Discover Optimal Health

How Sitting Wrecks your Body

2012-02-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

Life lessons from a weed eater

2012-02-20T15:06:00.000-08:00

Early spring means early yard work. Not being one to shy away from outside manual labor this doesn't bother me too much. In fact, I rather like spending time in a green, well manicured yard with flowers and trees in full bloom. However, over the last green season, my weed eater (Poulan) has not worked properly. Instead of taking me 45 minutes to weed eat the entire yard it began taking longer and longer until last fall when it took a full 3 hours just to weed eat.

The whole ordeal begins with topping off the fuel and priming the engine. All normal so far. Starting the beast is another story. Ten to 20 elbow numbing string pulls later, she's finally purring. And now the fun really begins. So Poulan is ready to devour my seemingly endless banquet of weeds. And weeds it devours, but with the first sample of rock Poulan vomits the cutting string. Living in Central Texas West of I-35, we have plenty of rocks so I am replacing the cutting string every three to six feet. This in itself is enough to raise my blood pressure. Add to that 10-20 attempts at restarting the engine because every time the cutting string is replaced, the engine dies.

Needless to say, at this point I am ready to not-so-gently disassemble this piece of junk and get a brand new machine. However, weeds and grass grow faster than my desire to spend money and I quickly find myself in the same situation I have so many times before. It is [past] time again to do yard work. The routine repeats only this time the fuel is almost empty and my refuel can is completely empty. With fresh fuel I top off the tank and the fun begins.

At first nothing is different and it's no surprise. As I continue, every time I hit a rock Poulan performs as rehearsed and off goes the cutting string only now Poulan's engine keeps chugging. About halfway through, it's time to refill the tank. Back on the job, Poulan's work ethic and overall health seems to continue to improve. Heading into the final stretch I notice even the cutting string is stronger and less inclined to break.

During the two and half hours of weed eating my thoughts evolved from reluctance to frustration, then anger to curiosity, and ended in enlightenment and even joy. What I thought was a hopeless piece of junk simply needed maintenance, primarily clean fuel.

How clean is your fuel?

Maybe you are reading this and you're wishing you could trade in your once incredible, vibrantly healthy living machine in for a new model. Or perhaps you consider yourself a victim of bad genes or bad luck and feel as though you were issued a defective model from the start having struggled with poor health your whole life. Or maybe you're somewhere in between: Some days are better than others, but you have more digestive problems, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, sleepless nights, pain, sick days or a combination of these than you used to. There is hope!

Health is my purpose and my passion! Clean fuel (proper nutrition) is an indispensable pillar of optimal health and one of the primary causes of vertebral subluxation in our modern lifestyles. If your diet is deficient in nutrients or toxic from synthetic chemicals masquerading as food, your health will suffer. Even the vast majority of supplements on the shelves of major stores are either all out toxic over time or at the very least deficient in whole food nutrients i.e. ascorbic acid is NOT vitamin C.

When God designed us to eat food, His plan was for us to eat the whole food. With such a plan, the whole food has vital nutrient co-factors that dead, synthetic supplements simply do not contain. With out nutrient co-factors, they body either will not absorb and utilize the supplement properly or will supply the co-factors from storage. When your body has to supply the co-factors you are left with a deficiency!

To address this common need, I utilize nutritional therapy at Osborne Family Chiropractic. Nutritional therapy restores dietary balance by replenishing nutritional deficiencies and eliminating cellular toxicity using live, whole food supplements. To determine individual needs and monitor progress, lab work including blood, tissue, saliva, and stool samples is often analyzed along with physical testing and symptom surveying.

Keep in mind that even with an all organic diet free of any toxins, though I have yet to find a real life example of this, may still have nutritional deficiencies due to depleted minerals in the soil used to grow the vegetables. We simply do not have access to the same quality of food that our ancestors did.

Just like healthy fuel allowed my sick weed eater to operate as good as new, proper nutrients will soon have your body healing and working better than maybe you ever thought possible.

If you are barely running on filthy fuel or want to be proactive with your health and discover any asymptomatic nutritional imbalance contact me at dr.ryan@ofcwellness.com or call (512) 255-9711 for an appointment today!

Tribulus - Maintaining Healthy Hormones

2012-02-09T13:21:00.000-08:00

The benefits of maintaining healthy hormone levels go well beyond reproduction. Your hormone levels are important for your overall feeling of well-being, vitality, and stamina.

What is Tribulus?

Tribulus is an herbal supplement made form the highest quality of raw herb, Tribulus terrestris, and the correct part of the plant, the leaves. It contains guaranteed levels of an important compound known as protodioscin, which has been shown to clinically to support healthy hormone production and reproductive function in both men and women.

What makes MediHerb's Tribulus Unique?

Clinical trials suggest that to be effective, Tribulus extract must contain substantial levels of protodioscin. Only the leaves of the plant grown in Central Europe contain this important compound. Many products contain the wrong part of the plant, the fruit, or contain Tribulus from other parts of the world. These products do not contain this very important compound.

Clinically Effective:

- Support normal sex hormone production in men and women

- Support normal reproductive function in both men and
women

- Provide relief from the discomfort associated with
menopause

- Maintain testosterone at normal, healthy levels

- Support normal ovulation

- Promote an overall feeling of well-being

- Support physical endurance, vitality and stamina

Take charge of your life and get the hormonal support you need! Schedule your Nutrition Wellness Evaluation by calling 512-255-9711.

Weight Loss and Detoxification Program

2012-01-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

Weight Loss &

Detoxification Program

At Osborne Family Chiropractic, we are excited to share information which will help our patients achieve their weight loss goals and provide an opportunity for their well-being.
Our systematic, nutritionally supportive, Weight Loss & Detoxification Program, is a powerful healing therapy. Many of our acute ailments, chronic disease and dilemmas result from the suffocation of our cells by over-taxing our body’s systems with inadequate nutrition and exposure to chemicals and toxins. This reduces our vital energy and inhibits our bodies natural healing ability. We have a method to restore health through our practitioner-guided nutrition and detoxification program.

Changing your lifestyle and restoring healthy habits can be difficult. We are available to offer the individual support needed.

What Is Detoxification?

Cleansing the body from accumulated foreign chemicals (xenobiotics) and excess biological compounds and metabolites (ex. hormones) is known as “detoxification.”

Many of these toxins are subjected to numerous chemical changes (detoxification) in order to be prepared for elimination from the body. The major detoxification reactions take place in the liver. The goal of detoxification reactions is to transform chemicals that are fat-soluble compounds into water-soluble compounds which can be be eliminated through the kidneys, skin, and gall-bladder by their respective natural, excretory processes.

Our products safely and effectively facilitate this process.

Who Can Benefit From A Weight Loss & Detoxification Program?

Detoxification has been shown to be extremely beneficial as a preventative measure for different health problems, or as a means to enhance therapeutic procedures for a variety of medical conditions.

Also the removal of toxins from the body produces incredible results in the vitality and function of the body. Toxin removal :

Enhances the organs’ ability to better absorb nutrients
Improves biological function
Accelerates the healing process

A healthy detoxification is of utmost importance in a variety of medical conditions and therapeutic procedures.

Why Is Detoxification Necessary?

Every day, millions of molecules from different compounds enter our bodies through voluntary or involuntary ingestion. These chemicals come from food, beverages, medicines, food additives, personal care, and numerous other sources. Whenever a system, whether living (humans, animals) or otherwise, becomes polluted, normal functioning is affected. Excessive pollution in a system may result in malfunction or serious degeneration of that system.

The advancements in the field of chemistry, biochemistry, biology, etc., have definitely made substantial contributions to the health and well being of mankind. However, with the advancements of science and industrialization, numerous foreign and toxic chemicals have been produced and released in living environments.

The accumulation of these toxic substances in the body can produce a variety of distressful symptoms or medical conditions. Poor nutritional habits and a limited number of healthy food ingredients being used in our daily diets also contributes deficiency and toxicity to our health system.

In addition, a variety of other factors related to our stressful modern life has increased by tenfold the number of allergy problems in the last few decades. Most of the symptoms produced as a result of the accumulation of toxins are very similar to allergies. Mild toxicities and food allergies will produce very discomforting symptoms such as poor digestion, gas, bloating, heartburn, headaches, fatigue, chronic mild infections, hormone imbalances, etc.

Clinician Guided Detoxification Program

Our directed cleansing program, enhanced by a personalized nutrition plan, is critical in maximizing the body’s ability to function properly and increase the cellular cleansing process.

Systematic Nutrition, Weight Loss & Detoxification Program
Introductory Visit

(Fee: $129 for first session + $120 for detoxification support products) (Any additional nutritional products receive 10% discount)
The initial visit will allow time for collecting data, providing patient education and creating a specialized dietary plan to achieve weight loss goals. The consultation will include :

A Comprehensive Health History, Symptom Survey & Toxicity
Physical Examination
Recorded Starting Weight
Recorded Body Fat Percentage
Postural Analysis

Follow-Up Visit

(Fee: $49)
The follow up visit includes additional weight recording and a body fat analysis, as well as continued dietary maintenance to provide the highest level of success.

If you are interested in giving this program a try give Osborne Family Chiropractic a call at 512-255-9711 to schedule your appointment. For additional information on the purification kit go to www.standardprocess.com to learn more.

10 Steps To Avoid Getting Sick

2011-11-14T09:50:00.000-08:00

REST --- Don't over do it-- Without enough rest, our bodies are pushed into a sympathetic response overdrive. This leads to an increased release of cortisol and epinephrine. If these hormones are present in the body at increased levels for a long time, health problems including hypertension can arise.

DON'T OVEREAT – The number one cause of overweight Americans is overeating. The “supersized, whatasized, valuesized” fast-food market is killing America. Around the holiday season, it is easy to overeat and not leave anything on your plate. If you have that tendency, try to serve yourself smaller portions.
DON'T OVERDRINK – Alcohol, not water. Studies have shown that 3 oz. of beer, 4 oz. of wine, or 1 oz. of liquor can be good for the body. But most of us don't limit ourselves to only that amount when allowing ourselves a drink. Too much alcohol can suppress the central nervous system, which in turn can weaken the immune system.
DON'T OVERSWEET– Sugar interferes with a process in our bodies known as phagocytosis. This process involves specialized cells which engulf and digest foreign bacteria and debris in the body. If you interfere with this process, you are decreasing the ability of your immune system to function.
EXERCISE – Cardiovascular exercise greatly decreases the chance of developing coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. It also allows the body to more efficiently utilize and transport oxygen.
DRINK TONS OF WATER – Eighty percent of the body should consist of water, so be sure to incorporate foods high in water content into the diet. Turkey and stuffing are not foods high in water content.
STOP EATING AT 8PM – ...assuming you go to bed at around 10pm. Most bodies go into repair-mode at night-time. So any calories consumed after this time are generally stored as fat and are not utilized in the repair process since digestion is such an energy-dependent process.
GET 7-8 HOURS OF SLEEP – The body is in repair-mode at night. Depriving your body of repair-time is asking for problems.
HAVE YOUR NERVE SYSTEMS CHECKED – The nervous system is what controls the function of the immune system. It also controls the actions of all 70 billion cells in the body .
CORRECT NERVOUS SYSTEM IMBALANCES – With chiropractic care!

Daily Spinal Maintenance Routine

2011-11-10T15:27:00.000-08:00

If you are stressed and desire overall body health (who's not, and who doesn't?), my best recommendation is a daily spinal maintenance stretching routine. Just like we brush our teeth at least twice daily for decay prevention and oral health, our spine and the nervous system it protects need daily attention for optimal health and function.

Position 1

Begin standing in the anatomical position (position 1). Inhale through the nose for a count of 4. Hold breath in for a count of 4. Release through the mouth for a count of 8. This is what I consider a "Therapeutic Breath" (TB). Practice full lung and diaphragmatic expansion.

Repeat the TB. While exhaling, swan dive to forward flexion, reaching your arms towards the floor while bending your torso forward and keeping your knees straight. Take 2 more TB's and upon exhaling the 2nd TB, reverse swan dive up returning to position 1.

Take 2 TB's and upon exhaling the 2nd TB, move your full spine into extension*. With an open mouth your neck will be better able to extend creating a "C" shape from your head to your tailbone. Your arms are to your side. Take 2 more TB's and return to position 1 upon the 2nd exhale.

*Occasionally, I have some complaints of dizziness with full spine extension. Usually this is short lived and abates with exhaling and consistency. You will want to be near something to hold on to the first couple of times you perform the routine to assist with any lapse in balance.

In position 1, take 2 TB's and on the 2nd exhale move into right lateral flexion (a "C" position to the right) with your left arm raised high to the sky and your right arm reaching to the floor. Your right ear should be leaning toward your right shoulder and your left hip "kicked" out. Take 2 TB's and return to position 1 during the 2nd exhale.

Repeat with left lateral flexion.

In position 1, take 2 TB's and move into right rotation during the 2nd exhale. In right rotation you should start twisting at the tailbone up to the head letting your head follow your shoulders. I have my knuckles together with my arms up in front of my chest bone for this movement. Take 2 TB's and return to
position 1.

Repeat with left rotation.

In position 1, take 2 more TB's and your finished! It takes about 10 minutes and will really improve your day.

This routine should be done 1st thing in the AM and last thing before going to bed. In the AM, your brain will respond by readying your body for an active day (mentally and physically) and loosening any stiff joints and muscles. At night, the routine will relax you, help you achieve REM sleep faster, and help you wake up refreshed and feeling good.

Spinal movement is similar to a kinetic flashlight. Without proper spinal movement, brain function suffers. Your brain actually gets recharged from mechano-receptors within each vertebrae firing by motion. This is a major component of the dysfunction that results from vertebral subluxation.

This routine is great for the whole family!!!

Some things to keep in mind while performing the routine:

All end ranges of motion (except rotation) should resemble a "C" position from the tailbone to the head.

Refrain from moving your spine in more than one plane of motion (i.e. if you are bending don't twist at the same time).

Although this is spinal range of motion, nearly every muscle in your body is activated and stretched when preformed properly.

There is a correct posture and incorrect posture for every end range. Frequent "posture checks" will ensure you are in the proper position.

With consistency, your range of motion will improve.

When stressed, our breathing becomes shallow. Therapeutic Breathing can be done without range of motion as well. I recommend it in stressful situations to improve thought clarity, recall, and decrease anxiety.

As you become more advanced:

Closing your eyes will help challenge/improve balance.

Increase the time of your Therapeutic Breath keeping the same 1:1:2 ratio.

Embrace the sensation of involving every ounce of your body.

During your AM stretching, try contracting all of the shortened muscles during inhalation and relaxing the same muscles during exhalation. (while static at the end ranges of all 6 motions)

Life is all about consistency. You will either reap the rewards of doing positive activities consistently, or face the consequences of repeatedly doing negative activities.

For more information, or to schedule a spinal check-up with Dr. Osborne, visit http://www.ofcwellness.com/.

For health!

The Health Benefits of Pumpkins and Pumpkin Seeds

2011-10-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

In Chinese Medicine, both pumpkins and pumpkin seeds are considered sweet and slightly bitter. Bitter foods are good for relieving damp conditions in the body. For this reason, pumpkins are good for treating dysentery, eczema, and edema. It can also help to promote discharge of mucus from the lungs, bronchi, and throat. Regular use has been shown to benefit bronchial asthma. Pumpkin can also benefit the pancreas and regulate blood sugar balance. And so, pumpkin is also helpful for diabetes and hypoglycemia.

Pumpkin seeds have even greater health benefits. One ounce of pumpkin seeds contains over 50% the RDA (recommended daily amount) for iron, over 30% the RDA for magnesium, over 20% the RDA for Vit. E, over 20% the RDA for zinc (which helps to boost immunity), and a generous amount of potassium (Steven Pratt, Superfoods). Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of the amino acid tryptophan and Vit. K, making it a good food for the prevention of osteoporosis. And since pumpkin seeds are a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (and Vit. E), pumpkin seeds are also good for the skin.

Pumpkin seeds can also be used to expel parasites, especially tapeworms and roundworms. Paul Pitchford, author of Healing with Whole Foods, writes, “Various parasites infect a major percentage of the population.” The following symptoms can indicate parasite infestation: general weakness, emaciation, voracious appetite, white coin-sized blotches on face, anal itching (especially at night), nose picking, and cravings for sweets, dried food, raw rice, dirt, charcoal, and burned food (p. 74). “Research has shown that both a decoction (strong tea) and powders of pumpkin seeds have been effective against tapeworm and other parasites in animals” (Gamble & Bensky, p. 441).

Pumpkin seeds have also been shown to reduce cancer risk for the prostate, benefit the urinary tract (since the seeds act as a mild diuretic), help with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reduce cholesterol (since the seeds contain phytosterols), and help with bed wetting during childhood.

To receive the above medical benefits, the ingestion of 2-3 tablespoons daily (or 1-2 ounces) is recommended. To make a strong decoction, or tea, boil 3 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds for 30 minutes.

Below are some other ways to prepare pumpkin seeds. (Paul Pitchford mentions that pumpkin seeds need to be roasted to destroy the possiblity of e. coli.)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds:

Rinse pumpkin seeds. Allow to air dry. Toss with olive oil and sea salt. Bake at 350 degress for 15 to 20 minutes.

Spiced Pistachio and Pumpkin Seeds:

1 cup raw pistachio nuts (peeled, unsalted)

1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, soaked at least 4 hours and rinsed

1 Tbsp. Lime juice

1 Tbsp. Chili powder

1 Tbsp. Tamari or nama shoyu

Toss all ingredients until well coated.
Place on cookie sheet in oven at 250 degrees for a couple of hours.

Bensky, Dan and Gamble, Andrew. “Chinese Herbal Medicine, Materia Medica.” Revised Edition. Eastland Press. Seattle, Washington. 1986.

Pitchford, Paul. “Healing with Whole Foods.” North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA. 1993.

Myth: A vegetarian diet is better for the body than a non-vegetarian diet.

2011-09-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Fact: A vegetarian diet can potentially weaken the body.

There has been a lot of talk about the dangers of eating meat and the health benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle, especially at a time when cholesterol-lowering medication is being prescribed left and right. However, animal meats and products can provide a lot of nutrients that most plants can't provide. But while this article discusses the importance of consuming animal meats and/or products, it doesn't defend the excessive consumption of it, as is common here in the states. (I'm about 140 pounds and was told by Dr. Glen Leupnitz, a nutritionist in Austin, that I should consume no more than 4 ounces of meat at one meal. My 200 pound boyfriend was told that he shouldn't consume any more than 6 ounces of meat at one meal.)

Nutrients naturally provided by meat and animal products include vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin A. Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in anemia as well as nervous system and digestive system damage.¹Claims have been made that B12 is present in certain algae, tempeh (fermented soy), and brewer's yeast. But the “B12 analogues present in algae and tempeh are not bioavailable.”²And “brewer's yeast does not contain B12 naturally; it is always fortified from an outside source.”³A reason why vegans living in certain parts of India are not suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency is due to the coinciding ingestion of insects and their eggs that are still on the plants due to inefficient cleaning. “...When Indian Hindus migrated to England, they came down with pernicious anaemia within a few years. In England, the food supply is cleaner, and insect residues are completely removed from plant foods.”⁴Animal products, including eggs and raw milk, are the only reliable sources of vitamin B12.⁵ Otherwise, it becomes necessary to supplement. But vitamin B12 oral supplements are not absorbed well by the body. Therefore, vitamin B12 should only be taken in the sublingual (under the tongue) form or inhaled (through the nose).⁶

Omega-3 fatty acids are mainly found in animal products, especially fish and eggs, as well as flax seed oil. Only a small amount of omega-3 fatty acids are found in whole grains and dark green leafy vegetables.⁷ “Chronically low levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with higher cancer rates and immune dysfunction.”⁸

Vitamin A is mainly found in animal products. It's true that plants contain beta-carotene which can convert to vitamin A in the body. But this “conversion can only take place in the presence of bile salts.” This means that fat must be eaten in conjunction with the plants to stimulate bile secretion. (But infants or people with gallbladder problems, hypothyroidism, or diabetes have difficulty making this conversion.) For this reason, vegetarians should incorporate butter (from grass-fed cows) into the diet since it is rich in vitamin A and has fat that helps to convert beta-carotene to vitamin A.^{8 “}Abnormal visual adaptation to darkness, dry skin, dry hair, broken fingernails, and decreased resistance to infections are among the first signs of vitamin A deficiency (VAD).”⁹

Dunne, L. The Nutrition Almanac, 3rd ed. (McGraw Hill; New York), p. 32-33; Garrison, R. & Somer, E. The Nutrition Desk Reference, 3rd ed., (Keats Publishing; CT), p. 126.
Scheer, James. Health Freedom News, (Monrovia, CA), March 1991, p. 7
Byrnes, Stephen, “Vegetarian Myths”, Posted by Dr. Mercola on April 02, 2000. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/04/02/vegetarian-myths.aspx
Specker, B.L. et al., Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 47:89-92 (1998); Van den Berg, H. et al., Lancet 1:242-3 (1998); Abrams, H. Leon, "Vegetarianism: An Anthropological/ Nutritional Evaluation," Journal of Applied Nutrition 32:2, (1980) p. 59.
Dunne, op cit, p. 31.
Mercola, “Vitamin B12 Keeps Your Brain Young”, Posted Sept. 23, 2008. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/23/vitamin-b12-keeps-your-brain-young.aspx
Byrnes, op cit.
Horrobin, DF. Reviews in Pure and Applied Pharmacological Sciences, vol 4 (Freund Publishing House; 1983), pp. 339- 383; Harmon, D. et. al., Jnl of Amer Geriat Soc, 1976 24:1: pp. 292-298; Meerson, Z, et al., Bulletin Exper Biol Med, 1983 96:9: pp. 70-71.
Russell RM. Vitamin and trace mineral deficiency and excess. In: Braunwald E, Fauci A, Kasper D, et al, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. vol 1. 15^th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2001:465-6.

Your car can keep you healthy

2011-08-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Why is it that so many people spend more money on maintaining the optimal function of their automobiles every year than maintaining the optimal function of their body? In a 2010 study AAA calculated the average cost to own and operate a mid-sized car to be 56.6 cents per mile or $8,487/ year based on 15,000 miles driven per year.

All responsible drivers are well aware of the fact that regular vehicle maintenance can be a matter of life and death. Safety for all who are in the vehicle and on the road is the number one reason to maintain your car or truck. Ensuring the reliability and longevity of your investment and, for many Americans, primary means of transportation is number two. Failure to maintain your vehicle will lead to a much more frustrating and expensive outcome than should otherwise be expected.

For every human, our primary means of transportation for life is our physical body.

Why in the world would a prudent person spend more time, effort, and money on a replaceable hunk of steel meant to last 5-10 years than their one and only living body meant to last 100+ years?

If we utilize a similar maintenance strategy on our bodies as we do our cars we can keep ourselves at optimal performance. Peak function not only helps to ensure a more productive and higher quality of life along the way, but just like your car, maintaining your body will potentially save you a fortune in future medical expenses from unnecessary "breakdowns".

It's important to point out the fundamental difference between your car and your body is life. Your car has only the operator's intelligence to initiate its function, provide proper maintenance, or a repair. On the other hand, your body is endowed with an inborn, God breathed, Innate Intelligence that constantly organizes and reorganizes the chemistry, cells, glands, organs, and systems in the best way possible to maintain function, automatically. If you are unconvinced of this fact, when was the last time you told your heart to beat, or your lungs to breath, or your immune system to fire up an immune response? Life is dynamic. The intelligence that created you is always adapting your body appropriately to the environment in which you are exposed. Old cells are constantly dying and new cells are being regenerated. The speed and health of cell replacement is a strong indicator of future health.

Though Innate Intelligence is ethereal, nerve tissue, being the most highly conductive tissue in the body, is the preferred means of transmission. Nerve impulses transmit vital information from the brain to all 55 trillion cells of the body to regulate all hormones, enzymes, glandular secretions, emotions, energy, digestion, blood chemistry, etc. Every function of the body is initiated by the master control system that is the nervous system. The spinal column is charged with protecting the spinal cord to allow for uninterrupted nerve transmission and optimal system regulation.

The Vertebral Subluxation Theory suggests that environmental stress, whether physical, chemical, or emotional, has the propensity to shift the bones of the spinal column out of their normal juxtaposition causing a loss of structural integrity. Instead of protecting the spinal cord, a spine with one or more vertebral subluxations present will actually irritate the spinal cord and alter the quality and/or quantity of nerve impulses.

While car maintenance schedules are laid out by the manufacturer and are easy to follow, our personal health maintenance schedule is not that obvious. So I suggest making a list of what you do to maintain your car and matching that list to ways to maintain your body. For example:

Daily

Car- check tire pressure and fluid levels
Body- Daily Spinal Maintenance Routine, Premium Fuel = real, fresh food and ample clean water

Weekly to Monthly

Car- re-fuel, wash, vacuum
Body- spinal integrity check-up with your chiropractor

Yearly

Car- state inspection, registration
Body- spinal x-rays and re-evaluation from your chiropractor

Humans are creatures of habit. Unfortunately, most patients that consult me with health problems believe they are victims of bad germs, bad luck, or bad genes. This is the prevailing mindset of America and leaves little reason for personal responsibility. The truth is, in health and life in general, we reap what we sow. Just as proper vehicle maintenance will save you money in repairs, decrease the inconvenience of breakdown, and increase the life of your car, proper spinal maintenance will potentially save you money in future health care costs, decrease the inconvenience of poor health, and increase life in quality and length.

Writing down and following a simple maintenance plan will go a long way in creating healthy habits for LIFE!

If you or someone you know is looking for a wellness center for guidance in creating a maintenance plan or to carry out your maintenance plan please visit www.ofcwellness.com or call 512.255.9711 to schedule a consultation.

How to turn one trillion dollars into sense

2011-08-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

"One of the biggest tragedies of human civilization is the precedence of chemical therapy over nutrition. It's the substitution of artificial therapy over natural, of poisons over food, in which we are feeding people poisons trying to correct the reactions of starvation." Dr. Royal Lee, 1935

Few will argue that a machine or robot would show improved function when exposed to organic fruits and vegetables. Yet the most heralded and respected voices in modern medicine vehemently argue the opposite literally to death. For the better part of the last 100 years, the vastly growing Medical Industrial Complex has aggressively marketed the use of synthetic drugs and invasive surgery as the way to health. Gaining popularity as early as the 1940's, America's food industry followed suit and processed foods, filled with synthetic chemicals, soon became the norm. Over half a century later, evidence of the insanity of this way of living is undeniable. As Dr. Bruce West bluntly puts it,

The entire megabusiness of processed and chemicalized foods, and the medical and pharmaceutical treatment of diseases caused by these foods is a scam. There are no cures. There is only palliative [feel better] treatment of symptoms with resultant side effects that are often worse than the disease. It is all a high-tech, high-priced business, constantly striving to maintain a near monopoly [on health]. [1]

So for the first time since the dawn of creation, humans are battling the effects of obesity AND starvation at the same time, in the same body.

Surely a nation that spent 2.3 trillion dollars on healthcare in 2008 alone would have something positive to show for it?[2] All of the chronic diseases directly attributed to lifestyle choices such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes are still disgustingly common if not on the rise. But at least the CEO's of the companies making and administering the tests, drugs, and surgeries are filthy rich.

The truth is, health will never be found at the bottom of a pill bottle or at the end of a surgical scalpel.

Optimal health is what chiropractic sells and while we may not be taking home million dollar paychecks every year, we sleep very well at night knowing that first and foremost we 'do no harm', and have a tried and true track record with not only symptom reduction but lifestyle improvement and health restoration.

Chiropractors excel in lifestyle improvement. We educate about the importance of nutrition, movement, posture and the proper execution of such. Improving how we eat, move, and carry ourselves are effective ways at reducing primary stress. Primary stress, for this purpose, is stress we are in direct control of. Secondary stress, then, is stress we have little to no control over. Gravity, traumatic accidents, work environment, and age are all examples of secondary stress. Both primary and secondary stress often respond almost miraculously to chiropractic's bread and butter, the spinal adjustment.

Safe, natural chiropractic adjustments are a scientific way to reestablish spinal integrity. Optimal spinal integrity affords the ever present Innate Intelligence the ability to freely communicate health messages, via nerve impulses, from the brain to the body.

Quite simply, physical chemical and emotional stress reduce spinal integrity with the profound consequence of altered communication, dysfunction, and poor health. Chiropractic teaches reduced exposure to stress through lifestyle improvement while chiropractic adjustments can improve spinal integrity with the profound benefit of adding years to your life and life to your years.

It is long past time to come to our senses. We have paid a heavy price with our wallets and our health buying into a system that promotes re-active care when health is already lost. Chiropractic promotes pro-active care to maintain health. What was the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of synthetic "bandages" that keep you sick"? Or something like that...

If you or someone you know could benefit from safe, natural, and affordable chiropractic care or you would like more information, please visit us at www.ofcwellness.com for more information. Mention this blog for 25% off your initial visit.

1 Health Alert, "When All Other Treatments Fail", August 2011/Volume 28, Issue 8
2 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary, National Health Statistics Group, National Health Care Expenditures Data, January 2010

Myth: Soy products are healthy.

2011-08-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

Fact: Non-fermented soy should be avoided.

Non-fermented soy, as opposed to fermented soy, has been linked to breast cancer, brain damage, infant abnormalities, thyroid disorders, kidney stones, immune system impairment, severe (and potentially fatal) food allergies, impaired fertility, and danger during pregnancy and nursing. Examples of non-fermented soy include tofu, TVP (texturized vegetable protein) or soy protein isolate (which contains a large amount of msg), soybean oil, soymilk, soy cheese, soy ice cream, soy yogurt, soy “meat”, soy protein, edamame, and soy infant formula. Many processed foods contain non-fermented soy. But it's possible to check the label since food manufacturers are required to list soy, because soy is one of the top eight food allergens.

What makes non-fermented soy dangerous to eat? First off, “91 percent of soy grown in the US is genetically modified.” Genetic modification (GM) is done to impart resistance to toxic herbicide. This increases farming efficiency. But it also means that the soy is loaded with that toxic herbicide. GM soy has been linked to an increase in allergies, according to allergy specialist John Boyles, MD. GM soy has also been found to cause infertility, according to a study done in Russia by biologist Alexey Surov and his colleagues.

Soy food also contains “anti-nutrients” (saponins, soyatoxin, phytates, protease inhibitors, oxalates, goitrogens, and estrogens), which interfere with enzymes needed to digest protein.

Soy contains hemagglutinin, a clot promoting substance that causes red blood cells to clump together, making them unable to properly absorb oxygen for distribution to the body's tissues (Gerson & Finucan).

Soy also contains goitrogens, substances that depress thyroid function (Fallon & Enig).

Soy contains phytates. “Phytates bind to metal ions, preventing the absorption of certain minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.” For this reason, vegetarians should definitely stay away from soy products since the consumption of meat actually reduces the mineral-blocking effects of these phytates.

Soy is loaded with phytoestrogens. These compounds mimic and sometimes block the hormone estrogen. For this reason, the consumption of soy has been linked to breast cancer and infertility. “Drinking even two glasses of soymilk daily for one month provides enough of these compounds to alter your menstrual cycle.”

Soy has toxic levels of aluminum (from processing) and manganese.

Many Asian people enjoy the health benefits of consuming fermented soy, such as natto, tempeh, miso, and soy sauce, instead of non-fermented soy. The fermentation process reduces the phytate and “anti-nutrient” levels, and their beneficial digestive properties become available to the digestive system. Fermented soy is the best food source of vitamin K2. “Vitamin K2 is essential to preventing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diseases of the brain such as dementia, and protecting you from various cancers including prostate, lung, liver cancer, and leukemia.”

Reference:

Mercola, 18 Sept. 2010, “This 'Miracle Health Food' Has Been Linked to Brain Damage and Breast Cancer.” http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/18/soy-can-damage-your- health.aspx. Accessed 15 Aug. 2011.

Myth busted by Ashley Simmons, LAc

Back to School Backpack Safety

2011-08-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

The failure to choose the right backpack can have negative effects on a child’s health. Children who wear backpacks that are too heavy, or improperly fitted, can develop serious back trouble that will plague them for years.

As many as 55 percent of today’s students are carrying loads far in excess of the recommended 15% of body weight, with some students’ packs topping the scales at an alarming 40 pounds. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there has been nearly a 300 percent increase in backpack-related injuries among school children in America since 1996. A recent study conducted in Italy also found that the average child carries a backpack that would be the equivalent of a 39-pound backpack for a 176-pound man, or a 29-pound backpack for a 132-pound woman.

Parents and students need to know that often harm is occurring without obvious symptoms. Students may be experiencing mild symptoms now, such as mild headaches and lower back pain. Unfortunately, this could be a preview of coming ailments like chronic back pain and spine degeneration later in life.

One solution to heavy backpacks would be to reduce the weight of textbooks. Another solution is to have one set of textbooks in the classroom and a separate set at home. But until changes are made, here are a few simple tips to keep in mind to help prevent backpack injuries.

*Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. If the backpack is heavier, it will cause your child to begin bending forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.

*The position of the backpack is important. The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.

*Keep in mind that bigger is not necessarily better. Parents should buy the best-designed backpack possible for their child. The more room there is in a backpack, the more your child will carry-and the heavier the backpack will be.

*It is important that your child wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one shoulder strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain.

*Padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable, and can dig into your child's shoulders.

*The shoulder straps should also be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child's body. Shoulder straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal pain.

*If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child's teacher. It might be possible for your child to leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter handout materials or workbooks.

*If your child continues to complain about back pain, consider an alternative to traditional backpacks-packs on wheels. More parents and children are realizing the benefits of this safer way to transport books and other necessities to and from school.

*Talk to your child about the proper use of backpacks and help him or her understand why this and other ergonomic issues are important. A child who is educated early in life on the importance of ergonomics can apply this knowledge later in life-at home or in the office- and will be happier and healthier as a result.
When choosing a backpack, look for:

padded shoulder straps
padded back
lumbar support
a waist belt
multiple compartments
correct size

How to pack:

Loaded backpacks should weigh no more then 15% of the child’s body weight
Distribute the weight properly; load heavier items closest to the back

How to wear:

Take the backpack off when standing for a long time
Wear both shoulder straps
Tighten straps until snug, but not tight
Use the stabilizing waist strap

I urge all parents to teach their children how to pack and carry a backpack correctly to avoid needless injuries throughout the school year. Schedule your child's free back pack check at their next adjustment. Call 512.255.9711 to schedule today!

Myth: Diet soda is better than regular soda.

2011-07-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

Fact: Diet soda is as bad, if not worse, than regular soda.

The inaccurate logic behind choosing diet soda over regular soda is that weight loss can occur as a result of fewer calories being consumed. But evidence has revealed that artificial sweetener can actually cause you to gain weight. It can stimulate appetite, increase cravings for carbohydrates, and stimulate fat storage and weight gain.

Although regular sugar is certainly not the “good guy”, it is more naturally accepted by the body than artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose. Animal studies have revealed that sucralose can cause:

Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)
Enlarged liver and kidneys
Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus
Reduced growth rate
Decreased red blood cell count
Diarrhea

And studies have revealed that aspartame can trigger or worsen the following diseases:

Brain tumors

Multiple sclerosis
Epilepsy
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Parkinson's disease
Alzheimer's
Mental retardation
Lymphoma
Birth defects
Fibromyalgia
Diabetes

This article is not meant to advocate the consumption of regular soda in place of diet soda. All sodas contain phosphoric acid or citric acid, which leech calcium from the bones, leading to osteoporosis. Carbonated drinks can also deprive the body of oxygen. “For every can of carbonated soda ingested, the amount of oxygen in the blood is decreased by 25% for up to three hours.”

Sodas are also extremely acidic. And when the body is in an extremely acidic state, disease develops. “It takes 32 glasses of alkaline water at a pH of 9 to neutralize the acid [from] ONE 12 oz. can of soda.”

Myth busted by Ashley Simmons, LAc

Dr. Mercola. Diet Sodas May Double Your Risk of Obesity. June 30, 2005.

Massey, L.K. (1988). Acute effects of dietary caffeine and sucrose on urinary mineral excretion in healthy adolescents. Nutr Res 8(9).

How to Cope with this Summer Heat

2011-07-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

The principle of Yin and Yang influences the treatment method administered by Chinese medical practitioners. But it also influences everything you and I do to maintain harmony. For instance, when the weather is hot, we usually crave colder foods. Ever notice how watermelon tastes so good on a hot summer day? In Chinese medicine, watermelon is actually the best “herb” or food to take when one is suffering from “summer heat syndrome”. All foods exhibit properties. Some foods taste bitter while others taste sweet. Some foods are cooling while others are warming. We don't need to eat foods that are cold in temperature, like ice cream, in order to cool ourselves down. For example, we don't associate mung beans with being cold in temperature, but mung bean soup is one of the best soups one can have in the summer months for its ability to cool the body. Who knew that hot soup could actually cool the body down?

Below are a list of foods it would be important for you to have this summer in order to keep your body in balance with the hot summer weather:

Apple

Lettuce

Soy sprouts

Banana

Radish

Tempeh

Pear

Cucumber

Mung beans and their sprouts

Persimmon

Celery

Alfalfa Sprouts

Cantaloupe

Button Mushroom

Millet

Watermelon

Asparagus

Barley

Tomato

Swiss chard

Wheat and its products

All citrus

Eggplant

Spinach

Summer Squash

Cabbage (green, purple, Nappa)

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Sweet Corn

Zucchini

Kelp

Peppermint

Spirulina

Dandelion greens and root

Oyster-shell calcium

Honeysuckle flowers

Wheat and barley grass Nettles

Kudzu Red clover blossoms

Yogurt

Lemon balm

Crab

White peppercorn

Clam

Cilantro

Marjoram

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that those people with “cold and chronic conditions” (who always feel cold and lethargic), should not eat cool, raw vegetables since this would not be handled well by the digestive system.

By: Ashley Simmons, LAc

The significance of spinal stability

2011-07-21T16:15:00.000-07:00

Posture is a window into the spine. How one stands often reveals telling health information. It should come as no surprise that I think about posture often and notice both good and poor posture when I am out in public.

Our posture is determined by the shape of our spinal column. A healthy spine is straight when looked at from back to front and has 3 curves when viewed from the side. The importance of these curves cannot be overstated. Maintaining the integrity of the 3 curves ensures structural strength, stability, and protection of the delicate spinal cord.

In Clinical Chiropractic Biomechanics, author Kim Christensen, DC states, "Spinal biomechanical stability requires an optimal lordotic structure. [Of the 3 spinal curvatures], the lordotic cervical [neck] and lumbar [low back] curves are the basis of the spine's ability to resist axial (gravitational) stress."

The formula R = C² + 1 is given to illustrate the roll spinal curves play in our resistance to axial force (gravity). Where "R" is the Resistance to axial force and "C" is the number of curves, an optimal resistance of 10 is achieved with all 3 curves intact. With the loss of just one of the 3 curves in the spine, the resistance to gravity decreases by 50% to just 5.

Because of Innate Intelligence, whose job is to keep all living things living, a loss of resistance leads to adaptation. The way the body adapts is to undergo physical and physiological changes. Some of the common physical changes that occur are a loss of strength, balance and physical performance and altered posture, while some of the physiological changes include muscle spasms, pain, decreased range of motion, headaches, numbness in limbs, increased heart rate, decreased lung capacity, fatigue and more. Long term physical adaptation to lost spinal curves includes spinal degeneration and disc degeneration with chronic physiological changes.

While it's difficult to check your own posture to see if you may have all of your spinal curves intact, it's quite easy to check a buddy. To do this, have your buddy stand normally while you stand to the side of them. For normal posture you are looking for the ear, shoulder, pelvis, and ankle to be centered on a vertical line. Just as cavities are all but a sure thing if you don't regularly brush your teeth, posture abnormalities are almost a given if your spine is not regularly checked and maintained by a chiropractor.

In today's society head forward posture is epidemic. Historically, head forward posture was a condition of the elderly. However, with today's "civilized" postures stuck in front of computers, playing video games, texting, and driving, most, if not all of our day puts us in a posture of flexion. In flexion the spine only has one "C" shaped curve leaving the spine with very little resistance.

For office jobs that involve sitting most of the day, our lumbar spine and pelvis are also greatly effected. Sitting is said to be worse for your spine than candy is for your teeth. In a seated posture, the pelvis rocks forward rounding out the lumbar spine creating a loss of pelvic stability. As the foundation of your spine, pelvic stability is an essential part of overall spinal health.

If you or someone you know is not at optimal health, it may very well be because of a loss of one or more of the 3 spinal curvatures. A simple, painless spinal evaluation is a great way to make sure your spine is healthy and prevent future health problems. For more information visit http://www.ofcwellness.com/ . Some things are better with curves!

Myth: Don't Leave Home Without Wearing Sunscreen

2011-07-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Fact: Sunscreen may accelerate skin cancer.

Researchers at Environmental Working Group (EWG) have revealed that only 39 of the 500 sunscreen products they examined were considered safe and effective to use.

The most alarming disclosure by the EWG was the finding that Vit. A and its derivatives, retinol and retinyl palmitate, may speed up the cancer that sunscreen is used to prevent. Vit. A has been used in many sunscreen formulations because it's an anti-oxidant that slows skin aging. But EWG researchers found findings of an FDA study of vitamin A's photocarcinogenic properties, meaning that cancerous tumors result when vit. A is used on skin exposed to sunlight.

Other reasons for why the EWG considered sunscreens ineffective or unsafe are as follows:

The use of the hormone-disrupting chemical oxybenzone, which penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream
Overstated claims about performance
The lack of needed regulations and oversight by the FDA

For a list of the best and worst sunscreens, refer to EWG's website---http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/

References:
Schneider, Andrew. "Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer." May 24, 2010. www.aolnews.com

Dr. Mercola. "Four Out of five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health." July 01, 2008. www.mercola.com

Dr. Mercola. "The Sunscreen You Should Never, Ever Use." http://www.mercola.com/

Myth Busted by Ashley Simmons, LAc