horrible side of humanity.
Sure, people do bad things, even evil things. But, there is another side to this story. There’s a clear argument that can be made that many more people are good than bad. For every one bad person in the news (or going viral on the internet) there are hundreds, thousands, or millions who did not do anything wrong. In fact, many, if not most, probably did quite a bit of good.
So, why don’t we hear about all this good? Quite frankly, it’s because bad stuff sells. It sells much more than good news. People love drama. It’s no coincidence Honey Boo Boo, The Kardashians, and The Jersey Shore were/are monstrously successful shows.
That’s why I bet you have probably heard of those shows but have not heard about this…
Rabbi Noah Muroff lives in New Haven, Connecticut and bought a desk off Craig’s List for $200. So far, that’s nothing shocking… but it gets better…
When he got the desk home, he couldn’t get it into his office in one piece. So, Rabbi Noah took the desk apart and pulled out the drawers.
Behind one of the drawers, he found a plastic bag. At first glance, Muroff saw what he thought to be a $100 bill.
When he opened the bag, he discovered there were quite a few $100 bills. In fact, there was $98,000 in cash. That’s ninety-eight THOUSAND dollars in CASH.
WOW! So let me ask you a question… What is the first thing you would do with that money after you stopped jumping around cheering? Pay off some bills? Buy a car? Go on vacation? Give some to charity?
Muroff did none of that. Instead, he did the right thing. He called the person he just bought the desk from and told them what he had found.
As it turned out, the desk’s previous owner had hidden her inheritance money in the desk and had forgotten all about it.
Muroff returned the money. All of it. He is quoted as simply saying, “The most important thing in life is to be honest.”
That’s it. There was no police chase. No drugs or violence. No one yelling and screaming. Just an ethical and moral person choosing to do the right thing and not making a big deal about it or even looking for public approval or praise.
The comments posted on this story were varied. Some praised him and said they would do the same thing. Others said he was a fool and they would have spent the money. Some said it is all just a matter of the amount and that we all have a price. If that was $10 million… or $1 billion… that he would have kept it.
So, the question for you is, what would YOU do? Let’s say it was $10 million and no one else knew. It was your secret. Do ethics and morality really have a price?
Do YOU have a price?
We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and
getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!
Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!
Did You Know?…
7-UP Used to Include Psychiatric Medication?
The lemon-lime flavored soda 7-UP was created by Charles Grigg of the Howdy Corporation in 1929 and first launched two weeks before the 1929 stock market crash. It was originally named “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda” and included lithium citrate in its formula. Lithium citrate is a mood-stabilizing drug that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it is still used today for people with bipolar disorder, among others. Obviously, such a lengthy name wasn’t ideal on the consumer side of things, so the beverage’s name was quickly shortened to “7-UP Lithiated Lemon Soda”, then chopped to just “7-UP” in 1936. The lithium citrate, surprisingly, stuck around in the drink all the way until 1950 when new research showed it had potentially dangerous side effects.
Tip Of The Month
Why Knee Arthritis is Attacking People Under 55 Years Old and
What You Can Do to Possibly Prevent a Total Knee Replacement!
The statistics are staggering. Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. According to research on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, nearly 1 in 2 people may develop symptomatic knee arthritis by age 85. According to data collected from 1999 – 2003, two in three people who are obese may develop symptomatic knee osteoarthritis during their lifetime. Two-thirds of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis are overweight or obese. But that is only the beginning…
New research from the University of Massachusetts Medical School shows an alarming increase in the rate of knee replacements linked to obesity among the young. According to the study: “Contrary to popular myth, it is not the aging Baby Boomer or weekend warrior that is causing the unprecedented increase in knee replacement surgeries. Data gathered by more than 125 orthopedic surgeons from 22 states across the United States show a more mundane culprit: rising rates of obesity among those under the age of 65.” Total joint replacement surgery is not only one of the most expensive procedures in the country, it is one of the most often performed. The study tracked 9,000 people and 55% of the subjects under age 65 were considered obese, as compared to 43% of those subjects over 65 years old.
Here’s something more shocking: More than twice as many of the younger (under 65) participants were morbidly obese. The actual statistics were 5% of participants over 65 and 11% under 65 were morbidly obese. Morbidly obese is considered having a body mass index greater than 40. The under 65 group also had higher rates of smoking and lower mental health scores. Researchers add that the rise in obesity among younger people is “having a dramatic influence on the number of total joint replacement surgeries.” According to the study, “Knee replacement surgeries are already one of the most common procedures in the United States. Approximately 600,000 are performed each year at a cost of $9.9 billion, and the demand is expected to grow to 3.48 million procedures a year by 2030.”
What’s amazing to consider is research has shown a weight loss of as little as 11 pounds (~ 5 kg) reduces the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis in women by 50% and for every one pound (~ .5kg) of weight loss, it removes four pounds (~ 1.8 kg) of joint stress in people with knee arthritis. Experts say that the accumulated reduction in knee load for a pound loss in weight would be more than 4,800 pounds per mile (~2,177 kg/1.6 km) walked. Clearly, one of the best things you can do for, not only your knees but all your weight bearing joints and overall health, is to maintain a healthy weight. Treating knee arthritis while being overweight seems to be a losing battle. Even though technology is better than it has ever been, no one wants a total knee replacement if it can be avoided.
Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal
and maintain the pain free body you deserve.
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know.
Dr Beecher’s January 6 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, January 6th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Good News about Dementia. Several recent studies show that the rate of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is declining due to increased education and improvements in both health care (treatment of key cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol) and lifestyle (regular exercise).
New England Journal of Medicine Perspective, December 2013
Health Alert: Don’t Mix Your Drinks! A growing trend among young adults is mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Research has shown that college students tend to drink more heavily and become more intoxicated on days they consume a combination of energy drinks and alcohol than on days when they only drink alcohol. While the United States no longer permits manufacturers to premix high-caffeine products with alcohol, mixed drinks such as vodka and Red Bulls are becoming more popular. The public health implications include physical risks to individuals from blacking out, alcohol poisoning, and even exposing the community to dangerous situations in which young adults may be “wide awake drunk” after a night of partying. Journal of Adolescent Health, December 2013
Diet: Two-Thirds of 13-Year-Old Girls are Afraid of Gaining Weight! Using data concerning 7,000 teenagers, United Kingdom researchers found that two of every three 13-year-old girls are afraid of gaining weight or being overweight. The researchers also noted that half of the girls surveyed avoid fatty foods and 26% restrict their calories.
University of Bristol, December 2013
Exercise: Boost Your Energy Naturally. Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to devote to daily life activities. Mayo Clinic, November 2013
Chiropractic: Does Knuckle Cracking Cause Arthritis? Previous studies have NOT shown a link between knuckle cracking and hand osteoarthritis. One study even suggested that knuckle cracking helped prevent osteoarthritis. This study showed that 18.1% of those who cracked their knuckles regularly had hand osteoarthritis compared with 21.5% of those who did not crack their knuckles. Journal American Board of Family Medicine, April 2011
Wellness/Prevention: An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away. Experts in the United Kingdom (UK) estimate that if everyone over the age of 50 simply ate one apple each day, this act alone would prevent about 8,500 vascular-related deaths each year. Previous studies estimate that prescribing statins to all adults over 50 years old could prevent a similar amount of vascular-related deaths annually but the mass prescription of statins in the UK could also result in an extra
10,000 diagnoses of diabetes and an extra thousand cases of muscle disease. The study did not note any potential negative effects from mass apple consumption. British Medical Journal, December 2013
Quote: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” ~ Alan Kay
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s December 30 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, December 30th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Blood Test for Concussions. Currently, 15-30% of concussion sufferers will experience significant, persistent cognitive deficits, such as processing speed, working memory, and the ability to switch or balance multiple thoughts. Unfortunately, doctors have no reliable way to asses if a concussion sufferer may fall into that group. Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Baylor College believe they have discovered a blood test that can determine if a concussion sufferer will experience long-term neural complications. By testing blood for elevated levels of a specific protein (STNF), medical professionals can accurately identify if recovery issues will arise and what additional treatment measures should be taken. Frontiers in Neurology, November 2013
Health Alert: Alcohol and Acetaminophen. There were 116,395 new kidney failures, 571,414 people living with kidney failure, and 90,118 deaths from the disease in the United States in 2009. Moderate or light consumption of alcohol taken with acetaminophen may increase the risk of kidney dysfunction. Acetaminophen usage and low to moderate alcohol consumption are not considered as individual risk factors for kidney damage, but together, they increase a person’s risk for kidney damage by
123%. Mayo Clinic, November 2013
Diet: Fruits and Veggies are Good for Your Child’s Bones! A study from the United Kingdom found that fruit and vegetable intake was positively associated with increased total body bone mineral density and bone mineral content in adolescent girls and boys. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 2006
Exercise: It Can Take Time… After the first two months of an exercise program, volunteers who had insomnia reported they were not sleeping any better than they had at the start of the study. It wasn’t until the four month mark that their insomnia improved. They also rarely reported sleeping better on nights when they had exercised and they almost always exercised for a shorter amount of time on the days after a poor night’s sleep. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, November 2013
Chiropractic: Significant Improvement! Fifty patients with neck and arm pain caused by an MRI-confirmed cervical disk herniation received chiropractic adjustments over a 90-day period. After two weeks, 55.3% of patients reported their pain had significantly improved. This number rose to 68.9% after one month and 85.7% after three months of care. No adverse events were reported. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, October 2013
Wellness/Prevention: Pesticides and Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common condition that affects 10% of women during their reproductive years. Symptoms may include painful menstrual periods, pelvic pain, and infertility. Researchers looked to
see if exposure to environmental chemicals with estrogenic properties (like some pesticides) could increase a woman’s risk for developing the disease. They found that women with blood samples showing exposure to two now-banned pesticides (beta-
hexachlorocyclohexane and mirex) have a 30-70% higher risk for developing the condition. Study author Dr. Kristen Upson concludes, “The take-home message from our study is that the persistent environmental chemicals, even those used in the past, may affect the health of the current generation of reproductive-age women with regard to a hormonally driven disease.” Environmental Health Perspectives, November 2013
Quote: “Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.” ~ John F. Kennedy
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s December 23 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, December 23rd, 2013
Mental Attitude: Meditation May Slow Progression of Dementia. A small study of adults with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (which may progress to dementia) divided participants into two groups. One group participated in Mindfulness- Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) using meditation and yoga. The other group served as a control. The MBSR group participated in a day-long retreat, met as a group for two hours a week, and was encouraged to meditate at home for 15-30 minutes per day. After just eight weeks, brain scans of MBSR group participants showed positive improvements related to memory and cognitive function. This may indicate a slowing in dementia progression. Neuroscience Letters, November 2013
Health Alert: Depression Worldwide! When compared to other diseases and injuries, “major depressive disorder” (MDD) ranked as the second leading cause of global disability and 11th leading cause of global burden (quality years lost to disability). PLoS Medicine, November 2013
Diet: Green Tea Slows Prostate Cancer Progression. New research shows that green tea polyphenols may help slow or prevent some types of cancer. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that premalignant prostate lesions were three times less likely to progress to malignant tumors in men who took a 600mg green tea catechins supplement daily for a year (9% vs. 30% in the control group). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2013
Exercise: Combat Health Conditions! No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis, and falls. Mayo Clinic, November 2013
Chiropractic: Herniated vs. Bulging Disks? Disks act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. They’re composed of an outer layer of tough cartilage that surrounds softer cartilage in the center. A bulging disk extends outside the space it should occupy. The bulge typically affects a large portion of the disk, so it may look a little like a hamburger that’s too big for the bun. A herniated disk results when a tear in the outer layer of cartilage allows some of the inner cartilage to protrude out of the disk. The protrusion of inner cartilage in a herniated disk usually happens in one distinct area. Herniated disks are also called ruptured disks or slipped disks. Mayo Clinic, November 2013
Wellness/Prevention: Stressed Mothers and Offspring. Female rats born to mothers who had been through stressful life events prior to pregnancy showed increased expression of the CRF1 gene (a gene that mediates the body’s response to stress) in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain involved in emotional regulation and decision making. When the female offspring were exposed to stress, they behaved differently than female offspring whose mothers were not stressed prior to pregnancy. This finding is a part of a growing body of evidence that a parent’s experiences can affect their offspring, even before conception takes place. Biological Psychiatry, November 2013
Quote: “There is little success where there is little laughter.” ~ Andrew Carnegie
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Can Chiropractic Help the Post-Surgical Patient?
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: Low back pain (LBP) accounts for over 3 million emergency department visits per year in the United States alone. Worldwide, LBP affects approximately 84% of the general population, so eventually almost EVERYONE will have lower back pain that requires treatment! There is evidence dating back to the early Roman and Greek era that indicates back pain was also very prevalent, and that really hasn’t changed. Some feel it’s because we are bipedal (walk on two legs) rather than quadrupedal (walk on four limbs). When comparing the two, degenerative disk disease and spinal osteoarthritis are postponed in the four-legged species by approximately two (equivalent) decades. But regardless of the reason, back pain is “the rule,” NOT the exception when it comes to patient visits to chiropractors and medical doctors. Previously, we looked at the surgical rate of low back pain by comparing patients who initially went to spinal surgeons vs. to chiropractors, and we were amazed! Remember? Approximately 43% of workers who first saw a surgeon had surgery compared to ONLY 1.5% of those who first saw a chiropractor! So, the questions this month are, how successful IS spinal surgery, and what about all those patients who have had surgery but still have problems – can chiropractic still help them?
A review of the literature published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons showed that in most cases of degenerative disk disease (DDD), non-surgical approaches are the most effective treatment choice (that includes chiropractic!). They report the success rate of spinal fusions for DDD has been only 50-60%. The advent of artificial disks, which originally proposed to be a “cure” for symptomatic disk disease, has fared no better with possible worse long-term problems that are not yet fully understood. They state, “Surgery should be the last option, but too often patients think of surgery as a cure-all and are eager to embark on it.” They go on to write, “Also, surgeons should pay close attention to the list of contraindications, and recommend surgery only for those patients who are truly likely to benefit from it.” Another study reported that, when followed for 10 years after artificial disk surgery, a similar 40% of the patients treated failed and had a second surgery within three years after the first! Similar findings are reported for post-surgical spinal stenosis as well as other spinal conditions.
So what about the success rate of chiropractic management for patients who have had low back surgery? In a 2012 article, three patients who had prior lumbar spinal fusions at least two years previous were treated with spinal manipulation (three treatments over three consecutive days) followed by rehabilitation for eight weeks. At the completion of care, all three (100%) had clinical improvement that were still maintained a year later. Another study reported 32 cases of post-surgical low back pain patients undergoing chiropractic care resulted in an average drop in pain from 6.4/10 to 2.3/10 (that means pain was reduced by 4.1 points out of 10 or, 64%). An even larger drop was reported when dividing up those who had a combination of spinal surgeries (diskectomy, fusion, and/or laminectomy) with a pain drop of 5.7 out of 10 points!
Typically, spinal surgery SHOULD be the last resort, but we now know that is not always practiced. IF a patient has had more than one surgery and still has pain, the term “failed back syndrome” is applied and carries many symptoms and disability. Again, to NOT utilize chiropractic post-surgically seems almost as foolish as not utilizing it pre-surgically! GIVE US A CALL!!!
We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care for back pain, we would be honored to render our services. . Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please e-mail them to [email protected]
Dr Beecher’s December 16 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, December 16th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Long-Term Opioid Use and Depression. Recent studies show more than 200 million prescriptions for opioid analgesics were issued in 2009 in the United States. Data on over 50,000 patients reveals that those on opioids for 180 days or longer have a 53% increased risk of developing major depression. Journal of General Internal Medicine, November 2013
Health Alert: Alcohol and TV. According to a voluntary standard adopted in 2003, alcohol companies agreed not to place any ads on TV programs where more than 30% of the audience was younger than age 21. However, a survey of television programs popular with youths shows that 25% of the programs still featured ads selling alcohol. Studies have shown that exposure to alcohol marketing increases the risk that children and young adults (under age 21) will begin drinking, and those who do start drinking will drink more and do so more often. CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 2013
Diet: Cruciferous Vegetables and Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates. Women with the highest fruit and vegetable intakes have better ovarian cancer survival rates than those who generally neglect these foods. Researchers found that yellow and cruciferous vegetables contributed to longer survival. The authors concluded that low-fat, plant based diets are not only beneficial for cancer prevention, but they may also play a role in increasing survival time after diagnosis. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, August 2010
Exercise: Even Elderly Hearts Can Benefit From Exercise. A pilot study involving 310 adults over age 70 found that even men and women in their later years can improve their heart’s health with moderate physical exercise. To assess the effect of exercise on the heart, researchers measured a blood-based injury marker called Troponin T that is traditionally used to assess damage to the heart. After one year, Troponin T levels in the exercise group were less than a third of the levels found in the control group that did not exercise. The study’s lead author, Dr. Christopher DeFilippi adds, “Our findings suggest biochemical evidence to support the old adage, ‘You’re never too old to start a physical activity program to improve cardiac health.'”
American Heart Association, November 2013
Chiropractic: Pain in the Neck? The cervical spine is made up of seven bones called vertebrae, and these vertebrae are separated by disks filled with a cushioning gel-like substance. Your cervical disks stabilize your neck and also help it to turn. Decades of movement can really take a toll on the neck as two-thirds of people will experience neck pain at some point in their lives. Researchers estimate that 50% of the population at 40 years of age and 70% of those at 65 years have some level of cervical disk degeneration. Cervical disk degenerative processes can cause radiating pain, as well as numbness and weakness in your shoulders, arms, and hands. Clinical Evidence Concise, 2004
Wellness/Prevention: Sleep for Children. In a recent study, when children increased their sleep by 90 minutes per night over just a few weeks, they consumed an average of 134 fewer calories per day, weighed a half pound less (~.2 kg), and had lower fasting levels of leptin, a hunger-regulating hormone that is also highly correlated with the amount of adipose (fat) tissue in the body. Pediatrics, November 2013
Quote: “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Low Back Pain – Is it on the Rise?
Clear Lake City Chiropractor: As stated last month, the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) is REALLY high! In fact, it’s the second most common cause of disability among adults in the United States (US) and a very common reason for lost days at work. The total cost of back pain in the US, including treatment and lost productivity, ranges between $100 billion to $200 billion a year! Is low back pain on the rise, staying the same, or lessening? Let’s take a look!
In the past two decades, the use of health care services for chronic LBP (that means LBP > 3 months) has substantially increased. When reviewing studies reporting insurance claims information, researchers note a significant increase in the use of spinal injections, surgery, and narcotic prescriptions. There has been an increase in the use of spinal manipulation by chiropractors as well, along with increased physical therapy services and primary care physician driven non-narcotic prescriptions. In general, LBP sufferers who are chronic (vs. acute) are the group using most of these services and incurring the majority of costs. The reported utilization of the above mentioned services was only 3.9% in 1992 compared to 10.2% in 2006, just 11 years later. The question now becomes, why is this? Possible reasons for this increase health care use in chronic LBP sufferers may be: 1) There are simply more people suffering from chronic LBP; 2) More chronic LBP patients are deciding to seek care or treatment where previously they “just accepted and lived with it” and didn’t pursue treatment; or, 3) A combination of these factors. Regardless of which of the above three is most accurate, the most important issue is, what can we do to help chronic back pain sufferers?
As we’ve discussed in the past, an anti-inflammatory diet, exercise within YOUR personal tolerance level, not smoking, getting enough sleep, and obtaining chiropractic adjustments every two weeks are well documented methods of “controlling” chronic LBP (as there really ISN’T a “cure” in many cases). You may be surprised to hear that maintenance care has good literature support for controlling chronic LBP. In the 8/15/11 issue of SPINE (Vol. 36, No. 18, pp1427-1437), two Medical Doctors (MDs) penned the article, “Does Maintained Spinal Manipulation Therapy for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain Result in Better Long-Term Outcomes?” Here, they took 60 patients with chronic LBP (cLBP) and randomly assigned them into one of three groups: 1) 12 treatments of sham (fake) SMT (spinal manipulation) have over a one month period; 2) 12 treatments, over a one month period but no treatment for the following nine months; or 3) 12 treatments for one month AND then SMT every two weeks for the following nine months. To measure the differences between the three groups, they measured pain, disability, generic health status, and back-specific patient satisfaction at baseline, 1-, 4-, 7-, and 10-month time intervals. They found only the patients in the second and third groups experienced significantly lower pain and disability scores vs. the first group after the first month of treatments (at three times a week). BUT, only the third group showed more improvement at the 10-month evaluation. Also, by the tenth month, the pain and disability scores returned back to nearly the initial baseline/initial level in group two. The authors concluded that, “To obtain long-term benefit, this study suggests maintenance SM after the initial intensive manipulative therapy.” Other studies have reported fewer medical tests, lower costs, fewer doctor visits, less work absenteeism, and a higher quality of life when maintenance chiropractic visits are utilized. The question is, WHEN will insurance companies and general practitioners start RECOMMENDING chiropractic maintenance care for chronic LBP patients?
We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care for back pain, we would be honored to render our services. . Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please e-mail them to [email protected] .
Dr Beecher’s December 9 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, December 2nd, 2013
Mental Attitude: Kids and Moms. A mother’s friendships with other adults can impact their adolescent children’s relationships with their own friends, particularly the negative aspects of these relationships such as conflict and antagonism. Adolescents may mimic the negative characteristics of their mothers’ relationships in their own peer-to-peer friendships. Mothers who display
high levels of conflict with friends may signal to their children that such behavior is acceptable.
University of Missouri, November 2013
Health Alert: Bacteria in Your Gut? Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that attacks joint tissue and causes pain, affects 1.3 million Americans. Researchers have linked a species of intestinal bacteria known as Prevotella copri to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Of those tested, 75% of stool samples from patients newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis carried Prevotella copri compared with 21.4% of samples from healthy individuals. NYU Langone Medical Center, November 2013
Diet: Pickled Turnips? Scientists have discovered that the bacteria Lactobacillus brevis may prevent the flu. Lactobacillus brevis comes from Suguki, a pickled turnip popular in Japan. When a particular strain of Lactobacillus brevis was eaten by mice, it showed protective effects against influenza infection. Suguki enthusiasts have often cited its protective powers, but it is not known yet whether the same effects will be seen in humans. Human clinical trials using a probiotic drink containing
Lactobacillus brevis bacteria are underway and scientists are hopeful that, given a suitable quantity of bacteria, foods containing
Lactobacillus brevis may turn out to be the next superfood. Letters in Applied Microbiology, November 2013
Exercise: Exercise Helps Arthritis. Seniors who participated in classes that promoted the self-management of arthritis through exercise reported decreased pain, improved mobility, reduced stiffness, more energy, and an improved quality of life. According to Dr. Linda Russell, a rheumatologist and chair of the Public and Patient Education Advisory Committee at Hospital for
Special Surgery, “Getting seniors to be active in any way will generally improve their quality of life and help them function better in their everyday activities. People believe that if you have arthritis you shouldn’t exercise, but appropriate exercises
actually help decrease pain.” American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 2013
Chiropractic: Pain Relief! Patients with chronic spinal pain (either neck, mid-back, or low back) were randomized to receive NSAIDs (pain relief medication), acupuncture, or spinal adjustments. Care was provided for four weeks, followed by assessment of improvement. After 30 days, spinal manipulation was the only intervention that achieved statistically significant improvements in pain and disability. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, July 1999
Wellness/Prevention: Physical Fitness Helps the Heart Too! Coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death among both men and women in the United States. After following 9,800 coronary heart disease patients for an average of 11 years, researchers found that the patients with higher levels of physical fitness were less likely to suffer a cardiac event and were 75% more likely to still be alive a decade after diagnosis. Senior study author Dr. Michael Blaha writes, “We hope that as a result of this study, more physicians will consider prescribing physical activity as a front-line therapy to improve survival and quality of life for their patients who are able to safely exercise.” John Hopkins Medicine, November 2013
Quote: “I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.”
~ Thomas A. Edison
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s December 2 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, December 2nd, 2013
Mental Attitude: Kids and Moms. A mother’s friendships with other adults can impact their adolescent children’s relationships with their own friends, particularly the negative aspects of these relationships such as conflict and antagonism. Adolescents may mimic the negative characteristics of their mothers’ relationships in their own peer-to-peer friendships. Mothers who display
high levels of conflict with friends may signal to their children that such behavior is acceptable.
University of Missouri, November 2013
Health Alert: Bacteria in Your Gut? Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that attacks joint tissue and causes pain, affects 1.3 million Americans. Researchers have linked a species of intestinal bacteria known as Prevotella copri to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Of those tested, 75% of stool samples from patients newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis carried Prevotella copri compared with 21.4% of samples from healthy individuals. NYU Langone Medical Center, November 2013
Diet: Pickled Turnips? Scientists have discovered that the bacteria Lactobacillus brevis may prevent the flu. Lactobacillus brevis comes from Suguki, a pickled turnip popular in Japan. When a particular strain of Lactobacillus brevis was eaten by mice, it showed protective effects against influenza infection. Suguki enthusiasts have often cited its protective powers, but it is not known yet whether the same effects will be seen in humans. Human clinical trials using a probiotic drink containing
Lactobacillus brevis bacteria are underway and scientists are hopeful that, given a suitable quantity of bacteria, foods containing
Lactobacillus brevis may turn out to be the next superfood. Letters in Applied Microbiology, November 2013
Exercise: Exercise Helps Arthritis. Seniors who participated in classes that promoted the self-management of arthritis through exercise reported decreased pain, improved mobility, reduced stiffness, more energy, and an improved quality of life. According to Dr. Linda Russell, a rheumatologist and chair of the Public and Patient Education Advisory Committee at Hospital for
Special Surgery, “Getting seniors to be active in any way will generally improve their quality of life and help them function better in their everyday activities. People believe that if you have arthritis you shouldn’t exercise, but appropriate exercises
actually help decrease pain.” American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 2013
Chiropractic: Pain Relief! Patients with chronic spinal pain (either neck, mid-back, or low back) were randomized to receive NSAIDs (pain relief medication), acupuncture, or spinal adjustments. Care was provided for four weeks, followed by assessment of improvement. After 30 days, spinal manipulation was the only intervention that achieved statistically significant improvements in pain and disability. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, July 1999
Wellness/Prevention: Physical Fitness Helps the Heart Too! Coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death among both men and women in the United States. After following 9,800 coronary heart disease patients for an average of 11 years, researchers found that the patients with higher levels of physical fitness were less likely to suffer a cardiac event and were 75% more likely to still be alive a decade after diagnosis. Senior study author Dr. Michael Blaha writes, “We hope that as a result of this study, more physicians will consider prescribing physical activity as a front-line therapy to improve survival and quality of life for their patients who are able to safely exercise.” John Hopkins Medicine, November 2013
Quote: “I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.”
~ Thomas A. Edison
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s December 2013 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
“We can’t take any credit for our talents. It’s how we use them that counts.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle
A Quick, Easy, and
Fun Way to Boost
Your Immune System
Plus, what you can do (and NOT do) after
a long, stressful day to relax and be healthier!
Also this month:
- Are Professional Athletes Making Your Children Fat and Sick? Top professional athletes give “mixed messages” parents should be aware of.
- New Research: What mothers do that increases the rate of bipolar disorder in their children.
- The Real Life Batman You Should Know About! The amazing story that proves Superheroes do exist and how you can become one…
Houston – Few would disagree that raising children is more difficult today than ever before. Many people believe the world has become much more complex and children are exposed to many things much earlier in life than their parents would like them to be, if at all.
It’s not uncommon for young kids to surf the net unsupervised and see things not meant for young eyes. When not online, children often watch hours and hours of adult-oriented programs on countless TV channels.
Even when children are not exposed to adult content, marketers have the ability to reach them in many different ways with increasing frequency.
One example is the use of superstar athletes to sell them products. When athletes are used to sell sneakers and apparel, the only danger is to your bank account. But, other products hawked by the top pros are not so harmless…
A study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale, and published in the November issue of Pediatrics, shows that a majority of food and beverage brands endorsed by professional athletes are for unhealthy products like sports beverages, soft drinks, and fast food.
Researchers selected the top 100 professional athletes based on their endorsement value according to a 2010 report in Business Week.
According to Yale News: “Of the 512 brands associated with these athletes, food and beverage brands were the second largest category of endorsements behind sporting goods. We found that LeBron James (NBA), Peyton Manning (NFL), and Serena Williams (tennis) had more food and beverage endorsements than any of the other athletes examined. Most of the athletes who endorsed food and beverages were from the NBA, followed by the NFL, and MLB.”
The top three athlete food endorsements came from: #1 sports drinks, #2 soft drinks, and #3 fast foods. One thing is shocking: Of the 46 beverages endorsed, 93% received ALL of their calories from added sugar.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Marie Bragg, writes, “The promotion of energy-dense, nutrient-poor products by some of the world’s most physically fit and well-known athletes is an ironic combination that sends mixed messages about diet and health.”
The researchers also opined that professional athletes should be aware of the “health value” of the products they are endorsing and use their star status to sell healthier products.
Here is one issue that was not raised in the study: Are these athletes telling the truth? Do they actually eat this junk food and drink this sugar? Is it really something that helped them become some of the world’s greatest athletes?
Clearly, this is a difficult issue for parents trying to raise healthy children. Do you tell your children that their sports idol is probably not telling the truth and only saying he or she eats those products just to make money?
Even if they actually do eat or drink what they endorse, it is nearly impossible for adolescents to understand that sometimes people succeed in spite of something they do, not because of it.
Did LeBron James really become one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived by eating fast food burgers, donuts, and drinking sugar-filled soda? Who knows? But we do know this, according to Forbes, he gets paid $42 million a year in endorsements, and a chunk of that is from companies selling fast food, donuts, and sodas.
But the real question is: If he actually does eat and drink this junk, how good would he be if he didn’t?
An even better question is: As a parent, what’s the best way to counteract all that star power and expert marketing?
There is no perfect answer, but two things will help: (1) leading by example, and (2) communication.
The only person you can really control is yourself. Choosing to eat healthy, exercise, reduce stress, and be an honest, ethical person is not only one of the best things for you, but it is one of the best things you can ever do for your children.
If you are stressed out about all this, or life in general, here is a great way to reduce stress NATURALLY…
Research has clearly shown that stress is a serious health problem. It can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain, and diabetes.
In other words, it makes you age faster, look older, and shortens your life. The best possible scenario would be to eliminate all stress from your life, but everyone knows that is impossible.
That’s why is it so important to learn to deal with and manage stress in a healthy way.
One of the biggest problems with stress is how it affects sleep. Getting the proper QUANTITY and QUALITY of sleep is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy.
Sleep is when your body and mind repair and rejuvenate. Many studies have shown how devastating not getting enough quality sleep can be on the mind and body.
Here’s where it gets good: Most people think they simply do not have enough time to get enough sleep. But, in most cases, it is the quality of sleep that is hurting them, not the total hours.
Those who have the ability to relax and enter deep sleep need much less sleep than those who are stressed and hardly ever reach deep sleep. This is one reason so many people practice meditation. Experts at meditation say they can induce a state of relaxation that achieves in minutes what most people cannot after hours of restless sleep.
Now a recent study from Loyola University says there is another great way to relax and reduce stress. According to the study, taking a walk is a great way to relieve stress and taking a walk in the woods or in nature is much better for reducing stress and improving health.
According to Dr. Aaron Michelfelder, Professor of Family Medicine at Loyola University, “When we get to nature, our health improves, our stress hormones rise all day long in our bloodstream and taking even a few moments while walking to reconnect with our inner thoughts and to check in with our body will lower those damaging stress hormones. Walking with our family or friends is also a great way to lower our blood pressure and make us happier.”
Walking in nature increases your white blood cells, lowers your pulse rate, lowers your blood pressure, and reduces the stress hormone cortisol. But wait, there’s more! Recent research from Japanese scientists shows that walking in the woods may help fight cancer because plants emit phytoncides, chemicals that helps protect plants from rotting insects. Phytoncides help your body’s immune response to cancer when they are inhaled.
One last relaxation tip is to stay away from electronic screens (like a computer) at night because they “activate” the brain and can make it difficult to sleep.
Don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.
Inspirational Story Of The Month
(Names And Details May Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
The Real Life Batman
You Should Know About!
The amazing story that proves Superheroes exist – and how you can become one…
One of the best things about being a kid is believing that superheroes really do roam the earth. But as we grow older, we quickly learn they do not exist. There are no altruistic do-gooders with super powers dashing around in tights and capes saving the world from the brink of disaster.
Well, what if I told you superheroes DO exist? I’m talking about REAL superheroes with REAL superpowers. I can prove it to you, and I guarantee you will never look at the world the same way again. I also guarantee you will be a happier person from this day forward.
Here’s the story (and proof)…
In 2012, police in Silver Springs, Maryland pulled over a car because of an issue with its license plates. The car was a black Lamborghini and the license plate was simply the bat symbol. Who do you think was driving? You got that right… BATMAN… in full Batman outfit, including mask, utility belt, and cape.
A picture of the incident quickly ended up on social media sites and was so popular that the late night shows joked about it.
As it turns out in this case, Batman’s real name is not Bruce Wayne. It’s Lenny B. Robinson, and he had the real license plates on the back of his “Batmobile.” So, he was set free to do what this Batman does: Bring hope and happiness to sick children.
You see, Robinson, 48, is a self-made millionaire. He recently sold a commercial cleaning business he built from the time he was a teenager. He now spends about $25,000 a year on Batman toys that he brings to children fighting cancer.
Robinson brings them toys and memorabilia, backpacks, shirts, etc., and signs every book he gives them with a simple “Batman.”
Batman visits hospitals at least twice a month and gives talks at schools about bullying. There is no doubt that he brings a lot of joy to a lot of suffering children.
But there are other “rich” people who do good things and give to charity. Why is Robinson different from all the other “rich guys who write a check to charity?”
Robinson actually spends a lot of his personal time doing everything himself. He is NOT just writing a check, and the time he gives is much more valuable than the value of the toys he hands out.
But the most important reason is Robinson’s intention. Robinson has been doing this since 2001, and no one knew he was doing it until he got pulled over in 2012. For 11 years, he did it without any expectation of recognition other than the reward of giving.
This is clearly different from other people who donate to charity and alert the press. They do it for the great publicity it will attract to them and their business.
Joel Goldsmith, author of many books on spirituality wrote, “the only measuring stick of our [charity] is how much we give in secrecy without drawing the attention of others to our benevolence.”
With this definition, we can all be superheroes. All you really have to do is start helping others for the right reasons.
We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and
getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!
Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!
Did You Know?…
Lack of Sleep Can Cause Weight Gain
One of the more profound ways lack of sleep promotes weight gain is by influencing the hormones that control both hunger and satiety. For instance, chronic sleep deprivation raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol tells the body it needs more energy to meet the demands of stress, which causes an increase of hunger and cravings.
Lack of sleep also increases grehlin, a hormone that promotes hunger and fat storage. Sleep deprivation also decreases leptin, the satiety hormone that tells you when you’ve had enough to eat. So in a double whammy, lack of sleep both increases hunger and inhibits the ability to feel full. The result is a natural inclination to eat more and more frequently.
Unfortunately, weight gain due to sleep deprivation doesn’t only happen slowly over time. Just a few nights of sleep deprivation can pack on pounds. Sleep deprivation makes fat cells less sensitive to insulin, the hormone that ushers glucose into cells so they can produce energy. In effect, it makes a person more insulin resistant, which is a stepping-stone to obesity and diabetes.
Tip Of The Month
Reduce Obesity with the 5 Meal Pattern
New research from Finland has added even more evidence to what a lot of doctors, nutritionists, and fitness experts have known for a long time. According to a population-based study of more than 4,000 people, eating five meals a day helps fight obesity, even in those with a genetic predisposition for obesity. The meals were breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. The information use in the study was collected starting in utero and continued until the age of 16.
According to Science Daily: “A regular five-meal pattern was associated with a reduced risk of being overweight and obese in both sexes and with a reduced risk of abdominal obesity in boys. Moreover, the regular five-meal pattern attenuated the BMI-increasing effect of the common genetic variants. Conversely, skipping breakfast was associated with greater BMI and waist circumference.”
Also, the weight and health of a child’s parents matters a lot. If either the mother or father is obese before pregnancy, it was a clear risk factor for the child to be obese during adolescence. If both parents had a BMI of 25 or more throughout the 16 years of the study, the risk of obesity of the child was much greater.
BMI is Body Mass Index and is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. “Normal” BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, underweight is <18.5, overweight is 25 to 29.9, and obese is >30. There has been quite a bit of controversy over the use of BMI because it may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have muscular builds and it may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.
What Mothers do that Increases the Rate of Bipolar Disorder in Their Children…
Smoking during pregnancy is known to contribute to significant problems in utero and following birth, including low birth weight and attention difficulties. Now, a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry finds, “After adjusting for potential confounders, offspring exposed to in utero maternal smoking exhibited a twofold greater risk for bipolar disorder… Prenatal tobacco exposure may be one suspected cause of bipolar disorder.” Like almost all studies, the researchers report that more research needs to be done to rule out other factors. But, no one needs more research to know that smoking is bad for you and your children both before and after they are born.
Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal
and maintain the pain free body you deserve.
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know by calling 281-286-1300 or email [email protected].
“We can’t take any credit for our talents. It’s how we use them that counts.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle
A Quick, Easy, and
Fun Way to Boost
Your Immune System
Plus, what you can do (and NOT do) after
a long, stressful day to relax and be healthier!
Also this month:
- Are Professional Athletes Making Your Children Fat and Sick? Top professional athletes give “mixed messages” parents should be aware of.
- New Research: What mothers do that increases the rate of bipolar disorder in their children.
- The Real Life Batman You Should Know About! The amazing story that proves Superheroes do exist and how you can become one…
| H |
ouston – Few would disagree that raising children is more difficult today than ever before. Many people believe the world has become much more complex and children are exposed to many things much earlier in life than their parents would like them to be, if at all.
It’s not uncommon for young kids to surf the net unsupervised and see things not meant for young eyes. When not online, children often watch hours and hours of adult-oriented programs on countless TV channels.
Even when children are not exposed to adult content, marketers have the ability to reach them in many different ways with increasing frequency.
One example is the use of superstar athletes to sell them products. When athletes are used to sell sneakers and apparel, the only danger is to your bank account. But, other products hawked by the top pros are not so harmless…
A study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale, and published in the November issue of Pediatrics, shows that a majority of food and beverage brands endorsed by professional athletes are for unhealthy products like sports beverages, soft drinks, and fast food.
Researchers selected the top 100 professional athletes based on their endorsement value according to a 2010 report in Business Week.
According to Yale News: “Of the 512 brands associated with these athletes, food and beverage brands were the second largest category of endorsements behind sporting goods. We found that LeBron James (NBA), Peyton Manning (NFL), and Serena Williams (tennis) had more food and beverage endorsements than any of the other athletes examined. Most of the athletes who endorsed food and beverages were from the NBA, followed by the NFL, and MLB.”
The top three athlete food endorsements came from: #1 sports drinks, #2 soft drinks, and #3 fast foods. One thing is shocking: Of the 46 beverages endorsed, 93% received ALL of their calories from added sugar.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Marie Bragg, writes, “The promotion of energy-dense, nutrient-poor products by some of the world’s most physically fit and well-known athletes is an ironic combination that sends mixed messages about diet and health.”
The researchers also opined that professional athletes should be aware of the “health value” of the products they are endorsing and use their star status to sell healthier products.
Here is one issue that was not raised in the study: Are these athletes telling the truth? Do they actually eat this junk food and drink this sugar? Is it really something that helped them become some of the world’s greatest athletes?
Clearly, this is a difficult issue for parents trying to raise healthy children. Do you tell your children that their sports idol is probably not telling the truth and only saying he or she eats those products just to make money?
Even if they actually do eat or drink what they endorse, it is nearly impossible for adolescents to understand that sometimes people succeed in spite of something they do, not because of it.
Did LeBron James really become one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived by eating fast food burgers, donuts, and drinking sugar-filled soda? Who knows? But we do know this, according to Forbes, he gets paid $42 million a year in endorsements, and a chunk of that is from companies selling fast food, donuts, and sodas.
But the real question is: If he actually does eat and drink this junk, how good would he be if he didn’t?
An even better question is: As a parent, what’s the best way to counteract all that star power and expert marketing?
There is no perfect answer, but two things will help: (1) leading by example, and (2) communication.
The only person you can really control is yourself. Choosing to eat healthy, exercise, reduce stress, and be an honest, ethical person is not only one of the best things for you, but it is one of the best things you can ever do for your children.
If you are stressed out about all this, or life in general, here is a great way to reduce stress NATURALLY…
Research has clearly shown that stress is a serious health problem. It can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain, and diabetes.
In other words, it makes you age faster, look older, and shortens your life. The best possible scenario would be to eliminate all stress from your life, but everyone knows that is impossible.
That’s why is it so important to learn to deal with and manage stress in a healthy way.
One of the biggest problems with stress is how it affects sleep. Getting the proper QUANTITY and QUALITY of sleep is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy.
Sleep is when your body and mind repair and rejuvenate. Many studies have shown how devastating not getting enough quality sleep can be on the mind and body.
Here’s where it gets good: Most people think they simply do not have enough time to get enough sleep. But, in most cases, it is the quality of sleep that is hurting them, not the total hours.
Those who have the ability to relax and enter deep sleep need much less sleep than those who are stressed and hardly ever reach deep sleep. This is one reason so many people practice meditation. Experts at meditation say they can induce a state of relaxation that achieves in minutes what most people cannot after hours of restless sleep.
Now a recent study from Loyola University says there is another great way to relax and reduce stress. According to the study, taking a walk is a great way to relieve stress and taking a walk in the woods or in nature is much better for reducing stress and improving health.
According to Dr. Aaron Michelfelder, Professor of Family Medicine at Loyola University, “When we get to nature, our health improves, our stress hormones rise all day long in our bloodstream and taking even a few moments while walking to reconnect with our inner thoughts and to check in with our body will lower those damaging stress hormones. Walking with our family or friends is also a great way to lower our blood pressure and make us happier.”
Walking in nature increases your white blood cells, lowers your pulse rate, lowers your blood pressure, and reduces the stress hormone cortisol. But wait, there’s more! Recent research from Japanese scientists shows that walking in the woods may help fight cancer because plants emit phytoncides, chemicals that helps protect plants from rotting insects. Phytoncides help your body’s immune response to cancer when they are inhaled.
One last relaxation tip is to stay away from electronic screens (like a computer) at night because they “activate” the brain and can make it difficult to sleep.
Don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.
Inspirational Story Of The Month
(Names And Details May Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
The Real Life Batman
You Should Know About!
The amazing story that proves Superheroes exist – and how you can become one…
One of the best things about being a kid is believing that superheroes really do roam the earth. But as we grow older, we quickly learn they do not exist. There are no altruistic do-gooders with super powers dashing around in tights and capes saving the world from the brink of disaster.
Well, what if I told you superheroes DO exist? I’m talking about REAL superheroes with REAL superpowers. I can prove it to you, and I guarantee you will never look at the world the same way again. I also guarantee you will be a happier person from this day forward.
Here’s the story (and proof)…
In 2012, police in Silver Springs, Maryland pulled over a car because of an issue with its license plates. The car was a black Lamborghini and the license plate was simply the bat symbol. Who do you think was driving? You got that right… BATMAN… in full Batman outfit, including mask, utility belt, and cape.
A picture of the incident quickly ended up on social media sites and was so popular that the late night shows joked about it.
As it turns out in this case, Batman’s real name is not Bruce Wayne. It’s Lenny B. Robinson, and he had the real license plates on the back of his “Batmobile.” So, he was set free to do what this Batman does: Bring hope and happiness to sick children.
You see, Robinson, 48, is a self-made millionaire. He recently sold a commercial cleaning business he built from the time he was a teenager. He now spends about $25,000 a year on Batman toys that he brings to children fighting cancer.
Robinson brings them toys and memorabilia, backpacks, shirts, etc., and signs every book he gives them with a simple “Batman.”
Batman visits hospitals at least twice a month and gives talks at schools about bullying. There is no doubt that he brings a lot of joy to a lot of suffering children.
But there are other “rich” people who do good things and give to charity. Why is Robinson different from all the other “rich guys who write a check to charity?”
Robinson actually spends a lot of his personal time doing everything himself. He is NOT just writing a check, and the time he gives is much more valuable than the value of the toys he hands out.
But the most important reason is Robinson’s intention. Robinson has been doing this since 2001, and no one knew he was doing it until he got pulled over in 2012. For 11 years, he did it without any expectation of recognition other than the reward of giving.
This is clearly different from other people who donate to charity and alert the press. They do it for the great publicity it will attract to them and their business.
Joel Goldsmith, author of many books on spirituality wrote, “the only measuring stick of our [charity] is how much we give in secrecy without drawing the attention of others to our benevolence.”
With this definition, we can all be superheroes. All you really have to do is start helping others for the right reasons.
We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and
getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!
Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!
Did You Know?…
Lack of Sleep Can Cause Weight Gain
One of the more profound ways lack of sleep promotes weight gain is by influencing the hormones that control both hunger and satiety. For instance, chronic sleep deprivation raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol tells the body it needs more energy to meet the demands of stress, which causes an increase of hunger and cravings.
Lack of sleep also increases grehlin, a hormone that promotes hunger and fat storage. Sleep deprivation also decreases leptin, the satiety hormone that tells you when you’ve had enough to eat. So in a double whammy, lack of sleep both increases hunger and inhibits the ability to feel full. The result is a natural inclination to eat more and more frequently.
Unfortunately, weight gain due to sleep deprivation doesn’t only happen slowly over time. Just a few nights of sleep deprivation can pack on pounds. Sleep deprivation makes fat cells less sensitive to insulin, the hormone that ushers glucose into cells so they can produce energy. In effect, it makes a person more insulin resistant, which is a stepping-stone to obesity and diabetes.
Tip Of The Month
Reduce Obesity with the 5 Meal Pattern
New research from Finland has added even more evidence to what a lot of doctors, nutritionists, and fitness experts have known for a long time. According to a population-based study of more than 4,000 people, eating five meals a day helps fight obesity, even in those with a genetic predisposition for obesity. The meals were breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. The information use in the study was collected starting in utero and continued until the age of 16.
According to Science Daily: “A regular five-meal pattern was associated with a reduced risk of being overweight and obese in both sexes and with a reduced risk of abdominal obesity in boys. Moreover, the regular five-meal pattern attenuated the BMI-increasing effect of the common genetic variants. Conversely, skipping breakfast was associated with greater BMI and waist circumference.”
Also, the weight and health of a child’s parents matters a lot. If either the mother or father is obese before pregnancy, it was a clear risk factor for the child to be obese during adolescence. If both parents had a BMI of 25 or more throughout the 16 years of the study, the risk of obesity of the child was much greater.
BMI is Body Mass Index and is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. “Normal” BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, underweight is <18.5, overweight is 25 to 29.9, and obese is >30. There has been quite a bit of controversy over the use of BMI because it may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have muscular builds and it may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.
What Mothers do that Increases the Rate of Bipolar Disorder in Their Children…
Smoking during pregnancy is known to contribute to significant problems in utero and following birth, including low birth weight and attention difficulties. Now, a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry finds, “After adjusting for potential confounders, offspring exposed to in utero maternal smoking exhibited a twofold greater risk for bipolar disorder… Prenatal tobacco exposure may be one suspected cause of bipolar disorder.” Like almost all studies, the researchers report that more research needs to be done to rule out other factors. But, no one needs more research to know that smoking is bad for you and your children both before and after they are born.
Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal
and maintain the pain free body you deserve.
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know by calling 281-286-1300 or email [email protected].
