Vitamin D

The Vitamin known as D, may be the most important vitamin known to mankind. Unique in that it is the only vitamin that is manufactured right in our own body, recent research has shown that Vitamin D strengthens bones, enhances immune system function, slows down cancer cell production, acts as a natural pain killer and can help to prevent Type 1 Diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis. Vitamin D has even been shown to fight depression. The Los Angeles Times reported that Vitamin D deficiency is an "Unrecognized Epidemic." Researchers are recommending that the daily intake for vitamin D should be around 1000 IU. The best source of natural Vitamin D is sunlight . 15 minutes of sun exposure can generate as much as 10,000 IU of vitamin D. That is one of the reasons why people are much healthier and happier in the spring and summer time. Healthy and controlled sun exposure is very good for you. In the winter time, it is extremely important to switch from regular fish oil supplementation to Cod Liver oil. Cod Liver Oil is high in natural Vitamin D and replaces what we are missing from not being out in the sunshine.

Thought for the Week: " If at first you don't succeed, you are running about average." ----- M.H. Alderson

Chiropractic Tip of the Week: "Chiropractic care works and it works in every person, every time. Like dropping a coin in the ocean, the change may not always be noticeable." "The coin displaced the volume of the ocean, even though you did not see the change in ocean level. The spinal adjustment improved function in the body even though you may not "feel" the change in bodily function."

Night Cramps

Night cramps are the horrible tightening of muscles that occur when sleeping. The muscle slowly tightens so much that a sharp, stabbing pain will wake you from a sound sleep just as if someone blew a horn next to your head. The pain can be extremely intense. Night cramps commonly occur in the lower legs (calf), feet, toes and thighs. The cramping muscle is actually contracting, so the only way to relieve the pain is to do the opposite motion of the contraction, which is to stretch. The calf cramps with the foot pointing away from the body. To relieve the cramp, pull the foot and toes toward the body. Night cramps are usually a result of mineral deficiencies. Calcium, magnesium and potassium are the usual culprits. A lack of vitamin B also adds to the problem. Eat leafy green vegetables, yogurt, bananas, apples, broccoli and nuts to fill the void. Supplementation with minerals and B vitamins will also help. In addition, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water with a little lemon juice and honey will do the trick.

Thought for the Week: The Three Basic Principles of Success: Strive to Know More. Work Hard. Be Absolutely Honest.

---Fred Barge, DC

Chiropractic Tip of the Week: The Spinal Cord is the main conduit from the brain to the nerves. The spinal nerves branch out between the spinal bones and connect to all parts of the body. The working action of all the cells, tissues and organs in the body is dependent on the nerve impulses that arrive from the spinal cord. Nerve impulse interference (subluxation) will cause decreased function to the body and decreased health.

Fish, Fruits and Veggies Against Stroke

The word Stroke when used in conjunction with health is a scary one. A stroke is the debilitating after effect of cardio-vascular disease. A stroke is caused when the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off. Brain tissue immediately dies and can never come back. Oxygen is cut off due to a blockage in the blood flow to the brain. Most of these blockages are caused by fat deposits in the artery walls. Blood clots can also cause an arterial blockage and chronic high blood pressure can damage artery walls, leading to a rupture. Strokes are a leading cause of death in the United States. The defence against having a stroke, as with all disease, is a good offence. A diet high in fresh fruit, whole grains, fish, beans and nuts reduces the chance of forming blood clots. Essential fatty acids found in fish and fish oil supplements are anti-inflammatory in nature and act as blood thinners, which helps to improve circulation. A large study found that people who ate fish twice per week, were at a signifcant less risk of having a stroke. It was also found that by eating fruit and vegetables daily, stroke risk could be lowered by at least 6%.

Thought for the Week: (On ignoring symptoms) "Would you put a sponge under a dripping faucet, so you couldn't hear it drip?" Would you take a marker and color over the bright red engine light on your car?"

Chiropractic Tip of the Week: The purpose of the spinal adjustment is not to depress symptoms. The purpose is to remove interference or pressure from the nerve, restoring normal nerve supply. Then nature with her exact knowledge, decreases or increases activities in the various organs and body parts as she finds necessary. ---- Carl Cleveland, D.C. President of Cleveland College of Chiropractic

Celery & You Perfect Together

Celery is one of the most disrespected of vegetables. Not much taste, it burns more calories chewing it than are contained in a mouthful and it's long stringy fibers can get caught in the teeth. The good news is that eating celery is well worth the effort. Celery may protect against stomach cancer, it has been shown to help lower blood pressure and it aids in digestion. Celery is also a natural diuretic and can help with weight loss. Celery is good for detoxifying the body and can even help clear up skin problems. All you have to do is eat it every day. Believe it or not, celery can also stimulate sex drive. Celery is made up of many important vitamins and phyto-nutrients. It is also extremely high in fiber. Celery will last up to two weeks in the crisper of your fridge. Put it in your salads, eat it raw by the stalk, cook with it in stir frys and soups. Serve it raw with peanut butter or cream cheese on for the kids.

Thought for the Week: "A new philosophy, a way of life, is not given for nothing. It has to be paid dearly for and only acquired with much patience and great effort." ----Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: " Parents become concerned when a child has a fever, we must recognize that this usually indicates nothing more than nature fighting a disease. When fevers become very, very high, or a child has a history of convulsions, treatment of a fever becomes more urgent. In most children, however, the treatment of a fever is more to lower the concern of the parents than to do any good for the child." --Dr. G. Timothy Johnson, MD, Chicago Tribune Health Columnist.

Fever is the body's way of fighting an infection. If nature is not allowed to take its course, ie low grade fevers being treated by over-the-counter-meds, the infection stays with the body much longer and the child continues to be sick. Chiropractic spinal adjustments help to improve immune function and also normalize body chemistry. This helps the body to naturally fight off the infection. A spinal adjsutment may even help the fever become a degree or two warmer to fight off the infection. ----------- Dr. J.

Garlic & Onions

Bad breath may be a costly side effect, but halotosis aside, garlic and onions are one potent health producing food. The Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study that found consuming garlic and onions provided protection from esophageal, colon, breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. Garlic and onions have also been shown to help ward off hypertension and osteoporosis. The sad news is that most of all the health benefits occur from eating raw onions and raw garlic. The kind that sticks with your breath for days on end. The active, health producing ingredient in garlic, actually starts to vanish within 1 hour of being cut into. Cooking the garlic kills the ingredient in no time.

Thought for the Week: " I taught myself discipline. How to be totally in control of my body. I could apply that discipline to everyday life. I used it in acting, in going to school. Whenever I didn't want to study I would just think back and remember what it took to be Mr. Universe--the sacrifice, the hard work---and I would plunge myself into studying." -------------Arnold Schwarzenegger

Chiropractic Tip of the Week: "The object of all health education is to change the conduct of individual men, women and children by teaching them to care for their bodies well." ----- Charles Mayo, MD

Sugar Bad

75 years ago, a German Scientist / Doctor won the noble prize for discovering sugar feeds and encourages cancer growth. On November 8th, 2006, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published an eight year, 80,000 person study of dietary habits and pancreatic cancer. The study found that those who added sugar to their food or drink (5xper day) and or drank soft drinks (2xper day) had a 70-90% greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic Cancer is the most deadly form of cancer. Once diagnosed, a patient typically has 3 or so months to live, maybe less. The pancreas is the organ in the body that is used to secrete insulin to lower blood sugar levels. The link to pancreatic cancer is the increased levels of insulin to lower the blood sugar. Two other risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer are being overweight and inactive. The number one source of calories in the United States is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Corn Syrup causes a huge increase in pancreatic activity due to the high amount of insulin needed to lower the sugar level in the blood. It is extremely important to avoid sugar consumption, drinking soft drinks and any food that contains Corn Syrup.


Thought for the Week: "Duty cannot exist without faith."-------Benjamin Disraeli


Chiropractic Tip of the Week: Chiropractic care relates to every level of human performance because every level of human performance is controlled by body chemistry. The chemicals that control the body are produced by organs and glands. Organs and glands are controlled by the nervous system. Subluxated vertebra cause nerve disruption and irritations, causing the organs and glands not to function properly. When the organs do not function properly, body chemistry is thrown into a chemical imbalance decreasing human performance. Chiropractic care corrects subluxated vertebra, removing nerve disruptions, improving organ function and restoring chemical balance in the body, thus improving human performance in every man, women and child. Really.

Healthy Food Prep

An important part of ensuring a happy, healthy holiday is food preperation. Many raw animal foods contain contaminants that are easily spread from one food source to the next. The following tips from the USDA will help to prevent food poisoning and keep your family and guests healthy.
Clean - Wash hands, surfaces and utensils often to avoid spreading bacteria when preparing food. Hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of foodborne illness.
Separate - Use different cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, seafood, and veggies. When you prepare The Holiday dinner, keep the raw meat fish and poultry away from vegetables and side dishes that won't be cooked.
Cook - You can't tell it's done by how it looks! Use a food thermometer. Every part of the holiday turkey should reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
Chill - Keep the fridge at 40°F degrees or below to keep bacteria from growing. Pumpkin pie should always be refrigerated and leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours.

Thought for the Week: "In the whole domain of healing, the sick habit is the most difficult disease to cure."-----J.H. Tilden, MD

Chiropractic Tip of the Week: "Spinal Subluxations are capable of provoking multiple, adverse functional changes, not only in their immediate vicinity, but, by way of nervous influences, in remote tissues and organs of the body."-----C.W. Weiant, Medicine and Chiropractic 1958