Dr Beecher’s September 2011 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
“Failure is not the only punishment for laziness; there is also the success of others.” ~ Jules Renard
HOT new debate about heart disease nutrition advice…
New Research Brings SALTY NEWS!!!
High dietary salt intake is a
proven cause of increased risk of
heart attack… or maybe it isn’t after all?
Also in this issue:
- Popular smoking cessation drug increases risk of hospitalization due to serious cardiovascular event by 72%
- Sleeping longer helps athletes reach peek performance
- This amino acid may help fight diabetes
And don’t miss the story: How NFL veterans team up with wounded warriors to climb the 4th tallest mountain in the world!
Houston – So much news this month, so little time! Let’s jump right into “the good stuff.” It was accepted for years that eating eggs was bad for your heart. Then, researchers weren’t so sure.
Similarly, sunscreen was the standard for preventing skin cancer, until research surfaced that sunscreen may actually INCREASE your risk.
Truth is: This type of contradiction happens all the time in medical science. That’s why it is no surprise that, within a few years, a decent percentage of FDA approved drugs are either taken off the market or given “black box” warnings because they are dangerous.
So, what’s the latest in the “it’s bad for you… wait it’s good for you” saga?
SALT!
That’s right. For years, salt has been one of the deadly sins for increasing your risk of heart disease.
Research shows increased salt intake leads to elevated blood pressure. High blood pressure has been positively correlated with developing heart disease. So, increased salt consumption must increase your risk of heart disease.
Makes sense – but not everything that “makes sense” is actually fact. That’s one of the reasons researchers do studies.
Case in point: Not too long ago, an article in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that the U.S. could prevent 44,000 deaths annually if Americans reduced their salt intake by 3 grams per day.
Then, in July 2011, a review of seven real-life interventions to reduce salt consumption found almost the complete opposite.
A headline in Scientific America boasted, “It’s Time to End the War on Salt.” It continued, “For every study that suggests that salt is unhealthy, another does not.”
A recent meta-analysis of seven studies involving more than 6,000 subjects found no strong evidence that cutting salt intake reduces the risk for heart attacks, strokes or death. Another study found that, in fact, the less sodium study subjects excreted in their urine, the higher their risk of heart disease.
According to the Weston A. Price Foundation: “Salt, of course, is vital to health. There’s a reason we have a salt taste in our mouths and a reason that foods taste better with salt. The desire for salt is not some cruel joke imposed by a capricious god, but acts to ensure that we eat our food with salt … The campaign against salt is a perfect example of the law of unintended consequences. Researchers, politicians, medical professionals and journalists push their no-salt agenda as a surefire way to limit disease when all the evidence points to the opposite — increased health problems in young and old, diminished brain function, increased confusion, and a boon to the food processing and medical industries.”
How can this be? The first thing to understand is that science does not always come up with an answer. Many times, it raises more questions.
For example, a new paper published in Archives of Internal Medicine shows it might not be the level of SODIUM that causes all the problems. Instead, it might be the POTASIUM/SODIUM ratio.
This paper, led by Quanhe Yang of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found no significant link between sodium intake alone and risk of heart disease or heart-related death. But, when the researchers looked at the ratio of sodium to potassium intake, they found a strong effect. Participants with the worst ratios — the highest sodium and the lowest potassium — had twice the risk of death from heart disease and a nearly 50% higher risk of death from any cause, compared with people who had the highest potassium and the lowest sodium intake.
What’s the take-home message in all this?
First is the understanding that science doesn’t know everything. Commonly accepted “truths” are often shown to be incorrect or partially incorrect.
That’s why doctors and patients should use a combination of the best research and clinical experience.
Should you read one research summary that didn’t find salt to be harmful and start eating a pound of salt a day?
Hardly. The best course of action is PROBABLY to stay away from processed foods that are loaded with sodium… and make sure you eat foods that contain potassium.
What’s that? You want a list? Check out the list below: J
This Amino Acid May Help Diabetes
According to a study by the Joslin Diabetes Center, the amino acid “leucine” may help people with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
The press release states, “In an animal study, published in the journal PloS One, mice who had been on a high-fat diet and who also received twice the usual intake of leucine, an amino acid found in protein, showed reductions in their pre-diabetic conditions with lower blood sugars and less fat in their livers, two of the conditions of medical problems associated with insulin resistance that make up what is known as metabolic syndrome.
“Researchers said the high-fat diet with leucine did not change how fat the animals got – but they were able to handle glucose better.”
And 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 your lifelong good health.
Inspirational Story Of The Month –
(Names And Details Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
NFL Veterans Team Up With Wounded Warriors
To Climb The 4th Tallest Mountain In The World!
It’s one of the oldest questions – and the most common answers…
“Hey – why would you risk your life climbing that mountain?”
“Because, it’s there!”
Well, in this case, three National Football League veterans have a much better reason.
NFL great TEDDY BRUSCHI, now an ESPN analyst, former Tennessee Titans Coach JEFF FISHER, and former Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Rams player, CHAD LEWIS, are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.
They are climbing the 4th tallest mountain in the world with Ben Lunak. But, Lunak didn’t play in the NFL.
You see, Ben Lunak is climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to represent the Wounded Warrior Project. In 2006, Lunak was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. His leg was amputated below the knee. Lunak is one of four injured soldiers chosen by the organization to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Its goal is to show other vets who have suffered a traumatic injury that life can be great again.
“They are going to see us doing this big climb. I see that my life is not over, I can still carry on and do whatever I want to do, and that is basically what it is about,” Lunak said. “The biggest obstacle is going to be the mental thing and, if I stay strong mentally, the body will follow.”
Lunak learned to walk again using a prosthetic leg and is now very active.
The event is called “Believe in Heroes” and is organized by the Wounded Warrior Project. It will take the climbers five days to reach the summit of just over 19,000 feet.
But, Ben is not alone in his sacrifice both in war for his country and now for others wounded in battle. Among the group of wounded warriors making the climb is Bryan Wagner, who also gave a leg in service to his country. Another climber, Mike Wilson, struggles daily with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury (TBI). And, Nancy Schiliro gave an eye in service to her country.
“We all have our own injuries of war, and we are showing that no matter how you are affected, you are still able to overcome and conquer whatever you want to do,” Lunak said.
These warriors recently completed a three-day training session at Under Armour’s IMG Training Academy in Florida; participated in the Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands, NM; and climbed Quandary Peak in Golden, CO.
The purpose of the climb is to alert the general public to the great sacrifices and struggles faced by the amazing men and women injured serving the United States of America.
For further information and to see results of the climb, go to www.believeinheroes.org
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?
Among the many natural ways to treat infection, tea tree oil is one of the very best. Tea tree oil is an essential oil taken from the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia. It has a wide variety of uses with strong antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. The aborigines in Australia used tea tree leaves to heal skin infections, wounds, and burns by crushing the leaves and holding them in place with a mud pack. Tea tree oil effectively treats a variety of conditions. If you choose to try Tea Tree oil, it is good practice to do a patch test on your skin first, as undiluted tea tree oil can irritate the skin. If the skin is sensitive, then it is necessary to dilute it. A good tea tree oil solution can be made by mixing 5 parts of tea tree oil with 95 parts of water. Please note: tea tree oil should never be taken internally, even in small amounts.
Here are just some of the many ways to effectively use tea tree oil: Acne – Tea tree oil kills the skin dwelling bacteria that cause acne. Dilute the tea tree oil as directed above and apply to lesions. Another way to apply it is by diluting it with aloe vera gel. To begin with, mix one or two drops to one ounce of the gel. Athlete’s Foot – Every morning and evening, saturate a cotton ball with tea tree oil (you may need to dilute it) and apply to the affected and surrounding areas. Also, you may want to apply a tea tree oil enriched moisturizer. Tea tree oil is also very effective when treating nail fungal infections. Insect Bites – Apply full strength to the bite area. Tea tree oil is also an effective insect repellent. Wound Healing – Moderately apply tea tree oil (at a strength of 70% to 100%) on the wound at least twice daily.
Lastly, putting a few drops of tea tree oil in bathwater has a relaxing and rejuvenating effect. It will also soothe sore muscles and eliminate persistent body odor.
Tip Of The Month
Attention All Athletes: Sleep More!!
If you are an athlete – no matter what level – you are going to want to check out this important information. Here is why… Everyone knows quality sleep is important. Every year more information surfaces that shows it is even more important than many experts first thought. There are many research studies about amounts of sleep and how sleeping too much or too little affects your health. Now, there is another study showing just how important sleep may be for peak athletic performance. Research published in the journal Sleep suggests that sleeping longer can dramatically improve physical performance. Members of Stanford University’s male basketball team increased their sleep to 10 hours a night for around 6 weeks. Results? Their shooting accuracy improved by 9%, sprinting times improved, and fatigue levels decreased. When it comes to athletes and high level sports, 9% can be enormous. Top athletes are often separated by minute fractions of a percentage. For example, the difference between winners and losers in Olympic sprinting is often measured in thousandths of a second. The study at Stanford University found that getting enough sleep and rest was as important as training and diet for elite athletes. It should be noted that in the study, the players also stopped drinking coffee and alcohol. Obviously, altering all three factors (sleep, coffee and alcohol) seems to have had a major impact. One has to wonder how much of an impact just changing sleep would have?
Popular Smoking Cessation Drug Increases Risk Of Serious Cardiovascular Event By 72%…
A new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, in collaboration with researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of East Anglia, in the United Kingdom, shows the use of varenicline – marketed by Pfizer under the brand name Chantix™ – is associated with a 72 percent increased risk of hospitalization due to a serious adverse cardiovascular (CV) event, such as heart attack or arrhythmia. The study was published in the July 4th issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. According to a press release on reporting the results of the study: “We have known for many years that Chantix is one of the most harmful prescription drugs on the U.S. market, based on the number of serious adverse effects reported to the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration),” said Curt D. Furberg, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest Baptist, lead investigator on the study, and a nationally-recognized leader in drug safety research. “It causes loss of consciousness, visual disturbances, suicides, violence, depression and worsening of diabetes. To this list we now can add serious cardiovascular events.” According to the press release, the drug already has a black box warning from the FDA due to other harmful side effects. “People should be concerned,” said Sonal Singh, M.D., M.P.H., lead author on the study from Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. “They don’t need Chantix to quit and this is another reason to consider avoiding Chantix altogether.” Researchers added, “The sum of all serious adverse effects of Chantix clearly outweigh the most positive effect of the drug in my view,” Furberg said. “The time has come for the FDA to withdraw the drug from the market.”
Remember, we’re always here to help you, your family,
and your friends live pain free!
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 September 19 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, September 19th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Fat and Happiness. Humans have an intimate relationship between their emotional state and what they eat. In this study, researchers found the levels of sadness among the subjects who received fatty acids were 50% lower than those who had not. Eating fat appears to be a mood-lifter.
Journal of Clinical Investigation, July 2011
Health Alert: Rising Health Costs. The United States spent $2.3 trillion on health care in 2008, more than three times the $714 billion spent in 1990, and over eight times the $253 billion spent in 1980.
Kaiser Family Foundation, March 2010
Diet: Blueberries and Cancer. Blueberries are full of antioxidants, flavonoids and other vitamins that help reduce free radicals in cells. Free radicals can cause cellular damage, one of the factors in the development of cancer. Blueberries are rich in vitamin C, which helps the immune system and helps the body absorb
iron. Blueberry juice and other products may be nutritious but often contain less fiber than the whole fruit,
and added sugar or corn syrup may decrease their nutritional value.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, July 2011
Exercise: Eating Before Swimming? A review of 536 autopsies revealed 79.4% of those who had accidentally drowned had visible stomach contents. It’s suspected there may be a link between eating before swimming and drowning as blood is diverted to the intestine during digestion, possibly causing circulation problems while the individual is swimming. This may reduce blood flow to the brain, resulting in loss of consciousness and potentially drowning the swimmer.
Medicine, Science and the Law, July 2011
Chiropractic: Effective For Whiplash. 26 of 28 patients (93%) with chronic whiplash syndrome improved following chiropractic treatment. According to the authors, before the publication of this article, no conventional treatment was proven to be effective. Injury, November 1996
Wellness/Prevention: Investing With Prevention. Preventing heart disease before it starts is a good long- term investment in the nation’s health. Every dollar spent on building trails for walking or biking saves $3
in medical costs. Companies that invest in workers’ health with comprehensive worksite wellness programs
and healthy work environments have less absenteeism, greater productivity and lower healthcare costs.
American Heart Association, July 2011
Quote: “Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.”
~ Albert Einstein
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s September 12 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, September 12th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Sleep Well. People who sleep 6-9 hours per night had higher self-reported scores for quality of life and lower scores for depression severity when compared to short (<6 hours per night) and long sleepers (>9 hours per night). Researchers were surprised that both sleeping less than 6 hours and more than 9 hours was associated with a similar decrease in quality of life and increase in depressive symptoms. American Academy of Sleep Medicine, August 2011
Health Alert: Depressing Statistics. Depression can affect a person’s ability to work, their ability to form relationships, and it can also destroy their quality of life. 15% of the population from high-income countries (compared to 11% for low/middle-income countries) is likely to become depressed at some point in life. Women are twice as likely to suffer depression as men, and the loss of a partner, whether from death, divorce or separation, was a main contributing factor. BMC Medicine, July 2011
Diet: Breastfeed Babies. Babies fed only on breast milk up to the age of 6 months have a lower risk of developing asthma-related symptoms in early childhood. Compared to children who were breastfed for 6 months or more, children who had never received breast milk had an increased risk of wheezing, shortness of breath, dry cough and persistent phlegm in their first 4 years.
European Lung Foundation, July 2011
Exercise: Muscle Mass and Type 2 Diabetes Risk. Higher muscle mass, relative to one’s body size, is closely linked to superior insulin sensitivity and a lower risk of developing pre-diabetes or full diabetes type 2. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, July 2011
Chiropractic: Cost Effective. A review of treatments endorsed in American Pain Society and American College of Physicians guidelines found spinal manipulation was cost-effective for subacute and chronic low back pain. European Spine Journal, January 2011
Wellness/Prevention: Sleep Well. Interrupted sleep impairs memory, as a minimum amount of continuous sleep is crucial for memory consolidation. Researchers found memory was unaffected if the average duration of sleep was maintained at 62-73% of normal.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 2011
Quote: “When we are well, we all have good advice for those who are ill.” ~ Terrence, 166 BC
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s September 5 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, September 5th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Money Can’t Buy Happiness. Once a point of being able to meet basic needs is reached, the effect of money on happiness levels off. More money leads to marginal gains (at best) or even less well-being as people worry about “keeping up with the Joneses.”
American Psychological Association, July 2011
Health Alert: Medical Bills And Bankruptcy? Most people who are driven into bankruptcy by illness and medical bills actually have coverage, but it’s such inadequate coverage that it doesn’t keep them from financial ruin. They face huge premiums, co-payments, deductibles and things that aren’t covered by their insurance. Minnesota News Connection
Diet: Food Labeling. A recently enacted law requires restaurant chains with at least 15 locations to provide calorie data on menus and menu boards. At McDonalds, there was a 5.3% drop in average calories per purchase, and at KFC, a 6.4% drop. British Medical Journal, August 2011
Exercise: Exercise For The Brain. Aerobic exercise and strength training plays a vital role in maintaining brain and cognitive health throughout life. A review of 111 recent articles suggests aerobic exercise is important for getting a head start during childhood on cognitive abilities. Physical inactivity is associated with poorer academic performance and results on standard neuropsychological tests, while exercise programs appear to improve memory, attention, and decision-making. These effects also extend to young and elderly adults, with solid evidence for aerobic training benefiting executive functions, including multi- tasking, planning, and inhibition, and increasing the volume of brain structures important for memory. Journal of Applied Physiology, July 2011
Chiropractic: Chiropractic Patients Most Satisfied. With regards to patient satisfaction, a survey of more than 14,000 consumers rated chiropractic #1 among all health care providers.
Consumer Reports, May 2009
Wellness/Prevention: Are Vacations Worth the Effort? Each year we save up for them, but do they do us any good? According to Dutch psychologist Jessica de Bloom, holidays help us recharge our batteries and perform at a high level. The Psychologist, August 2011
Quote: “I start where the last man left off.” ~ 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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s August 29 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 29th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Do You Believe In Magic? Being overweight is associated with negative health consequences and social stigmas. To cope with these pressures and expectations, consumers engage in various forms of “magical thinking.” They describe weight loss as being influenced by mysterious forces; a body that “conspires” against them or food that “seduces” them. They hope good deeds will be rewarded (like eating chips after eating cabbage soup all day) and resort to “magical solutions” like fad diets. Journal of Consumer Research, May 2011
Health Alert: How Long Will You Live? While the world’s leading industrialized nations report considerable increases in life expectancy annually, the majority of US counties do not. Despite the fact that the US spends more on healthcare per capita than any other nation, 80% of US counties have fallen further behind the life expectancy average of the top ten countries in the world. High obesity rates, smoking status and other preventable risk factors are key factors in America’s poor life expectancy figures, rather than the size of the country, economics or racial diversity. Top 5 In Life Expectancy:1. Iceland, 2. Switzerland, 3. Sweden, 4. Japan, 5. Australia, 37. USA. Population Health Metrics, 2011
Diet: Watch What Your Kids Eat. 8% of US children have some kind of food allergy, 38.7% of those have a history of severe reactions, while 30.4% are allergic to several foods. Symptoms in a severe reaction may include wheezing and anaphylaxis, when the patient finds it hard to breathe and has an abrupt drop in blood pressure. The most common allergens for children were found to be peanuts, milk and shellfish. Pediatrics, June 2011
Exercise: Stay Fit! A person 70 pounds overweight will spend $30,000 extra in their lifetime for health care!
Scientific American, March 2011
Chiropractic: Recommended To Treat Headaches. This study compared the effects of spinal manipulation and pharmaceutical treatments for chronic tension headaches. Four weeks following the cessation of treatment, the pharmaceutical group demonstrated no improvement from the baseline. In the spinal manipulation group, headache intensity dropped 32 percent; frequency dropped 42 percent; and there was an overall improvement of 16 percent in functional health status. Journal of Manipulative Physiotherapy, 1995
Wellness/Prevention: Soda Consumption. Sweet drinks are linked to higher rates of: obesity, Type 2 diabetes, dental decay and low consumption of essential nutrients (malnutrition). Soft drinks with caffeine can cause anxiety and sleep disruption, and soft drinks with sodium benzoate can lead to hyperactivity and DNA damage. Soda consumption per person per year: 1. US: 216 liters, 2. Ireland: 126 liters, 3. Canada: 119.8 liters, 16. Italy: 50.2 liters,
17. France: 37.2 liters, 18. Japan: 21.6 liters. A 12oz can of soda contains 150 calories, an average adult needs to walk for about 23 minutes non-stop to burn those calories. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 2011
Quote: “The greatest folly is to sacrifice health for any other kind of happiness.” ~ A. Schopenhauer
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s August 22 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 22nd, 2011
Mental Attitude: Memory Restoration. Scientists have developed a way to turn memories on and off – literally with the flip of a switch. Using an electronic system that duplicates the neural signals associated with memory, they managed to replicate the brain function in rats associated with long-term, learned behavior. Researchers also showed that if a prosthetic device and its associated electrodes were implanted in animals with a normal, functioning hippocampus, the device could actually strengthen the memory being generated internally in the brain and enhance the memory capability of normal rats. The goal is to eventually create a prosthesis that might help Alzheimer’s disease, stroke or injury sufferers recover function. Journal of Neural Engineering, June 2011
Health Alert: Inaccurate Medical Claims! Claims-processing errors have increased by 2% over the last year to a
19.3% rate, wasting $17 billion annually. United Healthcare was best with a 90.2% accuracy rating. Anthem Blue
Cross Blue Shield, was lowest with an accuracy rating of 61.1%.
American Medical Association 4th annual National Health Insurer Report Card
Diet: Big Time Snacking. Snacking continues to increase among Americans, accounting for 25% of daily caloric intake. The average person “snacks” an extra 580 calories each day. Between 2006 and 2008, time spent eating primary meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner – remained consistent at 70 minutes. However, secondary eating doubled from 15 minutes each day in 2006 to nearly 30 minutes in 2008, and secondary drinking jumped nearly 90% from
45-85 minutes. Beverages account for 50% the calories consumed through snacking. Most people don’t equate beverages with calorie intake and are less likely to offset or take these calories into account.
Institute of Food Technologists, June 2011
Exercise: Muscle Up. How important is it to exercise your muscles? The human body has over 600 muscles accounting for 40% of the body’s weight. When exercised regularly, muscles are your primary mechanism of maintaining your metabolism, thus burning fat. Maintaining the flexibility of your joints and surrounding soft tissues allows muscles to function at their highest level. Gray’s Anatomy
Chiropractic: Simple Analogy. Spinal problems are like a cavity in your tooth: 1. They occur slowly over time.
2. Typically, they are without symptoms for some time. 3. They continue to progress. 4. They don’t go away on their own. 5. They eventually cause pain. 6. They can lead to more significant problems.
Wellness/Prevention: Smoking Raises Risk. Smokers had a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, cancer-recurrence, or from any cause compared to lifetime non-smokers. The longer the patient smoked, the higher his risk of dying from prostate cancer or cardiovascular disease. Men who had given up smoking for ten years had similar prostate cancer mortality risks as lifetime non-smokers.
Journal of the American Medical Association, May 2011
Quote: “A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.” ~ Albert Einstein
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s August 2011 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
“In great affairs men show themselves as they wish to be seen;
in small things they show themselves as they are. – Nicholas Chamfort
Do “wonder foods” with magical healing powers really exist?
Did Dr. Oz Really Say This Tiny Tibetan Fruit Is The “New Miracle Berry?”
DON’T BE FOOLED! Separate fact from miracle claim fiction and discover why one fitness author says
Dr. Oz and Oprah have sued over 50 companies…
Also in this issue:
Driving tips and suggestions to save money – especially this summer!
What to do if your cell phone gets wet.
Los Angeles Times Reports: “Ovarian cancer screening does more harm than good”
Plus, the incredible story of “NUBS”, the Middle Eastern war dog, and the loving soldier who saved him…
Houston – Miracle this! Amazing that! How many times have you heard about a “magical” plant that will instantly melt 50 pounds off your waistline – or cure you from any disease known to humankind?
There is always “proof” that this magical plant works because some culture or tribe or group of people living in some far off mystical land has been using it for centuries and they are all skinny, healthy and live to be 165 years old!
If this stuff is so good, why hasn’t everyone already heard about it? Because… it’s been hidden in that far off, mystical land!
Ah… the magic of advertising. You have to love how the magical cures are never found in someone’s backyard in Ohio. It’s always halfway across the world, usually in a rainforest.
Well, now there is a tiny Tibetan fruit that is claimed to help people lose weight without any other kind of diet of exercise.
The fruit is the sea buckthorn berry and advertisers are going crazy because it was mentioned on the Dr. Oz show.
Here’s what einnews.com had to say about the issue, “Sea buckthorn oil is a helpful antioxidant, but fitness author Rusty Moore warns us to be skeptical of some of the claims websites are making. Buzz was generated online after Dr Oz featured this ‘super food’ on his TV show. Dr Oz claims that sea buckthorn oil is a healthy supplement that aids in digestion and has antioxidant properties similar to Vitamin C.
“Online marketers have been using the endorsement of Dr. Oz to distribute sea buckthorn oil. In the past 3 years, Dr. Oz and Oprah Winfrey have sued over 50 companies who were using their endorsement without permission. Unfortunately, several companies were making exaggerated weight loss claims when it came to supplements Dr. Oz simply mentioned on his program.”
The same thing happened several years ago when Dr. Oz mentioned the Acai Berry was a good antioxidant and a useful supplement.
That mention was taken by advertisers and used as a personal endorsement for all kinds of wild claims.
What’s the bottom line with all this?
Obviously, some foods are better than others. Some are more nutrient dense with building blocks your body can use, while others are not.
You want to eat as many positive nutrient dense foods as possible.
Obviously, comparing Sea Buckthorn to a Chicken Nugget – the Sea Buckthorn is a relative miracle food.
But, so is an apple given the same comparison.
The reality check is this: You must eat good food, exercise and reduce stress CONSISTANTLY TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN REAL HEALTH.
This includes losing weight and keeping it off.
There are right ways to do things that work better than others, but there are no shortcuts.
There is no magical plant from a mythical far away land that will turn you into Superman or Superwoman.
Both Acai and Sea Buckthorn are most likely good for you and can help your body get the nutrients it needs to function properly, but don’t expect a miracle. Miracles happen from doing the right thing long enough.
Waist Size Predicts Heart Attack
Death Better Than Weight
Doctors have been pointing the finger at obesity as a major cause of many deadly diseases – including heart disease – for a long time.
Now, according to an article on Health.com, “Several studies have found a high body mass index is associated with a lower risk of dying from heart disease and other chronic illnesses – a mysterious phenomenon that has come to be known as the ‘obesity paradox.’”
Some experts think the paradox is caused because body mass index – or BMI – is flawed. BMI is a ratio of height to weight used to determine obesity. According to the article, waist size provides a far more accurate way to predict a heart patient’s chances of dying at an early age from a heart attack or other causes.
“Ovarian cancer screening does
more harm than good, study shows”
No matter what many people think, modern medicine is NOT an exact science.
The sheer number of treatments and medications that are abandoned or taken off the market every year makes this point very obvious.
Now, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times, “An 18-year study from the National Cancer Institute has found widespread screening for ovarian cancer doesn’t save lives but does set up many women for needless surgery and avoidable complications.
“The results, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., were not a complete surprise, according to study co-author Dr. Christine Berg of the National Cancer Institute. Still, experts are disappointed that yet another attempt to catch cancer early has failed to help patients beat the disease.”
Ovarian cancer ranks in the top 5 cancers that kill women. An estimated 21,880 American women will be diagnosed with the disease this year and 13,850 will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society. Five years after diagnosis, fewer than half — 46% — will still be alive.
The article stated women should be aware of certain symptoms associated with ovarian cancer, including persistent bloating, abdominal pain, and changes in bladder or bowel function (for more information, go to http://www.cancer.org and search for ovarian cancer symptoms). Although such symptoms are not specific to cancer, they should still be checked out.
To all of our patients who wish to read our monthly newsletter and weekly health news updates online, we have 2 options.
You can go to BeecherChiropractic.com/blog
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Inspirational Story Of The Month –
(Names And Details Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
“Nubs”
The Greatest Acts Of Love And Kindness Often Happen
During The Worst Possible Circumstances
War is hell. It would be hard to find anyone to disagree with that.
But, there must be some people who enjoy them – or they would cease to exist.
As history has shown us… over and over again… some of the most beautiful acts of kindness and compassion have come from the most brutal of circumstances.
They say great athletes need great competition to really show the world how great they are.
Well, Brian Dennis needed the Iraq war and Nubs to show the world how great he really is.
You see, Brian Dennis is a Major in the United States Marines.
While in Iraq, he came across a dog wandering the desert.
He named the skittish dog “Nubs” because his ears had been chewed off and looked like little nubs.
As the story goes, Brian and Nubs clicked right away.
Animals… especially dogs… know a good person when they meet one.
Brian shared his dinner with Nubs. Nubs returned the favor by staying with Brian on his post, helping keep his patrol safe.
The next day, Brian had to leave.
As he drove away, Nubs chased furiously after his Humvee for as long as he could. Nubs was left behind. When Brian and the Marines came back months later, they found Nubs severely injured.
The Marine medics worked on Nubs and patched him up.
The next day, when Brian and the Marines left again, an injured Nubs chased after them as long as he could, but again, was left behind.
Two weeks later, Brian came back and worked on Nubs some more, but once again he had to leave.
This time Nubs didn’t give up.
Nubs, still injured and limping, walked 70 miles across the desert and found where Brian was stationed.
It took him two days, without food or water.
Brian broke the rules and kept Nubs. He even built him a dog house at the Command Post.
Then, the dream ended. Two soldiers who were not part of Brian’s group reported him for having Nubs. Brian had four days to get rid of his dog.
Brian came up with a plan to ship Nubs to his family in San Diego, but needed $2,000. He emailed his family and friends and they all chipped in and saved Nubs!
Now, Nubs lives like a king with Brian in San Diego, California. Nubs has been on several talk shows and is a real celebrity.
It’s hard to tell who is the real hero – Nubs or Brian.
Maybe it’s best to call it a tie!
We wanted to introduce to you how great Brian and Nubs are, but to hear the full story and show your love and support for them, go to www.thestoryofnubs.com.
We highly recommend you buy the book. It is very inexpensive and it is an investment in a wonderful cause.
Did You Know?
One of the pitfalls of pursuing a healthy diet is that we can eat well and easily miss an important nutrient. In the world of healthy eating, one of the most common nutrient deficiencies is Vitamin B-12, a crucial nutrient for nerve health and the construction of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is especially common among vegetarians and vegans, but it’s also common in meat eaters, too. Why? Because Vitamin B-12 can only be absorbed in the small intestine, and due to common intestinal ailments, even many meat eaters who consume high levels of B-12 are unable to absorb it in their gut.
This leads to a series of “mystery” health symptoms that actually have a simple common cause: Vitamin B-12 deficiency!
Here are some of the most common symptoms of deficiency: *Chest pain or shortness of breath * Fatigue or unexplained weakness * Dizziness, trouble with balance, and fainting * Confusion, memory loss or dementia * Coldness, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet * Slow reflexes or diminished nervous system function * Pale skin or yellowing of the skin * Sore mouth and tongue.
The proper form of Vitamin B-12 to supplement your diet is methylcobalamin. This is a form that exists in nature, and it is pre-methylated, meaning it’s ready for your biochemistry to put to immediate use.
Tip Of The Month
Driving Tips And Tactics To Save Money, Especially This Summer.
It’s extremely painful. We’re not talking about a root canal gone bad. Not even close. It’s another visit to the gas pump… When it costs over $60 to fill up a Honda Accord – you know things are bad. The price of gasoline is draining bank accounts and many experts say there is no relief in sight. Some say the answer is to get a new, fuel efficient car. That sounds all fine and dandy, but you have to do a little math to see if it works. For example, one of the new high mileage economy cars will cost you $20,000 – $25,000. How long is it going to take you to make your money back with your Miles Per Gallon (MPG) savings? Probably years.
So, here are some money saving tips from Popular Mechanics: (1) Coast to a stop – Popular mechanics tested and found the less you use your brakes, the better your fuel economy. They said anticipating a red light and coasting vs. hitting the accelerator and then using your brakes at the last second made a huge difference. (2) Do not accelerate too slowly! This goes against what most of us believe. Cars get poor gas mileage in low gears and tests showed taking 15 seconds to get to 50 mph got better gas MPG than taking 30 seconds to reach the same speed. (3) Use your air conditioning!!! Another urban myth gets destroyed. When you drive on the highway, roll up your windows and use the AC. The wind resistance caused by the open windows causes MPG to decrease and the faster you go, the worse it gets.
There are 3 more tips waiting for you at: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/6-driving-tactics-to-save-gas-this-summer.html?page=all
What To Do If Your Cell Phone Gets Wet…
Do not turn it on. Pull out the battery and SIM card. If you dropped it in salt water, rinse it in fresh water. Dry your phone using compressed air – the kind used to clean computer keyboards. Cover your phone with uncooked rice for at least 24 hours (this draws out the moisture). Turn your phone back on. You might want to say a little prayer first
Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal
and maintain the health 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 at 281-286-1300.
Dr Beecher’s August 15 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 15th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Testing Improves Memory. A study found with retrieval practice (in this case, recalling a word in English and its Lithuanian equivalent), every aspect of memory gets substantially better including “target memory” – specific recognition; “cue memory” – the stimulus that evinces the memory; and “associative memory” – the relationship between things. Association for Psychological Science, June 2011
Health Alert: Social Factors And Death. Social factors can be linked to death as readily as can patho-physiological and behavioral causes. These social factors contribute substantially to the burden of disease in the US: education, poverty, health insurance status, employment status and job stress, social support, racism or discrimination, housing conditions and early childhood stressors. Area-level social factors included area-level poverty, income inequality, deteriorating infrastructure, crime and violence, social capital and availability of open or green spaces. The numbers:
245,000 deaths in the US are attributable to low education, 162,000 to low social support, 133,000 to individual- level poverty, 119,000 to income inequality and 39,000 to area-level poverty.
American Journal of Public Health, June 2011
Diet: Olive Oil! Consuming olive oil may help prevent strokes in older people. After considering diet, physical activity, body mass index and other risk factors for stroke, the study found those who regularly used olive oil for both cooking and as a salad dressing had a 41 percent lower risk of stroke. Olive oil has been associated with protective effects against many cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. American Academy of Neurology, June 2011
Exercise: High Blood Pressure In Young People? 20% of young American adults may have high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure have a much higher risk of stroke and heart disease, the leading cause of death among adults in the US. It is also a condition that often shows no signs or symptoms, and many otherwise healthy people who have it first find out when a health professional measures their blood pressure. The findings are significant because they indicate many young adults are at risk of developing heart disease, but are unaware they have hypertension. Epidemiology, May 2011
Chiropractic: Chiropractic First For Back Pain. “For patients with low back pain in whom manipulation is not contraindicated, chiropractic almost certainly confers worthwhile, long-term benefits in comparison with hospital outpatient management.” British Medical Journal, 1990
Wellness/Prevention: Watch Your Weight At 18. Men who had the highest Body Mass Indices (being overweight or obese) at age 18 were 35% more likely to die from cancer later in life. The link is apparent even if they reduce their weight during middle age. Medical Research Council, June 2011
Quote: “In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments – only consequences.” ~ Robert Ingersol
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s August 8 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 8th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Cheer Up! 10% of middle-aged Europeans took antidepressants in 2010. The probability of taking an antidepressant is greatest among those middle-aged, female, unemployed, with low levels of education, and divorced or separated. This pattern is consistent with the recent finding across the world that happiness and mental health follow an approximate U-shape through life (mid-life crisis). University of Warwick, June 2011
Health Alert: No Safe Amount! The blood-alcohol limit may be 0.08% when driving, but no amount of alcohol seems to be safe. This study examined official data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The researchers used FARS because it is nationally comprehensive, covering all US counties, all days of the week and all times of day, and reports on blood-alcohol content in increments of 0.01. Accidents are 36.6% more severe even when alcohol was barely detectable in a driver’s blood. Even with a BAC of 0.01, there are 4.33 serious injuries for every non-serious injury versus 3.17 for sober drivers. Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2011
Diet: Slow Gains? An average adult gains one pound per year. Small changes in diet, consumption of beverages, physical activity, watching TV, and sleep duration were most strongly linked to long-term weight gain. The idea of “eat less and exercise more” may be too simplistic a weight-loss strategy, as it is the quality of food that matters most and making a handful of small, targeted changes is likely to be most effective.
New England Journal of Medicine, June 2011
Exercise: Kids Not Making Grade! Only a small percentage of youth meet the objective for aerobic and muscle- strengthening activities as outlined in the Healthy People 2020 physical activity guidelines. The data revealed 15.3% of students met the aerobic objective, 51% met the muscle-strengthening objective, and only 12.2% met both objectives. US Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
Chiropractic: Safe For Neck Pain? For the treatment of neck pain, cervical manipulation is much safer than the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – which are often used as the ‘conventional’ first-line treatment for similar musculoskeletal conditions – by “a factor of several hundred times.”
Journal of Manipulative Physiotherapy, 1996
Wellness/Prevention: Bone Up With Blueberries. Compounds in blueberries might have a powerful effect on the formation of strong, healthy bones. Studies with rats suggest polyphenols, the compounds that give blueberries their blue, purple, and red coloration, might aid in building strong bones. Animals fed rations containing 10% freeze-dried blueberry powder had significantly more bone mass than their counterparts whose rations were blueberry-free. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2010
Quote: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” ~Thomas 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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s August 1 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 1, 2011
Mental Attitude: City Living And Stress. Being born and raised in a major urban area is associated with greater lifetime risk for anxiety and mood disorders. Two distinct brain regions that regulate emotion and stress are affected by city living. Risk for anxiety disorders is 21% higher for city people, who also have a 39% increase for mood disorders.
Nature, June 2011
Health Alert: Out-Of-Pocket! Roughly 1 of every 6 Americans age 18-64 reported using more than 10% of their total family income to pay for health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2010
Diet: Fat Substitutes? Fat substitutes used in snack foods to help people control weight may have the opposite effect. Substitutes are meant to mimic the taste of fat, while providing fewer calories, but they confuse the body. When rats consumed a fat substitute, learned signals that could help control food intake were disrupted, and the rats gained weight. Tastes normally alert the body to expect calories, and when those calories aren’t present we believe the systems become ineffective and the body’s mechanisms to control food intake can slow.
American Psychological Association, June 2011
Exercise: Exercise Pays Again! Brain cancer patients who are able to exercise live longer than sedentary patients. In a population of patients with advanced recurrent gliomas (lethal brain malignancies that result in a median life expectancy of less than 6 months), those who exercised – the equivalent of an energetic walk five days a week for 30 minutes – had significantly prolonged survival, living a median 21.84 months vs. 13.03 months for the most sedentary patients.
Journal of Clinical Oncology, June 2011
Chiropractic: Soft Tissue Issue? Most patients think chiropractors work on bone, when in fact we use the bones as levers to pull the muscle quickly to help it relax. Here is an example of the profound effects that can be derived from manipulating muscle. Lorraine Clapham, a physiotherapist, discovered that manually moving muscles in the faces of patients with ‘dead’ nerves helped maintain muscle metabolism and prevent wastage. Such movement could help patients struck by a syndrome or who had undergone surgery make a quicker recovery.
Journal of Laryngology & Otology, June 2011
Wellness/Prevention: Marijuana Smokers, Think About It. Long term, heavy marijuana use affects peoples’ impulsivity, attention, memory, cognition and decision-making abilities. Marijuana users have a blunted response to losing while gambling. They don’t figure out a strategy to avoid losses and this is associated with a decreased functional brain response to negative information that guides non-users to make safer choices. The bottom line is: they don’t care as much if they lose. Psychiatry Research, January 2011
Quote: “At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.” ~ 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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
