Teaching Positive Action Instead of Preaching Perfection to Achieve Wellness

What steps are you taking to leading a happy, healthy and peaceful life?  At our wellness center, we don't preach perfection. Instead we promote wellness by teaching positive action!   There is always something you can do to achieve better health today! 

Focus on the positive food choices or physical activity you make daily.  It all adds up and it all counts!   Slowly but surely you can add on new layers of action to enhance your evolving health regimen.  Maybe you can start adding two vegetables to your daily diet or eating leaner cuts of protein.  Maybe you stopped skipping breakfast and started drinking a protein smoothie or eating a bowl of oatmeal with berries.  Maybe you started substituting caffeinated or sugary drinks with water or herbal teas. Whatever changes you make, keep up the good work and your body will reward you with better health in no time!

 

Our purpose is to help as many people as possible get healthy and stay healthy.  It is our pleasure to serve you, your family and our community in wellness today.

5 Reasons To Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

By Margaret Wertheim, www.MindBodyGreen.com

September 29, 2013

Cutting your sugar intake is crucial in order to prevent diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Unfortunate the average American consumes 76 pounds of added sugar per year. That's 23 teaspoons a day! The largest contributor to sugar intake? Soda and sugar-sweetened beverages.  

For many, the seemingly easy fix is to start using artificial sweeteners such sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium, instead of sugar. Unfortunately, these artificial sweeteners have some pretty dark downsides:

1. Artificial sweeteners may actually increase sugar cravings.

Because artificial sweeteners are so much sweeter than sugar, they tend to make you crave sugar more.

2. They're linked to diabetes.  In a study of more than 5,000 people, drinking one diet soda or more on a daily basis was associated with a 67% increased risk for diabetes. This is a very striking result! Switching to diet soda is often recommended to people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This recommendation is ill-advised as it seems that diet soda may actually play a role in increasing diabetes risk.

3. They have been linked to cancer in animals.  In animal studies, artificial sweeteners like sucralose, saccharin, and aspartame have been associated with an increased risk of cancer.

4. They can be harmful during pregnancy.  A study in women noted that artificial sweetener consumption during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk for pre-term labor.

5. Artificial sweeteners, specifically sucralose, may change how your body responds to carbohydrates.  Your blood sugar and insulin levels may actually rise higher when you have carbohydrates with or after drinking a sucralose-sweetened beverage.One of the functions of insulin in your body is to trigger fat storage. If your insulin levels are higher, it is more likely that you will gain weight or it may be harder for you to lose weight.

So can you have a healthy relationship with sweets?

The bottom line is that artificial sweeteners may actually play a role in exacerbating the very conditions that they are meant to address. Instead of drinking diet soda, try sparkling water with a splash of 100% fruit juice. Alternatively, add cucumber or lemon slices to your water for a refreshing and healthy beverage. For other desserts, use natural sweeteners or use fruit, which is naturally sweet, to make healthier desserts.

Healthy by Numbers: 20

20 represents the percentage of all American meals eaten in the car.

Eating on the go can lead to poor food choices, poor digestion and malabsorption of nutrients.  Also because you are concentrating more on driving than eating, you can wind up eating more food - and therefore calories - than you should.  This doesn't do your body any good!

Be more mindful of your eating!
Planning ahead is the key to avoiding eating in the car. Making healthy food choices and eating in a peaceful environment allows you to savor the flavors of your food, eat less, digest properly and have more energy throughout the day.

Source: www.DoSomething.org

Chiropractic Care May Reduce Anxiety

The above headline appeared on the October 1, 2004, "Newswise", and the October 6, 2004 "News-Medical.net". These news stories stemmed from a published report appearing in the September 20, 2004 issue of the peer-reviewed periodical, "Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research" Anxiety(JVSR). The report was a case study of a 19-year old female diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) who suffered from psychiatric symptoms as well as other problems for two years.

This case study noted that this patient's previous medical treatment had included multiple emergency room visits; private specialists; and a rotation of drug therapies including Paxil, Xanax, and Celexa all of which had failed to help her. The patient's history also included at least three motor vehicle accidents between 1995 and 1997, including one where her head shattered the windshield.

The articles note that according to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety is the most common mental health illness. It affects more than 19 million Americans ages 18-54. Patients suffering from General Anxiety Disorder make three to five times more visits to doctors' offices and emergency rooms and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports that direct healthcare costs and lost productivity of these conditions cost more than $42 billion per year.

In December, 2001, the patient started chiropractic care for correction of nerve interference called "subluxations". This patient's results were then documented over a four month course of care. It was observed that medication was discontinued successfully. Additionally, the articles noted that after a four-month course of chiropractic care, the young woman reported an 80% reduction in her anxiety symptoms, including a 90% decrease in her headaches. The patient was able to resume a normal lifestyle without resorting to prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

The research was co-authored by Dr. Madeline Behrendt, Associate Editor of JVSR, and Dr. Nathan Olsen, a chiropractor in private practice in Boise, Idaho. They noted in their conclusion that, "These improvements suggest positive changes in mental health function may be associated with subluxation correction from the application of chiropractic care."

Dr. Behrendt additionally commented, "This young woman spent two years in crisis, going from emergency room to private specialist, spending thousands of dollars for tests and drug therapy, without any resolution of her problems. A simple, non-invasive spinal screening ultimately provided the findings that made the difference: her spine was subluxated, impinging on nerves, and altering the proper function of her nervous system." Behrendt continued by asking, "How many other people are suffering unnecessarily because they are missing the proper screening?"

www.ChiropracticResearch.org 

ADHD Helped With Chiropractic, A Case Study

In the October 2004 issue of the peer-reviewed research publication, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), comes a case study of a child with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), who was helped with chiropractic. 

The case was of a 5 year old boy who had been diagnosed with ADHD at age 2. The childs pediatrician prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin), Adderall, and Haldol for the next 3 years. The combination of drugs was unsuccessful in helping the child. 

At age 5 the child was brought to a chiropractor to see if chiropractic care would help. The history taken at that time noted that during the childs birth, there were complications during his delivery process. The results of this trauma and complications resulted in a 4-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. The childs mother reported no other incidence of trauma.

The chiropractic examination and x-rays showed noticeable spinal distortion including a reversal of the normal neck curve indicative of subluxations. Chiropractic care was begun and the childs progress was monitored.

According to his mother, positive changes in her son's general behavior were noticed around the twelfth visit. By the 27th visit the patient had experienced considerable improvement.

The child was brought by the mother to the medical doctor for a follow up visit and questioned the usage of the Ritalin. Themedical doctor reviewed and examined the child and based on that assessment and his clinical experience, the MD felt that the young boy was no longer exhibiting symptoms associated with ADHD. He then took the boy off the medications that he had been taking for 3 years.

The conclusion of the author of the JMPT case study noted, The patient experienced significant reduction in symptoms. Additionally, the medical doctor concluded that the reduction in symptoms was significant enough to discontinue the medication.

www.ChiropracticResearch.org

"Challenging Dr. Caldwell: Part I" by Michael Boblett

Chiropractors are not all equal.

I have visited chiropractors since before most of my readers were born - starting in the 1960s.  In that time, I've had my share of disappointments.  In that time, I have seen lots of chiropractors who did the same adjustments again and again, providing only temporary relief.  It was like being hooked on a drug that's expensive, temporary, and ultimately unsatisfying. 

So what was missing?  Proper assessment.

Why is assessment important?  Without good assessment, healers offer bandaids instead of cures.  Without good assessment, health practitioners will chase down the same symptoms over and over again.  So without good assessment, clients are caught in a vicious cycle of visit after visit after visit with no real change in the underlying problems.   

But a truly professional assessment requires thorough study of the client's shifting patterns.  In chiropractic, proper assessment requires periodic X-rays, nerve scans, physical palpation - and lots and lots of prior knowledge.  

That's how Dr. Caldwell got me here, both as a colleague and as a client.  Because I started out as his client, NOT his colleague.  When I first set foot in UTC Chiropractic, I had my own separate practice.  And I had no intention of closing down my two offices.

I'll even admit that I was skeptical.  I have a lot of experience.  Ten years' worth.  I'm good at what I do.  And I'm  good at assessment.  

So when Dr. Caldwell offered a discounted assessment at a business network meeting, I opened up my wallet, pulled out some cash, and walked up to him with a smirk on my face.  As I handed him the money, I said:  "OK, big guy, you're on.  Prove to me that you're good at assessing structures!"

It was a set-up.  I admit it.

You see, for years I've been taking classes from various Rolfer, Structural Integrators, Active Release Technicians, and others.  And I have a simple method for assessing the assessors: my own body.

Without going into details, I'll just say that I have a very complicated medical history.  That's especially true of my bone structure.  My skeleton is a roadmap of 61 years of injuries, infections, visceral misalignments, and lots and lots of exercise, some of it stupidly done.

So when a teacher claims to be able to assess a skeletal structure, I try hard to be one of the models in that class.  I try hard to be the guy standing up there with a list of obscure symptoms and a set of patterns that defy analysis.  In Dr. Caldwell's own words, I'm a Rubik's Cube of skeletal distortions.  

Over the years, I've found three kinds of assessors:

First, there are the ones who try to make stuff up.  They use a lot of big words in Greek and Latin, point to this or that area, and come up with a fairy tale that bears no relation to reality.  I see through these people quickly.

Second, there are the people who tell the truth - but it's stuff I already know.  Actually, these people impress me a lot, because they're in a distinct minority among practitioners.  

Third and most rarely, there are the people who tell me stuff I DIDN'T already know.  That's Dr. Caldwell - and a handful of very senior people with established reputations.  

For example, Dr. Caldwell took X-rays.  Well, who doesn't?  But THEN he was able to look 'em over and point out things I'd never noticed before.  And believe me, I've been looking at X-rays of myself since before Dr. Caldwell was born.  He also performed a set of nerve scans that explained connections between symptoms I'd never seen as connected.  I'd had previous chiropractors explain that the spine was a central switchboard.  But I never worked with a man who took to time to go over my vertebral impingements and say:  "OK, how's your digestion?  How's your thyroid gland?  Do you get migraines?"  

Duh!  But it's the obvious stuff that's hardest to see.  That's what genius is.  Genius is what makes the rest of us slap our foreheads.  So from that first session, I was Dr. Caldwell's loyal client.  

But why did I move into his practice?

Oops, times up!  For that, you'll have to read my next column:  "Challenging Dr.  Caldwell, Part II."

Michael Boblett is a Certified Advanced Rolfer, Egoscue Postural Specialist and skilled practitioner of Neural Release with 10 years of experience and over 1,500 hours of study in deep-tissue, nerve-activation, and therapeutic movement work.  Michael has a strong knowledge of muscles, nerves, movement patterns and the kinds of restrictions that can interfere with your strength and freedom. 

With his time-tested strategies for low back, neck, shoulder, foot, hamstring, knee and hip dysfunction, Michael has experience working with triathletes, marathoners, cyclists, golfers, power lifters, yoga practitioners and even the busy professional chained to their desks all day to rehab tired and sore muscles, improve sports performance and slow down the aging process.  

Do your muscles need rehab?  

Call us at 858-457-0123 to book an introductory session today!

Health By the Numbers: 2

This number out of three adults in the United States are overweight or obese while one out of three children are overweight or obese.

Health is a Journey, Not a Destination

 

At UTC Chiropractic, our purpose is to help you learn how to better take care of your body and your health.  Everyone is on their own path to wellness. No matter where you are on your journey, we can help you get farther down your path.  It's up to you how quickly you would like to travel but there is no FINAL destination in that, striving for wellness is a continuous journey with challenges to meet along the way in the form of physical, mental, emotional and chemical stressors.  We are here to help you better handle these stressors  while on your journey to wellness.  You will reap the benefits of every positive healthy step you take along the way.  And every day you move in the right direction along your path, we are here to walk beside you.  And we are here to walk behind you to push you and motivate you to keep going! And even when you take a few detours, a couple steps back or a step in the wrong direction, we are here to help get you back on track! 

The benefit of being a patient at our wellness center is that whoever you care about, we care about too!  If you have a friend who needs assistance down his or her own path to achieving wellness, have them call us to schedule an initial consultation with me.  They have nothing to lose except 30 minutes of their time and everything to gain - information, perspective, guidance, motivation, support and guidance.

At our wellness center, our purpose is to help people achieve optimal wellness!   We believe that when you feel great, you will do great in life!  

Did You Know This....About Sugar?

The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar daily while the average child consumes 32 teaspoons daily.

Refined sugar is linked to: insomnia, dizziness, allergies, 

manic depression, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hypoglycemia, 

colon & pancreatic cancer, hair loss, ADD/ADHD, breakouts & skin irritation, 

obesity, Type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome.

It can exacerbate mood swings, personality changes, irritability, asthma, arthritis, heart disease, cholesterol,  gallstones and endocrine problems.  According to the American Dietetic and Diabetic Associations, increased sugar consumption is the leading cause of degenerative disease.