Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

2011-03-07T17:17:00.002-08:00

Ah, precious sleep. It may be my favorite thing. Unfortunately, I've danced with a few rounds of terrible insomnia and know all too well what it's like to have sleep elude you. After roughly 3 days of not sleeping well I start to lose my wits. Not only do I become crabby, but my reflexes are slowed, my brain halts to a crawl and a foreboding sense of doom overcomes my entire being.

One of the main question lines I ask during a New Patient Intake is all about sleep. Do you sleep well? How many hours a night? Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you feel rested upon waking in the morning? Do you feel you get enough sleep?

Most of my patients say "NO" to most of these questions. It's a National Crisis, people are no longer sleeping well! I'm not exaggerating, the majority of my patients do not sleep well. There are many reasons for this, but regardless, it needs to be dealt with.

When a patient presents with very little in the way of overall health issues, but tells me that they are not sleeping well, I know it is going to be a difficult case. When patients have a laundry list of concerns but they are sleeping like a champ, it's usually an easy fix with the rest.

How much sleep does an adult need? 8-10 hours a night. If you are not getting that much sleep a night, read on!

Lack of sleep has shown causation in obesity, diabetes, accidents, depression, heart disease, increased injuries and even cancer! I see a ton of chronic pain issues associated with sleep problems. There is science behind all of these issues, but that is for another post.

I'd like to address what some common causes are and what you can do about it.

Cause #1: Computer and Phone Screens
Yes, we all do it. We watch movies on our computers in bed, we check our phones right up until bedtime, we might even read a book on our phones/kindle/ipad, etc. That light coming from all of these sources messes with the natural surge of melatonin that is supposed to occur in the evening and completely reeks havoc on your sleep patterns. Monitors off at 9pm, it's a good rule.

Cause #2: Stress and Adrenal Issues
When people are stressed their cortisol and adrenalin surges that are normally supposed to occur in a circadian rhythm during the day get messed up and cortisol starts to randomly surge at night. Do you wake up consistently between 3-5AM, with a start, for no reason? Wide awake? That's your cortisol barking. Not as easy a fix as turning off your computer, however we can help you with that one.

Cause #3: Blood Sugar Issues
Managing and controlling your blood sugar is a topic for another post, but an easy habit you can adapt for our purposes here is to eat a small bit of protein (animal protein is best) and a small amount of carbohydrate right before bed. This should help your blood sugar not drop so low and the subsequent surge of cortisone that follows (see above).

Cause #4: Bed is for Sleeping
And sex. But not fighting, movie watching, reading stressful news on your Ipad, etc. It's a comfortable place for sleeping, and it should be reserved for just that.

Cause #5: Pets
I love my dogs as much as anyone, but they keep me up all night. Panting, licking themselves, moving around. Pets cause a LOT of sleep disruption for people. Consider kicking them out at night.

Cause #6: Lighting
This is a BIG one. For one, people leave the lights around the house cranked up until just before bed, which is not at all natural. Natural light wanes in the evening into darkness at bedtime. We too should follow this pattern. Turn the lights down, dim the bedroom lights, get your body and hormones ready for bedtime starting a few hours before bedtime by dimming the house down a bit.

Cause #7: LED Lights
Alarm clocks, smoke detectors, air purifiers, etc. All of these contraptions have LED lights that stare out at you like little beady evil eyes all night long. And as you toss and turn and wake all night your eyes are drawn right to that alarm clock to remind you how bad the situation really is. Cover the alarm clocks, put a small bit of duct tape over ALL the LED lights in the room. Dark curtains, blocking all outside light, are best. The room should be as dark as a tomb. You will sleep so much better.

Cause #8: Lack of Exercise
If you wear yourself out physically during the day, instead of just mentally, you will sleep better. I promise.

My prescription to all my patients: 1) Buy a soft, comfortable eye mask 2) Cover all windows with dark curtains 3) Buy some soft, squishy ear plugs 4) Kick the pets out 5) Warm Epsom salt bath and calming tea before bed 6) Sleep like a dream!

If precious sleep is eluding you, come see one of the doctors here at Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic. It's often a simple fix and your body, mind and family will thank you for getting it sorted out!

In Good Health,

Dr Tyna Moore, ND, DC

Spinal Subluxation defined

2010-05-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

This is a little technical but when a joint misaligns it stretches the ligaments which produces some localized swelling and disabling the arthrokinetic reflex. The joint is unstable due to the stretch reflex and the body trying to protect itself by splinting and causing muscles of motion to stablize the joint. This creates stiffness and altered fluid motion that we might describe as grace or gracefullness.

The body should move fluidily with little effort. It is theorized that the body uses a unique pattern of movement called tensgrity. If the normal tensgrity structures are disrupted then the body can use alternative patterns to still create movement but more energy is required thus leading to initially irritability (easily upset/mood swings, etc) and eventually pain and fatigue.

Unless the joint is realigned the reflex will continue and the spasms will continue. The body can learn to adapt and work around the problem but at that point limitations in ability begin to occur, sublty over time. It is kind of like weight gain or weight loss... slowly over time it comes on or off without us realizing until we can't button our pants or our pants are now loose.

Many believe it is a process of "getting older" yet fail to realize that what is actually occurring is a loss of function due to a SUBLUXATED (misaligned) joint.

By correcting or realigning the joint stress is taken off the ligaments and the reflex can turn off allowing healing to occur. The rate of healing is dependent on many variables which can be discussed if so desired.

Dr. Scott's short wellness tip #3 "Ice or Heat for Injuries"

2009-12-16T14:38:00.000-08:00

Occasionally, patients will come in with back pain or injuries who have been told to put a heating pad on it by their doctor. My philosophy is to give patients information and have them make decisions, so I walk them through the "injury cascade of events". (This is like your little brothers in the back seat of the car when one calls the other a name, the other retaliates, then one pushes the other, more retaliation, eventually leading to a full blown hockey brawl.)
When muscles, ligaments, or tendons are injured, they release mast cells. These cells secrete histamines (the things that make your sinuses swell). The histamines allow your blood vessels to leak plasma but not blood thus allowing the tissue to swell.
God or mother nature designed the system this way. Swelling makes the area more stable like it has a splint on it and causes pain so we don't use the structure. Swollen and inflamed tissues which are exposed to more heat tend to swell more.
The logical conclusion is to put ice on the structure to reduce swelling.
After 48 hours, sometimes we we recommend using heat for 20 minutes followed by ice for 10 minutes (always ending with ice). This engorges the tissue with fresh oxygenated blood followed by reducing the saturation of blood. This is a good way to accelerate healing of bruising.
Anti-inflamatory medications reduce inflammation too but repeated use over the long haul can damage your kidneys. Ice has not been found to cause damage unless thrown by your little brothers.

Dr. Scott's short wellness tip #2 "Digestive Enzymes"

2009-12-15T17:32:00.000-08:00

Hi folks,
Today I'll mention enzymes to support digestion.
Your body makes acid and enxymes in the mouth, pancrease, and stomach to break foods down from big chunks of protein, sugars, and fat into amino acids, smaller sugars, and smaller fats.
If you are run down or stressed for a long time, your body can fail to make enough enzymes and acid which can lead to poor digestion, bloating, low energy, gas and eventually loss of friendships (just kidding). Your body gets less nutrients from your food and has less energy to make acid and enzymes thus aggravating the situation. (I see this in elderly patients.)
We provide temporary support for our patients with oral plant enzymes. When taken with meals, these enzymes help break down the food to release the nutrients and increase energy.
I have had patients who were run down from battling cancer try digestive enzymes report that they had an increase in energy, less bloating, and healthier bowel movements.
Another aspect of enzymes is that some patients have food allergies (grains and dairy being most common.) These patients report that they can take enzymes with allergen foods without having a reaction.
I don't recommend needing digestive aids for life but if patients are planning to attend functions or travel when they may be eating rich or unfamiliar foods, digestive enzymes can help them avoid challenges and keep their friendships intact.
Ask about digstive enzymes at your next visit.

http://www.integrativeinc.com/Products/Digestion/Daily-Digestive-Support-amp-Enzymes/74239-Similase.aspx

Dr. Scott's short wellness tip #1

2009-12-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Hi guys and gals,
Today I am starting to post a cumulative list of wellness tips.
I'll try to plug in a reference when possible for those who want more detail.
Now that it's "cold and flu season" we need to boost our immune systems.
The #1 simplest and cheapest immune enhancement is to avoid sugar.
White blood cells ((WBC's) are serve as our immune warriors. They kill bacteria and viruses.
(Viruses are not technically alive, but who wants to consider being invaded by an army of microscopic "undead" beings?)

WBC's are activated by vitamin C; research shows that sugar inhibits WBC activity.
Sugar ties up the receptor site on the WBC where vitamin C is supposed to fit. (It's like a chunk of metal stuck in your ignition on your car so your key can't be inserted.)
Sorry to say, fruit sugar is still sugar. Drink fresh water with a small amount of unsweetened fruit juice in it. (Boring, I know. But do you want to get well or drink sugar?)

Bonus tip:
The immune system is THE MOST ENERGY CONSUMING PROCESS IN THE BODY.
If you are getting sick, go to bed.
If you can't go to bed, cut out as much as you can, get home early, and go to bed.
The rest of the stuff can wait.

What is a good diet, anyway?

2009-12-09T16:00:00.000-08:00

How do yo u make cows fat REALLY FAST?

Answer: Put them where they don't get much exercise and feed them starchy grains and cereals.

How about people?
Well...put them in cubicles and have them eat pastries, sugared coffee drinks, and pizza!

Moo.

These are various facts and opinions cobbled together for you to add to your knowledge.
If you think someone is going to write the final comprehensive book or article on human nutrition, forget about it. It's a learning process like raising kids, cooking, or working on cars.
Hand me that spatula/socket wrench and let's get started.

You're at your family doctor and due to your weight, blood pressure, or cholesterol level, they say, "You should eat a healthier diet and get more exercise". But what does a "healthy" diet consist of? It can seem very complex at times with all of the conflicting research in the media. One day eggs are good, next day they're not. One day they say drinking coffee causes heart disease. The next day they say it prevents Alzheimer's disease. So, what's the deal?

The following are general recommendations and dietary needs may vary depending on individual needs, like athletes, people with certain diseases, etc.

The simple overview of the building blocks for planning your diet can be listed here:
Meat and fish;
Fruit and vegetables;
Nuts and seeds.
Healthy oils come from fish, vegetables (avacado, cocanut), and nuts.

All philosophical debate aside, we are designed to eat meat. Our teeth, digestive system, and metabolic needs dictate that including fish and meat in the diet is healthier than being a strict vegetarian. If you're going to be a vegetarian, you had better study how to replace the nutrients you need.

Here are some sad facts:
Dairy products are generally bad for you.
Your humble author grew up on a farm in Minnesota so dairy products were a big part of our diet.
Two things need to be considered:
First, proteins in milk (casein, lactoalbumin) usually aggravate food allergies (along with every inflammatory process in your body- arthritis, asthma, runny nose).
Secondly, milk contains grown hormones which aggravate hormonal systems in the body, especially in teens. (This stimulates accelerated skin cell growth, oil secretion, and clogged pores.)
Toss in hormones and antibiotics needed for large dairy farm production and milk becomes worse.
(For calcium, eat green vegetables like cows do. Cows don’t drink milk and they don’t get osteoporosis! Elephants have a solid femur and they don't drink milk either!)

Peanuts contain aflatoxins and are more of a vegetable than a nut.

Grains and cereals make us fat, acidic, and allergic.
Glutens cause constant inflammation of the colon and probably the whole body. The more processed they are, the more like sugar they are. Twinkies are not the staff of life.)
Grains move us toward acid environment which is cancer friendly.

Sugar is killing us. Starch is sugar. Breads, grains, and cereals are starch. Corn is not a vegetable; it is a grain. When you eat sugar your blood sugar rises; your pancreas secretes insulin which tells your cells to pull sugar out of the blood into storage (usually fat); sometimes the system wears out and you become diabetic. Prevention is the key. Eat little sugar, little starch, slow absorbtion of sugar by combining with oils.

Corn syrup is killing us. It is in everything. Run away!

If you’re going to change your diet, you have to study food and human physiology. If you can learn to use a cell phone and a computer, you can learn nutrition. Get to work. The benefits are huge. The cost of failure is a huge waistline and huger health problems.

First change your beliefs, then change your habits.
First add healthy things, then delete bad things.
Drink more water; eat a bag of raw vegetables; if your friends undermine your efforts,tell them you need their support in your healthy pursuits; if necessary get healthier friends.

In our anti-health life
Our dirt is so disinfected that we don’t get enough good bugs on our food any more. You need to eat good bacteria every day. We stock probiotics in our clinic.

We don’t have time to eat enough good food so take a multivitamin / mineral supplement. We stock them in our clinic.
(You need to take vitamin D in extra quantities as well.)

Finally, you need Omega 3 fatty acids for about 100 important reasons. It is like the oil that keeps your leather apparel from drying out. It keeps your cell walls healthy and if your cells are healthy, you will be healthy.
We stock Nordic Naturals Products in our clinic.

A couple of other things:
1. Fresh fruits and vegetables - Raw or lightly cooked/steamed is the best. Overcooking results in less nutrients being available and it breaks down the natural enzymes found in produce, which helps aid in digestion and in the health of the digestive system. In this "eat as much as you can" category, I would limit potatoes, and any other very starchy vegetables high on the glycemic index.

Also, try to eat twice as many vegetables than fruits. Eat a wide variety in order to get the spectrum of vitamins and minerals out there. Oh, and of course, eat organic when possible.

2. Herbal teas, water, lemon water - Drink at least 60-100 ounces per day to keep your body well hydrated. Herbal teas are a great way to give things flavor and add beneficial anti-oxidants to your system.
For more on the importance of water, read "Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life: You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty!” by F. Batmanghelidj.

For an idea of what foods are very nutritious, see George Mateljan Foundation's website.
(He's a cool old guy with nutrition tips; plus he looks like Leslie Neilson.)

Include some of these, but don't overdo it:
1. Healthy fats and oils - These include olive oil, butter, and coconut oil. These are much healthier than hydrogenated oils, vegetable oils, and margarine. Even though butter and coconut oil are high in saturated fats, when used in moderation they promote health. Then there are oils such as flax seed oil and fish oil. They are not usually used in food preparation, but taken more like supplements.
2. Meat - I would try to use only meat from free range, antibiotic and hormone free animals. These animals are allowed to grow at a natural rate eating grasses, clover, etc. versus the grain and corn feed given to most farm animals.

Here come the holidays so remember: you are what you eat!

2009-12-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

If you are a “typical American”, be prepared to be “overfed and undernourished”!

A rich, holiday diet typically contains a lot of processed starch (bleached flour, pasta, and sugar). In addition to being short on proteins our holiday treats leave us deficient in. Micronutrients are the trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other compounds found in foods. This is opposed to macronutrients, which are what is found in higher concentrations in food (starch, proteins, fats).

Historically, foods that humans have consumed were made up of a balance of macro- and micro- nutrients. For instance, vegetables and fruits are made up of carbohydrates and a small amount of protein and fat. They also contain an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. The typical foods consumed today in the Standard American Diet (SAD) have an abundance of processed and refined foods that are stripped of their vitamins and minerals. Because of this, we consume plenty of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, but they lack the vitamins and minerals that we need.

The human body is probably one of the most complex and resilient “systems” in the universe. This allows us to adapt to almost anything that we can do to our bodies. In the case of micronutrient deficiency, our bodies can adapt to allow short term survival, but it is done so at the expense of long term health and well-being. In other words, taking in fewer nutrients than we need now doesn’t cause any immediate short term effects, but let this go on for several years or decades, and it will take a toll on our health.

We see evidence of this phenomenon everyday. Chronic micronutrient deficiency is linked with increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. All diseases are on the rise even though we have access to more food than ever. These lifestyle related diseases combine to kill more people than any other causes. Additionally, we have also seen a decrease in quality of life due to degenerative diseases such arthritis.
Micronutrient deficiency causes DNA damage and mitochondrial decay, leading to increased free radical production and oxidative stress in the body. This “leads to functional decline of mitochondria, cells, tissues, and eventually organs such as the brain with an accompanying loss of ambulatory activity.” The DNA damage and mitochondrial decay is also seen with exposure to radiation and other harmful chemicals. It’s interesting because most people freak out over the risk of radiation exposure from 3-Mile Island or having x-rays done, yet they think nothing of allowing themselves or their kids to become micronutrient deficient!

Message of hope:
What we put in our bodies really does matter, and we can make small changes for big rewards.
Add healthy items for awhile before trying to deprive yourself of treats. Add fruit and vegetables to your diet starting today.
Later you can “raise the bar” and cut out sugar and processed grains. Additionally, you can take a high quality daily multivitamin with minerals.

What you put ON YOU goes IN YOU!

2009-10-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

You gals and guys who are SO concerned with what you put in your bodies, may wish to think about what you put ON your bodies.

When doctors want to put something in you, they give it to you, up your nose (inhalant), through your mouth (oral), in your bum (rectal), and sometimes put directly on your skin (dermal).
(Try this experiment. Paint some iodine on your forearm. After awhile it disappears. When you are deficient, it "soaks in" faster.) Nicotine and morphine patches are all the rage.

This brings us to mention that the FDA does not protect you from toxins in things you put on your body unless it kills you immediately. Lots of makeup contain toxins but they won't kill you. They may however, accumulate in your tissues. The major store houses for toxins in your body are

-your liver,

-your fat cells, and

-your skin.

When you get older, your skin often shows this with spots or in some people discoloration. (There is this weird condition where the iron from your blood breaking down normally doesn't leave your body but accumulates in your skin turning people a sort of bronze color- hemosiderosis/hemochromatosis.)

The quick answer is to start studying toxins in things you put on you.

Take note: the chlorine in the shower is being absorbed. It pays to have sensitive babies washed in filtered water.

To start with makeup, here is a list of some natural make up companies:

•www.Sukicolor.com
•www.Boscia.net
•www.Sephora.com
•www.DollFaceBeauty.com
•www.MyChelle.com
•www.BareEscentuals.com
•www.CargoPlantLove.com
•www.CargoPlantLove.com

The "Swiss Ball"

2009-10-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

The big inflatable balls that you see in your gym have been around for a long time, originating in the 1960's made by an Italian toy maker. American physical therapists and trainers picked them up in the 1980’s and they caught on in the 1990’s.
Many innovations have come about to use them to enhance core strength and stability; the major catch being that you have to use them.
I am interested in Swiss Balls for the following purposes:
1. These are great for adding variety to your workout to keep it interesting.
2. Big ball exercises combine strengthening with balance and coordination. Challenging the balance and coordination part of your brain helps build stability to keep you healthy. It also stimulates upper brain centers to increase mental function, reduce stress hormones, and even slow aging.
3. Sitting on a Swiss ball at your desk will help avoid low back fatigue and wearing on spinal structures.
When you sit on a ball, you almost never stop moving slightly. This easy movement keeps your muscles firing and gives structures more of a break from moment to moment. (You may have noticed this when you have walked or hiked for several hours vs. standing for the same amount of time. Your legs and back are often more fatigued from standing than from moving.)
A ball should be large enough to support you so that your thighs are horizontal when sitting. For most people, a 65 cm ball is about right.
Another factor is that more expensive balls are much firmer when inflated to the correct size. You may actually prefer a softer ball but it is something to consider.
Balls run about $15-30 depending on the source. We carry them at the clinic for $25.
There are thousands of websites including Youtube videos demonstrating how to use Swiss balls in a variety of ways.
While searching the web, if you substitute "exercise ball" for "Swiss ball", you will find another 15,000 Youtube videos.

Food Allergies

2009-07-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

Eight foods account for 90% of all food-induced allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, cashews, etc.), seafood, shellfish, soy, and wheat.

Milk, it does a body good, or does it?
Milk is the biggest culprit when it comes to food allergies. There is no argument that breast milk is superiorly designed to maximize baby growth and health. But why is it we are the only animals that drink the milk of another animal after weaning? Many alternative practitioners feel that it's not necessary for humans to consume cow's milk and link its consumption to health problems, such as ear infections, allergies, cancer and diabetes. On the other hand, the medical community has convinced us that if we don't drink enough milk our bones will disintegrate. Cows don’t drink milk and they don’t get osteoporosis. And the American Dairy Association wants us to think we'll be cool like celebrities with milk mustaches if we drink lots of milk.

Eggs, Soy, and Wheat
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises children to be breastfed exclusively for the first 12 months of their life. But a breastfed baby’s routine will be to eat every two to three hours, which means the child will not sleep through the night. Pediatricians often encourage sleep deprived mothers to supplement by introducing baby cereal and formula into the baby’s diet which can lead to an early development of food allergies to wheat and soy. As the child grows older, these allergies can worsen and lead to further complications, such as asthma.

Blog Topics of Interest?

2009-07-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Hello patients and friends,
If you are interested in a health related topic, please let me know. If I can offer any insight on it from a practical or natural health care point of view I will make it part of this blog. Thank you.

The Intention Experiment

2009-06-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

I am reading a book titled The Intention Experiment by Lynne McTaggart. It investigates how our thoughts impact events and even physical matter. There’s always the risk of involving “junk science” when discussing concepts at the far edge of understanding. Yet, hardly anyone disagrees - that if you are in a bad mood, you seem to attract bad events. Are we just highlighting the negative and minimizing the good, resulting in a conclusion that “everything is going wrong”?

In my readings on this subject, I am surprised at the frequency with which opinions are stated as facts by scientists who should know better. In health care, we wrestle with measuring the effectiveness of a drug or therapy because the patient’s belief in its helpfulness often outweighs its real effect. Couple this with the power of the doctor’s “intention” for helping the patient and the placebo effect can be very powerful.

Some time ago I read about a “healer” who found that he could help people as well as plants. He conducted an experiment where he “poisoned” corn seeds with salt water. He held half of the corn kernels in his hands meditating over them with healing thoughts before planting them. The other half of the seeds was planted without healing intentions. Sure enough, the healing seeds sprouted faster and grew healthier than the control group. To his credit, the healer, unable to duplicate the experiment, refused to publish his findings. This is good science.

Most people have had the experience of having a dog or baby dislike them from first meeting. This may be a subtle odor or pheromone which the dog or baby senses. Olfactory senses may affect outcome.

In the area of unexplained communication, almost everyone has had the experience of watching someone from behind and having them turn around to look. Similarly, most of us have experienced the feeling that “someone is watching us”. Where does that feeling come from?

A consultant that I know has asked dentists in seminars the question: “How many of you know that if you are angry, fearful, or grouchy in the morning, you will have more cancellations in the afternoon?” The answer is always unanimous agreement. Mood may affect outcome even in remote subjects who cannot know how the doctor is feeling.

Cause and effect studies are complicated by the influence of the observer. If your toddlers are playing and you show up to listen in, they will behave differently. If a sales manager observes an agent’s interaction with a customer, both the agent and the customer will respond to the manager’s presence as much as to the actual conversation. We might call this “The Attention Effect”.

The very act of measuring the consequence of thought or even prayer affects the outcome. The Hawthorne Effect sums up this phenomenon: “That which is measured, improves.”

Add to the above, quantification problems – often we are measuring things on an infinitesimal scale with devices calibrated for much larger matters. Imagine weighing an envelope for postage with a scale designed to weigh dump trucks. Neuroscientists agree that the probe used to stimulate a nerve in nerve response experiments has an effect of its own.

Despite procedural difficulties, confusion from inevitable variables, and bias in reporting, “Intention” is a serious and exciting field of the study. Certainly the power of loving thoughts toward a friend or family member will change the object person’s feelings. Likewise, the intention will have a positive affect on the person sending the loving thoughts.

The jury is still out on the power of intention. Proving that it exists statistically may be near but harnessing the scientific data to explain why it exists requires further “Intention Experiments”.

Great swine flu article

2009-05-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

As the nation and the world are caught up in the swine flu excitement, a dose of reality is in order.

As a chiropractor trained in scientific reasoning, a lot of the news reports just didn’t add up. My own wellness point of view on health prevents me from waiting until a disease arrives to address it. A preventative approach is always more effective than a treatment.

The national response to this disease seems out of proportion to the real threat, especially comparing it to other diseases we contend with every day in America. My own research into the swine flu epidemic included an article by Dr. Joseph Mercola. It effectively addresses the inaccuracies and some of the conspiracy theories (with a grain of salt).

We should be skeptical of conspiracies but we should not be naïve; news organizations have a vested interest in exciting stories and drug companies have a vested interest in disease treatment.

Please read Dr. Mercola’s article. I think you’ll find it very interesting.

Traumatic Brain Injury

2009-05-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a seminar on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI). While our focus at Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic is wellness, courses of study which affect other areas of my patients’ health are often useful. A course in brain injury recovery can provide all sorts of insights into keeping your brain and nervous system healthy long into old age.

Seminar participants were quickly reminded that there is no such thing as a “mild” brain injury except that it is less severe than a “major” one. Major brain injuries usually involve hemorrhage and coma so the mild ones are more likely to be seen in a clinic. (They are, but they often go unnoticed).

The most common source of MTBI is car accidents. Car occupant’s heads frequently strike the headrest causing bruising of the brain. The snapping of the head forward in a whiplash often causes the brain to strike the front of the skull.
After years of dissenting discussion about whether whiplash causes neck injuries, MRI and CT imaging has allowed us to prove that real damage does occur to neck tissues when involved in “acceleration/deceleration” accidents. Similarly, newer imaging is showing brain damage from injuries previously considered to be fairly mild.

As the tragic story of Liam Neeson's wife, Natasha Richardson demonstrated, a skilled doctor evaluates a head injury and looks for obvious signs of major damage; sometimes they don’t tell us enough. Most mild head injuries only require a “wait and see” protocol. If nothing major arises, as in most cases, the remarkable human body has protected itself and nothing further needs to be done.

Some of the “red flags” we look for include:
* Unconsciousness
* abnormal breathing
* obvious serious wound or fracture
* bleeding or clear fluid from the nose, ear, or mouth (cerebrospinal fluid)
* disturbance of speech or vision
* pupils of unequal size
* weakness or paralysis
* dizziness
* neck pain or stiffness
* seizure
* vomiting more than two to three times
* loss of bladder or bowel control

Signs of a possible concussion include:
* "seeing stars" and feeling dazed, dizzy, or lightheaded
* memory loss, especially right before and after the injury
* nausea or vomiting
* headaches
* blurred vision and sensitivity to light
* slurred speech or saying things that don't make sense
* difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
* difficulty with coordination or balance
* feeling anxious or irritable for no apparent reason
* feeling overly tired

The fact remains that most brain injuries are mild. While not exciting in the emergency room they can have a profound effect on the victim’s life for months or years to come.

As a clinician, my task is to assess the amount of brain injury and manage recovery. Frequently, there is little to do with brain trauma such a concussion, except advise the patient to avoid further injury and rest.

It is also a fact that a clinician must be able to discuss the amount of injury and recovery with insurance carriers, employers, and occasionally juries.

There is very little in technology, that the doctor can rely upon to measure mild brain injuries. MRI and CT scans will rarely show any damage from a concussion. Some promising new PET scans may be helpful in discovering the level of damage from head trauma. The scanners are expensive and are not readily available in all areas.

The current methods that are the most reliable are assessments of the patient’s mental function. There are a dizzying array of pain diagrams, lifestyle indexes, questionnaires, and assessment tools to choose from. Everything is questioned from forgetfulness to balance, to quality of life. Of course, it may be the height of folly to ask the brain to evaluate its own function. (Will it tell the truth? Does it pridefully overstate its health?)

It is often helpful to have a family member help with any subjective assessment. Although possibly embarrassing, a patient might not realize that they have been forgetful, irritable, or more clumsy.

A condition called post-concussion syndrome which includes all of the problems “left over” after a concussion can take up to 2 years to resolve. Some of them are permanent.

From a natural health perspective it is important to remember that the human body is a miracle of nature. It has thousands of restorative and reparative processes which occur around the clock. The body needs us to be certain that we don’t thwart its own efforts at recovery. Protein and vitamin C are needed to make collagen, the basic building block of all connective tissue. Essential fatty acids (fish oil) are necessary for restoring brain cells and the nerves they supply. Rest is critical for the body to orient its energy toward repair. Proper hydration is necessary for carrying good nutrients to repair sites and washing away debris, which can turn toxic if allowed to accumulate.

Appropriate movement is necessary to stimulate the cerebellar region of the brain which in turn stimulates all sorts of mental, emotional, and even hormonal states to support recovery. Spinal adjustments are a critical part of proper movement. The spine has millions of movement receptors which can only be stimulated if the joints are mobile. If they are stuck, they not only fail to send movement signals to the brain, they actually send “alarm signals” to the brain which counteract healing processes.

Mild traumatic brain injury is a very serious condition. Proper evaluation and management is something we aspire to achieve at Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic. Acknowledging and aligning ourselves with the powerful healing force of nature is our greatest strength.

"Neurons that fire together wire together" Is this good or bad?

2009-04-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

Nervous system research has exciting and hopeful news for maintaining health longer and recovering more easily from accidents and illness.

Introduced by Donald Hebb in 1949, Hebb's Rule theorizes a basic mechanism for synaptic plasticity. An increase in synaptic efficacy arises from the presynaptic cell's repeated and persistent stimulation of the postsynaptic cell.

The theory is often summarized as "cells that fire together, wire together". As with most theories involving the nervous system, this explanation is oversimplified. The theory is commonly used to explain some types of associative learning in which simultaneous activation of cells leads to pronounced increases in synaptic strength. Such learning is known as Hebbian learning.

Hebb’s Rule relates to how neurons might connect themselves to become
engrams, or patterns of thought and movement.

A negative example of “engrams” might be a bad experience flying leading to a lifelong aversion to air travel. On a more complex level, this might be why a person who has finally left an abusive relationship “finds” themselves entangled in another just like the previous one.

A positive example of “engrams” is motor skills found to develop from simply thinking through a skilled behavior over and over. A famous experiment found that boys who mentally rehearsed shooting baskets improved more than the boys who actually practiced.

"The general idea is an old one - that any two cells or systems of cells that are repeatedly active at the same time will tend to become 'associated' so that activity in one facilitates activity in the other."

We are hoping that victims of strokes and injuries will be able to recover more fully by implementing use of neighboring neurons.

How does this relate to Wellness? We are finding that movement (especially of the spinal joints) stimulates sensory nerves to fire which in turn stimulate higher brain function nerves. People who move vigorously every day for an hour or more have been shown to avoid depression and dementia, have healthier immune systems, and generally live longer, healthier lives.

Parkinson’s disease: New Hope for a Hopeless Prognosis

2009-04-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

Some diseases are more discouraging than others - for doctors as well as patients. Parkinson’s disease is one of these. No matter what medicine tries to do, the disease ravages the patient’s body year after year. Most people do not contract the disease until late in life. About 1% of the population including Michael J. Fox contract it earlier in life.

Like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s is a form of dementia. A simple explanation of Parkinson’s is that nerve cells in part of the brain (substantia nigra) stop producing a communication chemical (dopamine) for another part of the brain (the basal ganglia). The loss to this area interferes with the smooth movement between mental and physical tasks as well as starting and stopping movements. An analogy might be if the fluid was low in the transmission of your car. Movements would be less smooth and more abrupt or jerky. Hence the tremors of Parkinson’s.

One risk factor for developing this disease is genetics. Science is scrambling for treatment of dementia related diseases as Baby Boomers age. A gene called ApoE4 has been associated with Alzheimer’s. It is important to remember that having a genetic predisposition to a disease does not predetermine your fate. If, for example, you have a gene, which causes you to have a massive hangover, every time you drink alcohol, you needn’t ever have a hangover. You must drink alcohol to have the gene express itself.

Lab rats who had their basal ganglia intentionally knocked out, mimicking Parkinson’s, were shown to develop new nerve connections in that structure when they were allowed to exercise.

But it gets better! In the past 10 years, exercise has been prescribed more and more as treatment early on in diseases of dementia. Exercise calls into action the motor area of the brain, which degenerates in Parkinson’s (the basal ganglia).

One study looked at the effects of using exercise in combination with L-dopa, the drug commonly prescribed for Parkinson’s. Doing forty minutes of easy stationary cycling immediately before taking L-dopa improved the effectiveness of the medicine on motor function. This addition is not an expensive therapy and it has only beneficial side effects!

A study in Finland followed 1500 people from the 1970’s. Twenty-one years later when they were between 65 and 79 years of age, those who exercised at least twice per week, were 50% less likely to have dementia. Again, comparing the cost and simplicity of exercise with the cost both financially and emotionally of early onset dementia is, if you’ll pardon my pun, a no brainer.

You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby

2009-04-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

The 1978 Virginia Slims magazine ad featured a svelte woman striking a pose in an elegant shoulderless evening gown smoking a long, thin cigarette. Above the image was a black and white photograph of a woman hanging laundry outside. The ad text read: "Back then, every man gave his wife at least one day a week out of the house. You've come a long way, baby. Virginia Slims – Slimmer than the fat cigarettes men smoke."

We have come along way, indeed; a long way in protecting our environment from toxins since then. Today, we’d be hard pressed to find a public location to light up any cigarette, fat or slim. And the air we’d be hanging the laundry out in is a lot fresher!

Since the early 1920s lead had been blended with gasoline to prevent engine knocking and boost octane levels. Adverse health effects from elevated levels of lead in the blood were observed including permanent nerve damage, behavior disorders, anemia, and mental retardation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started working to reduce emission of this insidiously deadly metal in 1973. The catalytic converter which was introduced in 1975 required lead-free fuel. By January 1, 1996, the Clean Air Act completely banned the sale of leaded fuel for road use. For the same reason, paint containing lead was banned.

Asbestos had been commonly used as an acoustic insulator, thermal insulation, and fire proofing in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Aging asbestos crumbled and released fibers in the air. Breathing this air over time resulted in asbestos fibers becoming embedded in lung tissue causing serious lung diseases. In 1989 the use of asbestos was restricted.

When it comes to water, the major challenge for water suppliers has been to balance the risks from microbial pathogens and disinfection byproducts. Tap water tries to find equilibrium between bugs and bug killers. Yet filtered water is readily available in convenient sports bottles, from the office bubbler, the refrigerator door in the kitchen, and the insta-hot tap at the sink.

In addition, pesticide free organic fruits and vegetables are not only abundantly available in specialty grocers such as New Seasons and Whole Foods but they have made their way to most every grocery market in America. The same is true for antibiotic and hormone free meat, eggs, and milk.

Not Completely Out of the Woods Yet, Baby

2009-04-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

Since 1950, at least 70,000 new chemical compounds have been invented and dispersed into our environment. Only a fraction of these have been tested for human toxicity. We are, by default, conducting a massive clinical toxicology trial, and our children and their children are the experimental animals. While many of these chemicals help to make products cheaper, smell and taste better, and last longer on the shelf, we should maintain a healthy suspicion of all chemicals. These chemicals of convenience are the leads and asbestoses of the future.

The average American consumes literally pounds of hormones, antibiotics, food chemicals, additives, and artificial sweeteners each year. Each one of these toxic chemicals has been shown to harm the brain. It isn’t just consuming one red candy, a blue cupcake, or a few drops of pesticide sprayed on your pint of strawberries once in a while. It is the consistent, repetitive, cumulative presence of these chemicals in our lives.

Some toxins, like caffeine, are readily flushed out of our systems by our detoxification systems. Other toxins accumulate over our whole life. In addition, not all people process toxins the same. Those with compromised immune systems may be particularly sensitive while others may experience no reaction.

EDUCATE YOURSELF AND READ LABELS.

2009-04-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Rather than overwhelm yourself trying to be toxin-free, consider gradually incorporating a few of the following simple ideas into your lifestyle:

Choose raw or prepared food over processed foods.
Avoid food that can be refrigerated indefinitely.
Eat organic produce and organic free-range, hormone and antibiotic free meat, eggs, and milk when possible.
Use unprocessed sugar (sugar in the raw) or natural sweetener (Stevia) instead of processed or artificial sugars such as aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) or sucralose (Spenda).
Limit consumption of fish that have high levels of mercury such as swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel.
Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or synthetic fragrances.
Have your tap water tested. Filter your tap water if necessary.
Use natural cleaning products.
Use HEPA/ULPA filters and ionizers to reduce indoor air pollution.
Employ household plants to help detoxify the air.
Clean and monitor heating systems for release of carbon monoxide - the most common cause of death by poisoning in America.
Avoid drinks and foods that have bright colors, strong flavors or odors because they typically contain the toxin coal tar.

Gargoyle: Goalsetter's Block?

2009-01-28T11:07:00.002-08:00

This January we have been inundated with articles about New Year's resolutions and goal setting, mostly "How To" instructions for those who know what they want and are ready to implement.

What about the rest if us who are maxed out, burned up, and discouraged from goals gone bad? It's not getting from point A to point B that eludes us; it's getting up the gumption to step up to point A and imagine point B. Everything from our season in life, recent losses, job frustration (for those lucky enough to have a job), market changes, to non-unified marriages, can hold us back from even trying to set goals. The ubiquitous talk of challenges has been contagious.

We have coined the term gar-goyles or more appropriately, gar-goals. It's a goalsetter's block. The GAR (like Argh) are all the challenges that de-motivate us from moving where we are now to our ideal life. GOALS form a picture the outcome and demand the steps needed to reach them.

How do we overcome the negative emotions, avoid the contagion and move forward?

2009-01-28T11:07:00.001-08:00

In January's Oprah Magazine "Advice, etc." feature, Martha Beck writes about steering your ship into your "Rat Park". In 1981, psychologist Bruce Alexander and colleagues recognized a commonality in addiction studies - lab rats were locked in uncomfortable, isolating cages. Testing a hunch, Alexander then built a 200 square foot rodent utopia accommodating all their favorite activities, and called it "Rat Park". He then compared the choices made by rats in Rat Park to those of rats in traditional cages. He offered both groups plain water or sugar water laced with morphine. Like rats in other studies, the traditionally caged animals became instant addicts but the Rat Park residents avoided the sugar-coated narcotics. Even rats already addicted to morphine avoided the tainted water while in Rat Park. When Rat Park residents were returned to traditional cages they went back to their morphine drip.

Beck concludes that like rat addicts, humans are trapped in "mind cages" forcing us to make destructive choices. She adds that "When the alternatives are staying in the familiar cage or facing the unknown, most people [sadly,] choose the cage over and over again." She also observes that "All animals are shaped by their environment, but we, more than any other species, can shape our environment right back."

What is your Rat Park? How do we mapquest our ideal life? Beck suggests the childrens' "warmer/colder" game used to locate a hidden item. You don't even need to know what you are looking for, just whether you're getting warmer or colder. Your Rat Park can be identified by a series of warmer/colder decisions based on what makes you feel freer or happier.

Beck continues by describing trim tabs. These are tiny rudders attached to large rudders that turn huge ships. The big rudder would snap if turned directly, yet adjusting the little trim tabs creates a low pressure that pulls the rudder into position.

Life is a series of trim tab decisions - warmer/colder choices. Mistakes will feel chilly and should be corrected without self-condemnation. Preconception of your ideal life is not necessary. Find the warmth (or comfort) of your Rat Park by choosing to avoid cynical despair. Instead, be clear-sighted and authentic in following our powerful instinct to be happy and fulfilled.

Hope in Navigating Toward Your Ideal Life

2009-01-28T11:05:00.000-08:00

We have been created with resilience, not just our body's propensity to return to homeostasis but resilient spirits. We can rely on our integrity, our courage and our compassion. Let us approach the new year with steadfast resolve. Our challenges, or GARs, are many. But, working diligently, and when possible, together, we can meet those challenges and come out stronger in the end.

First we must recognize the cause: FEAR (Fantasized Events or Experiences Appearing Real). Fear immobilizes us or mobilizes us to act, to do something, anything!

Replace the hysterical talk we hear on the news with our own chosen thoughts and images. Hang in there. Don't give in to despair and fear. Don't sell off your investments and put what's left under the mattress. Remember "This too shall pass". It's true. It's important not to let circumstances which are not in our control end up controlling our lives.

Also, stay in the present. Live in today, work in today, slam the door shut on yesterday and tomorrow, and the future will take care of itself. With all the negative stuff swirling around, living in the present creates focus.

SMART goals provide focus on the main things. Goals that are SMART, an acronym for Specific/Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant/Realistic, and Time framed can keep up from spinning out of control and point us in the right direction. No one is suggesting that the events of today should be ignored. Use goals to direct positive effort to the things that can be accomplished and to finding and acting on opportunities and possibilities that are sure to present themselves.

LifeStep to Wellness #7: Take Probiotics: Everybody, Every Day For Life

2008-12-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

Our intestinal tracts are not meant to be clean rooms.
The gastrointestinal tract is teeming with live microorganisms, both of friendly and pathogenic nature. The sum of these bacteria, our microflora, can be adversely affected by stress, medication, diet, aging, and other factors. Probiotics are beneficial strains of bacteria that confer benefits to the host including stimulation of the immune system, prevention of the growth of "bad" microorganisms, and the production of nutrients.

The most well known and well represented group of probiotics in the intestinal microflora are species from within the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria genera. In the womb babies are intestinally sterile (no intestinal bacteria are present). Once the child passes through the vaginal tract (or via C-section delivery), the infant immediately begins to colonize bacteria throughout the digestive tract. At this very young age, the majority of species come from the Bifidobacteria genus, with smaller amounts of Lactobacillus also present. As the infant ages, his or her microflora begins to shift to a higher percentage of Lactobacillus species, and eventually by the age of three or four years old, the child's microflora profile resembles that of an adult.

Bifidobacteria

Lactobacillus

Why We Need Probiotics

2008-12-03T14:24:00.002-08:00

In the past, we replaced the probiotics in our system constantly by eating organic vegetables grown in unpolluted dirt that was rich with soil-based organisms. However, for the last 50 years we have been sterilizing our soil with pesticides and fertilizers, destroying both bad and good bacteria.

Likewise, antibiotic drug use kills nearly all bacteria in the intestinal tract. Remember the "anti" means "against", biotics "life". Farm animals are continuously fed antibiotics to prevent farm-lot infections which we then ingest upon consuming their meat, eggs, and milk.

Our modern diet further compromises our microflora balance. Highly processed foods that are filled with chemicals, simple sugars, and carbohydrates are often devoid of any living thing. Even the chlorinated water we drink is partially responsible for eradicating much of the beneficial bacteria in our bodies. In addition, alcoholic beverages tend to harm probiotics by killing them directly, thereby encouraging harmful bacteria and yeast overgrowth.

Some people who are concerned with health use enemas and colonics for detoxification. These practices can wash some of the good bacteria out of their systems.

The medical treatment of radiation and chemotherapy also destroys our intestinal flora as well as damaging our immune systems. Any course of chemotherapy absolutely must be followed with probiotic supplements.

Today we need probiotic supplements because there are so many influences that prevent us from naturally getting the probiotics our bodies need. A lack of beneficial microbes often results in poor intestinal and immune system health, contributing to a wide range of symptoms and illnesses.

Unfortunately most people simply do not know that the health they experience right now has a direct connection to the billions of beneficial microorganisms that live in their gastrointestinal tract.

Benefits of Probiotics

2008-12-03T14:24:00.001-08:00

Probiotic contribute to health in the following ways:

metabolize proteins and help eliminate wastes from the body;
increase overall nutrition and enhance rapid cellular growth and development;
clean the intestinal tract; (By attaching themselves on the intestinal walls and dislodging accumulated decay, probiotics naturally flush out waste often eliminating bad breath and body odor.)
produce a mildly acidic environment slowing the growth of disease-causing bacteria;
normalize bowel movements, relieving constipation and diarrhea;
produce many important enzymes and increase the availability of vitamins and nutrients, especially Vitamin B, Vitamin K, lactase, fatty acids, and calcium;
strengthen the immune system, thereby alleviating allergies, skin problems, chronic fatigue syndrome and systemic candida;
help to kill viruses and parasites;
can help relieve iron-assimilation deficiencies; (Probiotic bacteria produce Lactoferrin as a by-product of their metabolism. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein essential to retrieving iron from the foods we eat.)
stimulate the body's own production of alpha-interferon, a key regulator of our immune response.

Quality Matters

2008-12-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

Choosing a probiotic can be difficult since it is not possible to know whether the product contains live cultures at the time of purchase. Here at Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic, we sell products only from reputable manufacturers that are formulated for durability and utilize independent quality control studies.

Why Every Day For Life?

2008-12-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

Persistence of Colonization of Human Colonic Musca by a Probiotic Strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, after Oral Consumption is temporary.

Important Information About Starting Probiotics

2008-12-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

It is not uncommon to experience what is referred to as "excessive drainage syndrome" when ridding the intestine of pathogenic bacteria and yeast and re-establishing normal flora. When the unwanted bacteria and yeast begin to die off and be cleansed from the intestine, toxins can be released which can sometimes lead to headaches, diarrhea, gas, bloating, or constipation.

This is actually a positive sign that the intestine is being cleansed of these toxin releasing and illness-promoting bacteria and fungi but it can be uncomfortable for a few days.

To minimize this excessive drainage syndrome we recommend introducing probiotics slowly, perhaps one capsule every two days for the first week, then one capsule per day for the second week and then on to the regular two capsules per day thereafter. Of course eating plenty of fiber and drinking lots of water will also be helpful.

Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic presents: "A Scientific Approach to Wellness"

2008-11-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

Please be our guest at our first ever "A Scientific Approach to Wellness" lecture. We are so excited to be able to present fascinating and valuable information about America's favorite subject: staying healthy for the rest of your life.

Science & Wellness Lecture
DATE: Tues. Nov. 11, 2008
TIME: 6:00- 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION:
LOCC Clinic
315 Second St.
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
(503) 635-6246

Free of charge.
Refreshments will be served.
(Covered parking in our lot.)

Get ready to learn concepts about:

Stress and mental distress- what you can do about it immediately
Posture and early death- what you can do to totally change your posture
The amazing plastic brain- neuroplasticity brings hope for our aging parents and aging selves
Myths & Facts about diet and health - clarity and simplicity-backed by science
Raising healthy children without driving them and yourself crazy
"Little Green People": How we are designed to fit in with our environment without being deprived of healthy pleasure
Case histories from patients who have changed their lives for the better and forever

Each person will leave the lecture with real life exercises and knowledge that they can use right away to help themselves and their families to be healthier right away.

Life From Your Feet's Perspective

2008-11-02T18:01:00.000-08:00

Your feet have a direct impact on the rest of your body. Like the foundation of a house, your feet support the weight of everything above them. When a small problem develops in your feet, a subtle change in the way you walk will cause a chain reaction of adjustments in your posture and walking mechanics. These changes can put stress on joints higher up in your body and lead to more serious problems. Poor foot function and alignment may be contributing to pain in your feet, knees, hip or back. Custom orthotics help balance your feet and reduce pain by enhancing your body's natural movements.

Foot Facts

2008-11-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

25% of the bones in your body are in your feet
The average person takes 8000 to 10000 steps per day
The average person will walk over 100,000 miles in their lifetime, or more than 4 trips around the world
Women have four times as many foot problems as men - fancy, ill-fitting footwear is the main reason for this
More than 75% of people will experience foot pain in their lifetime

LifeStep to Wellness #6 Have Your Gait Analyzed

2008-11-02T17:59:00.001-08:00

To Determine If You Would Benefit From Prescription Foot Orthotics

Foot orthotics allow the muscles, tendons, and bones of the feet and legs to function at their highest potential. When appropriately prescribed, orthotics can decrease pain not only in the foot, but in other parts of the body such as the knee, hip, and lower back. They can also increase stability, prevent a deformed foot from developing further complications, and improve overall quality of life.

A quantitative study of your walking pattern commonly referred to as gait analysis, can identify structural problems in your feet that adversely effect your posture and walking mechanics resulting in pain in other parts of your body.

We are offering complimentary gait analyses, normally a $40 value, to help determine if you'd benefit from orthotic therapy.

The Key To Better Health Could Be Right Under Your... Toes

2008-11-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

With the aid of the most technologically advanced gait analysis system available, Dr. Abrahamson has helped patients with the following problems related to improper gait and abnormal biomechanics of the foot:

Pes Planus (Flat foot)

Plantar Facitis

Bunions/Corns /Heel spurs

Pronation/Supination of the feet

Hallux Valgus

Diabetes related foot problems

Ankle pain and Instability

Knee & Hip related problems

Low Back Pain

GaitScanTM is a revolutionary diagnostic tool for assessing foot biomechanics. Four hundred ninety six sensors scan 300 times per second detecting the slightest deviation in gait and weight distribution of the foot. This provides a sophisticated "picture" of foot mechanics and assists the lab in manufacturing prescription orthotics to restore proper foot function.

What Are Prescription Orthotics?

2008-11-02T17:56:00.001-08:00

PERSCRIPTION ORTHOTICS are custom devices worn in your shoes that provide correction and assistance to your feet, helping them function in a more efficient manner. They look like insoles, but they are biomechanical medical appliances that are custom made to correct your specific foot imbalance. Orthotics work on your feet much like glasses work on your eyes - they reduce stress and strain on your body by bringing your feet back into proper alignment. Orthotics fit into your shoes comfortably because they have been made from precise imprints of your foot. Properly made orthotics support the requirements of your feet and help restore the normal balance and alignment of your body by gently correcting foot abnormalities, bringing relief from fatigue and pain, allowing you to enjoy daily activities comfortably.

Who May Benefit From Orthotics?

2008-11-02T17:54:00.000-08:00

Orthotics provide relief for individuals with painful foot problems or injuries.
Orthotics benefit people who walk or stand excessively on the job.
Orthotics can help to counteract the extra stress on the feet of overweight individuals, as minor problems are often magnified due to the increased weight.
Orthotics are particularly effective in relieving foot fatigue and discomfort experienced by older adults, who may have developed arthritis in their feet.
Orthotics may also be prescribed for children with foot deformities.
Orthotics will often increase endurance, performance and strength for those who are active in sports. Sports activities result in a great deal of pressure on the foot. Slight imbalances in the foot that are not harmful or even detectable under usual circumstances cause injuries with the extra stress of sports activity. By eliminating the need for muscles to compensate for imbalances, orthotics can reduce fatigue and promote efficient muscle function to enhance performance. With orthotic correction, the foot structure can be aligned to give more propulsion, making walking, running and cycling more efficient.

The History Of Gait Anyalysis

2008-11-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

With the development of photography, it became possible to capture image sequences revealing details of human and animal locomotion unnoticed by the naked eye. Eadweard Muybridge "freeze-framed" his first horse gait at the end of the 1800's showing the gallop to be a four-beat gait. This explains the misrepresentation of horses' gallop gaits in paintings prior to the 1900s.

Although much early research was done using film cameras, the widespread application of gait analysis in humans with pathological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson's Disease, and neuromuscular disorders began in the 1970s with the availability of video cameras. Today gait analysis is routinely used worldwide in designing treatment plans and follow-up monitoring of both pathological and non-pathological conditions.

Gait analysis is commonly used to optimize and improve athletic performance and to reflect compensations for underlying pathologies. The study encompasses quantifying and analyzing measurable parameters of gaits and drawing conclusions from this data. This includes measurement of the movement of the body in space (kinematics) and the forces involved in producing these movements (kinetics).

Blog Roll

2008-10-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know we have started a new blog roll to show case others in the chiropractic and wellness profession. Please feel free to check them out!

Are you a chiropractic or wellness blogger and want to get more involved? Please leave a comment with a link to your blog and we will add you!

Not in the wellness business? But are a patient who blogs? We want to know your here too! Leave us a comment and we will be sure to check you out!

Have a great day!

Jenna Forstrom, Marketing Intern

New Electronic Foot and Gait Scanner

2008-09-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

from Dr. Scott
I recently added a new technology for assessing foot function to my clinic, . This scanner called Gaitscan, uses hundreds of sensors to record pressure from the foot as it strikes the ground. These data are assembled by software, much like a C.T. Scan, to make an image of the athlete’s foot function throughout the gait cycle.

A picture is worth a thousand words: The Gaitscan measures how people walk using a pressure plate, which scans at 300 times per second to produce 2D and 3D images of the patient’s feet. It helps us to pinpoint the source of foot dysfunction. It can help people suffering from foot, knee, hip, and lower back pain, as a result of walking incorrectly.

The scanner tests your feet in standing position as well as your normal gait. This gives us an accurate digital picture of your “functional feet”. If you would benefit from orthotics, the scanner automatically calibrates the correction and support needed, allows us to add customized modifications, and sends the scan to the lab via Internet for fulfillment of the order.

Shin Splints:
Another problem commonly treated with orthotics is Shin Splints.
Shin splints are commonly caused by muscle imbalances, pronation, insufficient shock absorption (worn out shoes) and toe running. The foot muscles are attached to the lower leg. There are long muscles with longer tendons, which attach to the bottom of the foot like stirrups on a saddle, which form a sling for your foot. When the arch ligaments can’t hold up, the calf muscles try to hold the arch up. When you run enough on hard surfaces the muscles can begin to tear away from the bone causing shin splints. Once you have them, they return more easily. Ultrasound often helps but you have to treat the cause while you are treating the effects.
Orthotics will often support the foot adequately to relieve shin splints forever.
Excellent images and explanation of shin splints can be seen at eOrthopod.com. (They promote a brand of off the shelf arch supports on their website.)

The foot is a biomechanical miracle:
The foot is responsible for helping with balance at times and for providing a rigid base to push from at other times. In some people, the arches become stretched out and are not much help for stability or rigidity. The body is so smart it works around this shortcoming. For instance, when more pressure is sensed on the inside of the foot, the body responds by growing more bone (a bunion).

Plantar Fasciitis:
When the big ligament on the bottom of the foot gets overstretched, it can start to pull away from the front of the heel causing a ton of pain and eventually a spur (plantar fasciitis). Some docs like to inject cortisone in this spot, which wipes out the pain from inflammation but does nothing about the condition. My favorite short-term treatment is to mimic the ligament with 2 strips of longitudinal stretchy tape from Johnson & Johnson, called Elastikon. It is strong enough to help with the ligament and the stretchiness pulls the arch in while the person is at rest.

Orthotics Relieve Foot Pain; Improve Performance:
The long-term fix is to fit the person for orthotics (arch supports). These come in every conceivable type and style. Orthotics fall into 2 categories: soft and rigid.
Soft orthotics put a synthetic arch under the foot. These usually feel good right away and do not need to be exact in their fitting. GI Joe’s and drug stores carry them for a few dollars.
Rigid orthotics are another story. The principle is that your heel strikes the ground first with a great deal of force (Sometimes many times the body’s weight). The orthotic is designed with a typically outward slope of a few degrees tipping the orthotic out. Because it is rigid, the whole orthotic tips outward causing the arch to be lifted and supported at the front of the orthotic. As the forefoot strikes the ground, the orthotic has to be strong enough to absorb shock so the ligaments are not forced to do so. It must be flexible enough to be comfortable. (Think grocery cart wheel vs. bicycle tire wheel.)
A challenge with these is that if the angle of the rear is too high, you can turn your ankles. If it is too low, the orthotic does no good. Additionally, many people have rigid orthotics with hurt when they wear them. The prescribing physician (me) should follow up to change or “adjust” the orthotic to patient comfort. This usually means grinding them down a little bit or occasionally building them up.

Custom orthotics at Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic:
We have recently added an electronic scanner, which has hundreds of pressure sensors to evaluate your feet as they interact with the ground. The scanner tests your feet in standing position as well as your normal gait. This gives us an accurate digital picture of your “functional feet”. If you would benefit from orthotics, the scanner automatically calibrates the correction and support needed, allows us to add customized modifications, and sends the scan to the lab in Toronto via Internet for fulfillment of the order.

Run; don’t walk into Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic and Wellness Center to have your feet and gait scanned for optimal health.

LifeStep to Wellness # 5: Drink More Water

2008-09-11T18:57:00.000-07:00

Are you hungry or thirsty? Can you tell the difference? I learned that I had been mistaking thirst for hunger when I began skiing with a hydration system backpack. Prior to carrying water, I could barely make it to lunchtime; now I prefer to ski straight through lunch!
Water is your body's principal chemical component, making up on average, 60 percent of your body weight. It's no surprise that seventy five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Are you drinking an adequate amount of water every day? Apply the 8 by 8 rule (8oz. of water 8 times a day) or divide your weight by two to calculate how many ounces of water you should drink daily (150 lbs/2 = 75 oz. or just over 9 - 8oz. glasses).

You can encourage yourself to drink more water by wearing a digital watch that beeps at every hour. Pour six ounces of water and vow to drink it before the next beep. Add a lemon or lime wedge in your water to improve the taste or try a cucumber slice or a sprig of mint. Don't forget to drink even more water when exercising or when it's warm outside.

We are designed to drink pure, natural water.

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Water is important to the mechanics of the human body. Our entire body's anatomy and physiology depends on water for proper cell and organ function. Clean, unadulterated water is the best supply choice. If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle and long-term health, make water a habit and a priority in your life.
Avoid sodas/soft drinks because of their high sugar content and artificial flavors. Tea, coffee, soft drinks contain water, but the diuretics contained in these caffineated beverages flush water out of your body. Therefore, you can't count on them to replenish fluid loss. Only pure natural water will avoid compromising your long-term health.

Our bodies use water in:

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1. Blood to carry oxygen to the body
2. Lymph fluid of the immune system to fight off illness.
3. Digestive fluid to break down food into essential nutrients.
4. Perspiration to regulate body temperature.
5. Cytoplasm for normal cell function.
6. Joint fluid for lubrication.
7. Saliva to moisten mucus membranes, facilitate chewing and swallowing, and transport antibacterial and digestive enzymes.
8. Alleviating constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste - the best detox agent.

Water prevents dehydration.

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If you are thirsty, your cells are already dehydrated. A dry mouth is the last outward sign of dehydration. Thirst does not develop until body fluids are depleted well bellow levels required for optimal functioning. Monitor your urine to make sure you are not dehydrated:

A hydrated body produces clear, colorless urine. A somewhat dehydrated body produces yellow urine. A severely dehydrated body produces orange or dark-colored urine.
A mere 2% drop in our body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller printer, such as a computer screen. Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue and headaches.

How much water?

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The Replacement Approach is another way of calculating how much water to drink. The average urine output for adults is about 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) a day. You lose an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Since food accounts for approximately 20 percent of your total fluid intake, you will need to consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups) along with your normal diet to replace lost fluids.

Don't start drinking an extra gallon of water a day, especially if you are fasting or eating very little. Water taken in must be in balance with body salt - electrolytes. Though uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, who drink large amounts of water are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who consume an average American diet.

Tap, Spring, or Designer?

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the standard for public water systems while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water based on the EPA's tap water standards. Most bottled water is filtered tap water. It's a matter of cost vs. benefit.

Factors that influence water needs:

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You may need to modify your total fluid intake depending on how active you are, the climate you live in, your health status, and if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.

Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 400 to 600 milliliters (about 1.5 to 2.5 cups) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, the duration of your exercise and the type of activity.
During long bouts of intense exercise, it's best to use a sports drink that contains sodium, as this will help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia, which can be life-threatening. Also, continue to replace fluids after you're finished exercising.

Environment. Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during wintertime. Further, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.
Illnesses or health conditions. Signs of illnesses, such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, cause your body to lose additional fluids. In these cases you should drink more water and may even need oral rehydration solutions, such as Gatorade, Powerade or CeraLyte. Also, you may need increased fluid intake if you develop certain conditions, including bladder infections or urinary tract stones. On the other hand, some conditions such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases may impair excretion of water and even require that you limit your fluid intake.

Pregnancy or breast-feeding. Women who are expecting or breast-feeding are especially susceptible to dehydration. Large amounts of fluid are used especially when nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink 2.3 liters (about 10 cups) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of fluids a day.

"Spark" the science of movement and brain function

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Several years ago (1994) two doctors wrote a breakthrough book which introduced the world to attention deficit disorder. "Driven to Distraction", by John Ratey, M.D. and Ed Hallowell, M.D. told the world of the struggles of children and adults with proven brain dysfunction. This dysfunction causes distractibility in some to a life of constant struggle for others. So many people have self identified this condition that it has become the object of derision in many sectors. Some believe that the diagnosis is being used as an excuse for flakiness, immaturity, or just plain laziness. The benefits of treatment for millions of suffering people are undeniable.
This year Dr. Ratey published "Spark- The Revolutionary new Science of Exercise and the Brain", (2008 Little Brown & Co.). This wonderful book cites exciting research which is demonstrating how exercise can help us enhance brain function AT ANY AGE! Studies show high schoolers in Chicago who improved test scores with breakthrough physical education training. Other studies show attention impaired people enhancing focus and attention with simple exercises regimens spaced throughout the week.
I will be writing more about specifics of this research in the coming days. -Dr. Scott

Vegetable Juicing: The Ultimate Multivitamin

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For years we watched Jack Lalanne demonstrate juicing on TV. Compared to the wonderful pictures of seafood and steak in other commercials, juice can look pretty unexciting. When considered alone, however, juice from raw fruit and vegetables can be downright inspiring!

Vegetable juice is an important source of raw food critical to good health. Most of us don’t get enough vegetables to reap the benefits they offer. OK, but can green juice really taste good? Despite its disgusting look, it is, in fact, tasty.

Fruit juicing is certainly good for you but it has one disadvantage over vegetable juicing: Fruit juice is high in sugar and tends to increase insulin levels when consumed. Carrots and beets function similarly to fruit in this respect. Nevertheless, fruit juicing is still much better than drinking soda pop! Instead, add a bit of fruit to your vegetable juice to sweeten the flavor.

Let me suggest three reasons why you should consider incorporating vegetable juice into your health program:

1. Juicing allows you to consume an optimal amount and wider variety of fruits and vegetables in an efficient manner.

Although the National Cancer Institute recommends five servings of vegetables and three servings of fruit each day, the truth is: The average American eats only one and one half servings of vegetables and, on average, no fruit on any given day. Juicing can compensate for our fruit and vegetable deficient diets.

2. Juicing helps absorb all the nutrients from the fruits and vegetables.

Many of us have compromised intestines as a result of poor food choices over many years. This limits our body’s ability to absorb all the nutrients from vegetables and juicing tends to facilitate this absorption.

Juice therapy proponents, such as Jack Lalanne, have long known the benefits of valuable and fragile micronutrients destroyed when heated or trapped in the indigestible fibers of vegetables. These include enzymes, phytochemicals, chlorophyll, as well as more common nutrients, and water.

Enzymes act as catalysts in hundreds of thousands of chemical reactions that take place throughout your body. Enzymes are essential in digestion and food absorption, in the conversion of food into body tissue, and for the production of energy at the cellular level. In fact, enzymes are critical for most of the metabolic activities taking place in your body every second of every day. Since enzymes are destroyed by heat above 114 degrees, fresh raw juices are a viable source of enzymes.

Phytochemicals as found in collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabaga, peppers, carrots, and cabbage are enzymes, or more often, enzyme building or enzyme activating chemicals. They play essential roles in protecting cells from damage.

Chlorophyll, a substance found exclusively in plants, has a structure similar to hemoglobin, the substance in the blood that is responsible for transporting oxygen. Research has found that chlorophyll enhances the body’s ability to produce hemoglobin, thus improving the efficiency of oxygen transport.

Nutrients from citrus fruit provide healthy portions of vitamin C. Carrot juice contains large quantities of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. Green juices are a good source of vitamin E. Essential minerals like iron, copper, potassium, sodium iodine, and magnesium, which are bound by the plant in a form that is most easily assimilated during digestion.

Since juicing removes indigestible fiber, these nutrients are available to the body in much larger quantities than if the piece of fruit or vegetable was eaten whole. Many of the nutrients are trapped in the fiber – 1% of the available beta-carotene is assimilated from a carrot eaten whole. When a carrot is juiced, removing the fiber, nearly 100% of the beta-carotene can be assimilated.

Finally, fruits and vegetables provide another substance absolutely essential for good health – water. More than 65% of most of the cells of the human body are made of water. Brain cells can be as much as 80% water. It’s no insult to be called soggy brained! Many for the fluids we drink such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and artificially flavored drinks contain substances that require extra water for your body to eliminate. Fruits and vegetables are free of these unneeded substances and are full of pure, clean water.

3. Vegetable juicing is beneficial to the body because it balances acidity.

In America most of us eat an abundance of grains and grain-fed animals. This acid-forming diet, as well as emotional stress and toxic overload results in an acidic environment known as acidosis. Acidosis will decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease its ability to repair damaged cells, decrease its ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness. Vegetables are more alkaline. Vegetables in juicing concentration has a neutralizing effect on the acidification of the body’s internal environment.

Experience the health benefits of vegetables by jam packing them in their rawest form into your body. Take steps to prevent cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and a host of other diseases by starting your day with a glass of vegetable juice.

My Favorite Juicing Recipe:

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1 apple, usually Granny Smith
a couple stalks of celery
a couple carrots
a bunch of spinach
a lemon
as much ginger as you can stand

What is your favorite Juicing Recipe?

How to store fresh juice:

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Vegetable juice is one of the most perishable foods and is best when drank immediately after juicing. However if you are careful, you can store vegetable juice up to 24 hours with only moderate nutritional decline.

This can be done by placing the vegetable juice in an airtight glass jar. To prevent damaging the juice by oxidation, there should be as little air in the jar as possible. Choose an opaque jar to avoid further damage by blocking out any light exposure. Store in the refrigerator until 30 minutes prior to drinking. Ideally, the juice should be consumed at room temperature.

LifeStep to Wellness #4: Buy a Juicer

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Nothing will change the way you start your day more than a freshly juiced glass of fruits and vegetable. Invest in your health; buy a juicer.

The most important feature in choosing a juicer is its ease of use. How much chopping is required before inserting the fruits and vegetables and how difficult is its cleanup? This will determine whether the juicer gets used or not!

Centrifugal juicers are a great way to get started juicing. Fruit and vegetables are fed through a chute onto a spinning basket with a grating base. This grating process releases juice from the plant fibers. The spinning action of the basket creates a centrifugal force which separates the pulp from the juice.

Here at the clinic we use the Breville Juice Fountain Plus but you might appreciate other people’s opinions.

Crisis Care vs. Wellness Care

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Is it possible for medical care to save a life in a crisis but not be able to increase health?

A favorite analogy of our wellness coach, Dr. James Chestnut, illustrates the differences between medicine and wellness in terms of what they have to offer humanity.

For this analogy, your mind and body are your house, standard medical care is represented by the fire department and wellness physicians are restoration/maintenance experts.

Now, imagine your house is on fire. It’s an emergency. Who should you call, the fire department or the restoration/maintenance experts?

I hope you said fire department. What will the fire department do when they get to your burning house? What they will do depends on what tools they have to work with, tools which are congruent with their goal to put out fires. They have axes and water hoses.

When they get to your house they’re going to bust down your door with their axes. They’re going to smash out your windows. They’re going to break into your walls. They’re going to spray down your house and all your cherished belongings with water. And if they got there in time and they didn’t make any mistakes they can save the life of your house. And we should be eternally grateful. When they leave; what’s left? An absolute mess to clean up. In fact, your house is in far worst shape than it was before the fire ever started.

So now what do you do? Who will you call to restore function to your house? The fire department? Do you think more axes and water hoses could ever restore your house to proper function? Of course not, even if the fire department claimed to be able to do so, it’s an absurd notion.

So who do you call? The renovation/maintenance experts! What tools do they have? Hammers, nails, paint, wiring, wood, etc. The tools they have are congruent with their goal to restore and maintain the function of your house.

Now, imagine if the fire department convinced everyone, including themselves, to judge the worth of the restoration/maintenance experts according to their ability to put out fires. Obviously, the restoration/maintenance experts would look pretty incompetent trying to put out a fire with paint brushes and hammers!

But, wait a minute, I hope you are asking, “What if the worth of the fire department was assessed by how well they could restore and maintain the house? Could you imagine the fire department showing up with axes and hoses claiming to improve the health and function of the house?

So who is better? Both, if you correctly assess them within their own paradigms; within their own areas of expertise. The trick is to use the appropriate resources at the appropriate times. The fire department should be a last resort for health and the first and only option in a crisis. The goal should be to never need them. The restoration/maintenance experts should be the last resort for a fire and the first and only resort

for health. The goal should be to always utilize them regularly.

But what about all the fire department studies showing that they prevent fires? Well, think about it for a second. If you assigned 50,000 houses to each group in a randomized controlled trial and one group was sprayed down once a week with water and the other was sprayed once a week with placebo water (air), what would the results be?

Well it depends on the question you ask, doesn’t it? The fire department would say that spraying the house with water resulted in a statistically significant reduction in fires or fire symptoms (smoke, heat, fire alarms sounding, etc.). According to this gold standard, randomized controlled clinical trial, the fire department could then recommend spraying down houses weekly and claim it saves lives.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Wouldn’t regularly spraying houses with water cause them to rot? Yes, this is called a side effect. This does not erase the fact that these houses were saved from the ravages of fire! The fire department did not ask whether or not regularly spraying the houses is healthy; they only ask if it can reduce fire and symptoms of fire. They also don’t ask if the houses that do get sprayed down live longer happier lives. Are you asking the right questions?

Suicide or Assisted Suicide – You Decide?

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Consider the commercials on TV. You have the guy who bellies up to the diner. He’s already over weight. He tries to have his normal chili dog, coke, fries and gravy. His body rejects it so violently because it is clearly killing him that he can not digest these toxins. The solution? Take some of these pills before you go into the diner so that your body will accept these toxins allowing you to commit suicide comfortably. There’s nothing in this system that’s going to stop the pandemic of dying going on. No one dies of old age any longer.

LifeSteps to Wellness #3: Always Shop Full

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Accurate information about wellness is wonderful, but it is worthless until we can incorporate it into our lives. Nutritional decisions that determine your health are made at the point of purchase.

Allow your brain to make decisions for you rather than your stomach. Arrive at the grocery store fully satisfied so that you won’t have to make nutritional decisions at the point of the refrigerator. It is better to make a poor food choice at the grocery’s deli counter prior to shopping than start filling your shopping cart on an empty stomach.

Breaking News: Local Oregon Speaking Event

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World Renowned Wellness Expert to speak in Wilsonville, Oregon, Friday evening, May 30th!!!

Dear Oregon friends and patients,

We apologize for the late notice. As you know from previous newsletters, I have been studying a scientific approach to wellness under Dr. James Chestnut. I am re-taking the second module ("Eat Well") this weekend. Because it is difficult to share the brilliance of a gifted speaker, local doctors have asked Dr. Chestnut to present a lecture for patients on Friday evening prior to the seminar. (Due to the cost of renting the facility and compensating Dr. Chestnut, we need charge for attendance. Details below.)

Here's our pitch; please call or email me if you would like to attend.

Genetics, Lifestyle and Health:Why We Are Sick...How We Can Get Well and Stay Well

Victoria, BC - Humans have become the "world's sickest creatures". World renowned wellness expert Dr. James Chestnut, respected worldwide for his insight and research, provides the answers regarding why we are so sick AND how to undo the damage.

Dr. Chestnut has been studying human wellness for over 24 years and has determined we are NOT sick because of bad luck, bad germs, or bad genes. With a Bachelor of Physical Education degree, a Master of Science degree in exercise physiology with a specialization in neurological adaptation, a Doctorate of Chiropractic and post-graduate training in wellness he is uniquely qualified to provide the answers human beings need to get healthy and stay healthy.

Dr. Chestnut's concept of eat well - move well - think well™ as the lifestyle foundations for health and wellness have not only clarified what a wellness practice and lifestyle is but simplified it for easy understanding by both patients and clinicians.

In order to find wellness, Dr. Chestnut advocates people adopt a lifestyle based on eating well, moving well and thinking well. "It's the only viable answer to preventing and recovering from chronic illness," says Dr. Chestnut. "No drug or surgery will ever be the solution to preventing or recovering from health problems created by improper nutrition, an inactive lifestyle, or negative thinking."

The evidence is overwhelming that human health is progressively deteriorating; Dr. Chestnut argues that our ancestors did not suffer from the chronic health issues like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or autoimmune issues that modern humans do. He says, "The only difference between our healthy ancestors and our sick society is lifestyle. The genes have remained the same. Genetically, it appears we are designed to live to around 120 years. These are supposed to be enjoyable, productive, quality, drug free, chronic illness free years. Anything less is due to the environment; it's due to toxicity and deficiency."

Backed by solid scientific data, Dr. Chestnut's public discussion will change the way we understand health, and it will provide the information required to greatly improve it.
His latest books, The Innate Diet™, Innate Physical Fitness™, and The Innate State of Mind™ have set the standard around the world for evidence-based wellness care.

We hope you can attend this wonderful event.

Scott Abrahamson, D.C.

Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic, PC315 Second St.
Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034(503) 635-6246

Genetics, Lifestyle and Health: Why We Are Sick and How We Can Get Well and Stay Well.
May 30th 7:00 to 9:00pm
Holiday Inn
N. Wilsonville, Stafford Rd. Exit
Wilsonville
Tickets are $25 ($30 at the door)
For more information 503-635-6246

LifeStep to Wellness # 2:

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Incorporate activity into your work, family, and social lives

Instead of adding more hours at the gym, this month's LifeStep to Wellness challenges us to incorporate more activity into our daily routine.

Leave a pair of socks and walking shoes under your desk at work. When it's time to go to the bank, the post office, coffee, or lunch, slip into the more comfortable shoes. You'll be surprised how you'll automatically want to take the long route. Purchase an inexpensive pedometer and wear it. Recoding your daily steps is a great motivating tool. Set a goal distance or steps for each day. The recommended number of steps (all steps per day) is 6,000 for health and 10,000 for weight loss. Google map pedometer allows you to track your walking distance without a pedometer. Take the stairs. Ask Dr. Scott for computer/desk stretches.

Find a family sport; one that each family member enjoys and can succeed at. Not only will it keep the family in shape, but it will keep the family together. They'll cherish the years of memories -- skiing together, golfing together, playing tennis, softball, or horseshoes together, or doing martial arts together.

Lastly, incorporate new activities to your social life. Take up line dancing. Try Pilates. Have you heard of Geocaching? Geocaching is a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to hide and seek containers with other participants. There are caches in your neighborhood and all over the world.

pos·ture [pos-cher]

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The position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting, or lying down.

Over the past 20 years of treating patients, a frequent complaint I hear is that people feel they have poor posture. The most common "style" of poor posture is the "hunch back". We call this hyperkyphosis. This is seen when the normal forward curve of the upper back becomes too severe. One result of this posture is that the head is carried forward of the natural center of gravity. This places unnecessary strain on the muscles and ligaments of the upper back. For every inch forward of the lateral centerline of the body, it is estimated that the base of the neck experiences ten times the normal strain.

This upper back curve of the spine typically becomes slightly more pronounced as a person ages. Furthermore, a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found older men and women with hyperkyphotic posture had a 44% greater rate of morality than those with normal posture. Driving a car or sitting at a computer for hours every day, worsens the forward bending. This, in turn, accelerates neck and upper back degeneration.

To correct the kyphotic upper back condition, we use a three-pronged approach: First, we make certain that the upper back joints are able to move freely in all directions. This frequently involves repeated spinal adjustments. Secondly, we teach the patient how to strengthen the upper back muscles to hold the shoulders back. Thirdly, we instruct the patient to stretch the chest muscles, thus allowing the shoulders to rest further back on the rib cage.

Body mechanics is the ability to maintain proper position during movement. Constant or repeated small stresses over a long period of time can cause faulty body mechanics and can lead to injury.

Ergonomics is the process of changing the environment to encourage healthy body mechanics. This can be accomplished by modifying a tool, work station, counter height, task, or job for your specific need.

Total health requires an awareness of your own posture during all activities, plus an awareness of proper body posture which leads to conscious correction. Practice good body mechanics at all times. Alter your habits, positions, or environment to provide a safe and efficient work area. With practice, the correct posture for standing, sitting, and lying down will gradually replace your old posture.

The Posture-Mindset Connection

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Research has shown a connection between a person's posture and their state of mind. Indeed, body language experts suggest that 58% of all communication is non-verbal. Even amateur people watchers can figure out the state of mind of mall visitors from their physical stance. After little practice, certain traits become obvious. Sagging shoulders are a good clue to depression or worry. Limited arm movement may denote anger or fear. Our feelings dictate our movements and eventually our posture.

A fascinating twist explained by the science of neurolinguistics programming (NLP) is that an intentional change of physical attributes can actually change a person's feelings. A simple exercise is to assume a posture of depression or discouragement: slump your shoulders, hang your head, talk low and in a monotone. Sure enough, you will frequently begin to "feel" the discouragement you are demonstrating.

Conversely, try sitting up straight with your chin tipped up, breathing deeply, and talking a bit faster. Don't be surprised if you begin to feel brighter. (DO NOT try to tell a teenager to do this. It doesn't work and it only irritates the teenager. Try explaining it to the teen using a "bank shot". Wait for a time when you can explain it to a friend while the teen is sure to overhear you.)

Feelings felt over many months or years will often become attitudes. In neurology, a repeated physical habit, which becomes habitual, is called a "motor engram". Shifting a car, riding a bicycle, and tying your shoe are examples of these. Engrammic hunched posture may result from self-conscious height in high school, excessive keyboard work, or even the guarded posturing of an abusive relationship. Our clinic's postural reconditioning program can help restore a confident stance and healthy posture. And don't be surprised if you end up feeling better emotionally.

Proper posture is so important because it:

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Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly.
Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in arthritis.
Decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together.
Prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions.
Prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy.
Prevents strain or overuse problems.
Prevents backache and muscular pain.
Contributes to a good appearance.

Big Breast Blues

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Many patients who have breasts which are overly large for their frame will develop a hyper kyphosis. This can be from the sheer weight of the breast tissue and bra straps pulling the shoulders forward. Additionally, many women feel uncomfortable standing in a manner that accentuates an already large chest. They attempt to strike a more "modest stance", unfortunately, aggravating their kyphosis. While we have referred a few patients for breast reduction surgery, an upper back conditioning program has helped many women. This involves strengthening the posterior muscles, stretching the pectoral muscles, and mobilizing the thoracic spinal joints. Women are encouraged to analyze the physical stance of professional female athletes and emulate their graciously appropriate and aesthetically appealing healthy posture.

A METAPHOR FOR WELLNESS

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We are born with complex, efficient, life sustaining systems represented by the water-wings. These water-wings have a life span of air to keep us buoyant and support homeostasis or health.

Yet in our backpacks (our lives), we accumulate toxins and deficiencies, or rocks. Weighted by these burdens, we struggle to stay buoyant. Our bodies adapt to these stresses; adaptations include high blood pressure, increased blood sugar, heightened muscle tension, and a host of other responses.

The added pressure on our partially submerged water-wings (compromised bio-systems) makes them lose air faster, eventually decreasing our lifespan.

At Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic, our goal is to help you identify the rocks in your life and encourage homeostasis by eliminating stresses or promoting healthier adaptation.

WHAT’S IN YOUR BACKPACK?

Commute
Pesticides
Alcohol
Caffeine
Poor Nutrition
Tardiness
Pharmaceuticals
Inactivity
Finances
Sleep Deprivation
Aging Parents
Divorce
Grief
Nicotine
Workload (Over Commitment)
Pending Lawsuit
Special Needs Child
Chronic Pain
Headaches
Excessive Weight
Vitamin Deficiencies
Procrastination
Disorganization

This Isn’t Your Momma’s Cod Liver Oil

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What do sardines, herring, and salmon have in common with circulation, memory, and inflammation? These cold water fish are the best sources of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). Essential, because they are required for health and development, and yet our bodies cannot produce sufficient quantities. EFAs must be obtained from our diet. The most beneficial of the Omega-3s are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA manages blood pressure, supports circulation, and regulates pain by supporting the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. DHA improves learning, memory and cognition by increasing nerve and brain fluidity and neurotransmitter activity.

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of heart attack, slow the progression of atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries), and improve overall cardiovascular function. The remarkable
heart healthy benefits of Omega-3 EFAs were first recognized decades ago when researchers identified that Inuit (Eskimo) cultures, whose diets were rich in fish, showed very little incidence of cardiovascular complication.

Omega-3 fats play a significant role in reducing cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association (AHA) released a scientific statement summarizing findings from randomized, controlled clinical trials showing the many positive effects of Omega-3s.

Omega-3 fatty acids are indispensable for the development, maintenance, and function of the brain. Second to adipose tissue (fat), the brain is the most lipid-rich organ in the body. Neuronal membranes tend to become more rigid during aging. Omega-3 fatty acid’s ability to reduce inflammation and support flexibility and fluidity of cellular membranes prevents decline in cognitive abilities.

A Rush Medical University study found people who eat fish at least once a week were 60% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) than those who rarely or never at fish. Without a cure or treatment for AD and other forms of dementia, prevention appears to be the best approach.

Omega-3 fatty acids promote anti-inflammatory responses that improves joint pain and inflammation. All joint pain is accompanied by excessive circulating pro-inflammatory messenger molecules. EPA and DHA support the body’s production of anti-inflammatory molecules and inhibit the conversion of arachidonic acid to pro-inflammatory molecules.

In a study at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center 50% of 125 patients were able to discontinue prescription pain medication with 850mg of EPA and 200mg of DHA daily. Omega-3 fatty acids are a safe and natural alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). By balancing the body’s inflammatory molecules, these polyunsaturated fats, EPA and DHA from fish oil, may alleviate joint pain, improve flexibility and reduce recovery time.

Environmental contaminants such as methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxins bioconcentrate in fish. Although the AHA Dietary Guidelines recommend at least two servings of preferably oily fish per week, both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration are more restrictive. They advise women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children to limit their weekly consumption of fish and eliminate specific species all together.

We must weigh the benefits and risks of fish consumption based upon our particular stage in life. The best approach to minimizing mercury exposure while increasing Omega-3 fatty acid intake is to choose a wider variety of fish species or utilize supplements. When choosing supplements, it's important to look for products that have been "molecularly distilled" to remove any trace of mercury, PCBs or other chemicals so you consume only pure, potent fish oil.

We recommend Nordic Naturals, supplier of a large variety of pure and great tasting Omega oil and softgels. These high concentration Omega-3 EPA & DHA supplements are pharmaceutical grade, purified through molecular distillation to ensure the absence of impurities, contain rosemary extract for extended freshness, and have a great lemon taste. Nordic Naturals fish oil supplements deliver optimum potency at an incredible value.

A Weekend of Wellness with Dr. Chestnut

2008-03-09T23:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend Dr. Scott, his wife and I went to a Wellness Seminar presented by the author of the “Move Well – Eat Well – Think Well” tagline, Dr. James L. Chestnut B.Ed. M.Sc. D.C. C.C.W.P. from The Wellness Practice in Victoria, BC. This “extensive instruction in a scientifically relevant, clinically practical format, addressing advanced aspects of wellness and optimal health in the context of the chiropractic paradigm” as presented by Chestnut was outstanding.

Dr. Chestnut delivers data in an entertaining style of rhetorical questions which he consistently answers with a double affirmative “yes and yes”. In this, the first module of the certification process called the Scientific and Philosophical Validation of Chiropractic Wellness Paradigm, Chestnut clearly differentiated the Wellness paradigm from the Allopathic/Medical/Therapy paradigm. He debunked the myth that people get sick because of bad luck, bad germs, or bad genes. Taking a holistic approach, Dr. Chestnut presented the human body as a homeostatic (healthy) ecosystem of collective cells weakened only by toxicity or deficiency. He then convinced us that chronic illness is caused by these same chronic stressors (toxins and deficiencies). “Let’s all say WOW”!

Dr. Chestnut then presented the Five Pillars of Chronic Illness: stress hormones, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, decreased sex hormone binding globulin, and decreased immunity. All chronic illnesses from cancer to vertebral subluxation complex to insomnia are a direct result of these five. He then gave a very convincing argument that the only way we can return to homeostasis is by how we move, eat and think. Chestnut then suggested a few simple rules for getting started on a lifestyle of wellness, always and forever. I hope to introduce these rules one per month throughout the rest of the year.

Next, Dr. Chestnut explained the structural and neurophysiological functioning of the conscious and subconscious brain and the nervous system with a diagram the complexity of which I have not seen since the Krebs Cycle in Organic Chemistry some twenty five years ago.

Dr. Scott, Sue and I had the opportunity to dine with Dr. Chestnut and a few other Chiropractors from the northwest on Saturday night. I must say it was intimidating to have dinner with someone who “eats well” – no alcohol, no caffeine, no dairy, no wheat, everyday, always and forever. It was ironic that almost everyone at the table followed Dr. Chestnut’s lead and ordered the roasted beet salad. Really now, how many people really enjoy roasted beet salad? Although I agree with Dr. Chestnut and am interested in learning more from this evangelical, I must admit I have not bought in 100 percent. I’d consider myself a disciple, not an apostle.

Sunday morning after a question and answer period, Chestnut blew through the fourteen foundational premises of the Chiropractic Wellness Paradigm; each point philosophically logical and scientifically validated with carefully researched copious scientific studies.

Dr. Chestnut is a master of analogies, which I just love; sparking many wonderful ideas to incorporate into the Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic. More importantly, my Environmental Biology background was rekindled this weekend. The words ecosystem and homeostasis rejuvenated a dormant part of me. I anticipate my keen interest in food and nutrition will be satiated by the next module, Wellness Nutrition and Natural Health. Likewise, I expect my years of fitness (starting with competitive swimming, followed by tennis, skiing, aerobics, running, rowing, cycling, weight training, golf and most recently pilates) to be invigorated with the Wellness Physical Fitness and Spinal Hygiene module. And I suspect that the fourth and final module, Wellness State of Mind, Emotional Health and Secrets of Eliciting Patient Lifestyle Change will be an expression of my spiritual gifts of leadership, giving, teaching, service, helps and hospitality. I realized the study or practice of wellness is my calling and I have decided to actually become certified myself.

Upper Cervical - Montel Williams

2008-02-28T19:28:00.001-08:00

Even Montel Williams has a chiropractor!

If It Works - Use It!

2008-02-20T20:53:00.000-08:00

On December 24, 2007, onlineasthmahelp.com posted an article “Can Chiropractic Care Treat Asthma Effectively?” which discusses the chiropractic claim that manipulation reduces nervous system irritation and thus relieves asthma symptoms. Several studies have demonstrated that asthmatics feel better following chiropractic visits. One study reported 20% reduction in beta-agonist use, with 10-28% increase in quality-of-life scores. Additionally, asthma severity scores dropped 39%. Another study from Copenhagen found that while lung function did not change, airway hyperactivity improved 36% and patient-rated asthma severity decreased 34%. While results are encouraging, there were “no clinically important or statistically significant differences.”

Nevertheless, the participants did subjectively feel better following therapy. Depending on your perspective, this can be just as important as finding objective clinical improvement. One explanation for feeling better is caused by the fact that simple act of touching can be therapeutic.

In conclusion, what works for one person may not work for another. If feel like chiropractic treatment is working, then by all means continue visiting your chiropractor.

Does Chiropractic “Cure” Asthma?

2008-02-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

One common assertion is that chiropractors claim that we can “cure asthma”. To quickly put that to bed, we don’t. Our aim is to help explore alternatives to taking medication after you get sick. Consider this: asthma is no more a primary illness than anger is a primary feeling, (anger frequently stems from a helpless sense of hurt or powerlessness). Similarly, asthma is inflammation of the airways making them hypersensitive. This leads them to react strongly to irritants, which we call allergens. The resulting narrowing of these airways diminishes airflow through the lung tissue and cause wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness. Cells in the airways may also make more mucus than usual. This extra mucus also narrows the airways. These changes cause shortness of breath termed dyspnea.

Sufferers assume asthma to be a chronic life-long illness and logically apply drugs to the symptoms. These include steroids to stop the inflammation of the respiratory tissues and bronchodilators to relax the smooth muscle spasms of the airways. Although medicine is needed for acute episodes of asthma, chronic episodes can be avoided by encouraging the body’s natural healing ability.

A powerful, natural approach is to move “upstream” in the patient’s health to where a condition begins and try to help the patient stay healthy. Doctors who study these holistic approaches to health are discovering new and old methods of heading off diseases before they become so severe that they need drugs.

With asthma, preventing inflammation is worth its weight in oxygen. Diseases such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and Lupus have shown us that inflammation leaves behind damage in the form of accumulating scar tissue. As we will show, by changing the way we move, eat, and even think, we can positively affect the symptoms of this debilitating condition.

Move Well

2008-02-15T15:57:00.000-08:00

Your body responds to physiological stress and strain by locking spinal joints together in an effort to stabilize the area. We call these locked joints, “spinal subluxations”. The joints of the mid-to-upper back associated with the lungs and heart are often subluxated in response to the Asthma. These joints can be helped with spinal adjustments, often resulting in diminished nervous system interference.

This is only part of the job. Your chiropractor will frequently give specific stretches and exercises to change your posture and tone the muscles around your upper back and rib cage. This takes undue pressure off the lungs and spinal joints.

Eat Well

2008-02-15T15:51:00.001-08:00

The food we eat is often a hidden culprit in aggravation of asthma. The very nutrients we take in to help us grow can become triggers for allergic reactions. Sadly, the most common of these are dairy and wheat. Eliminating these from our diet will leave most Americans on starvation rations. Take heart. There is hope.

Dairy is frequently an important component of asthma. “Rattling lungs” can be symptomatic of the mucus production in the consumption of casein, a large protein in milk. The effects of dairy have a “half-life” of 52 days. This means that the allergic response will be diminished by ½ in 52 days, ½ more in another 52 days, etc. Therefore it can take three to six months to clear all of the mucus secreting effects of casein breakdown. Secondly, dairy proteins frequently cause an allergic response in lung tissue causing inflammation and bronchoconstriction.

Calcium and magnesium can act as natural muscle relaxers. Various vitamins like vitamin A, have been shown to decrease inflammation especially if you have been deficient in them.

Our body’s natural balance (homeostasis) is achieved only by giving it exactly what it needs and eliminating what it doesn’t need. Restoration for Asthma sufferers can be realized by eliminating interferences in the nervous system and known irritants in the environment. Adding calcium, magnesium and multivitamins, as well as awareness of other dietary “triggers” will also assist in prevention of attacks.

Think Well

2008-02-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

Our thoughts and feelings are being found to have a powerful effect on our day-to-day health. Difficulty breathing can cause overload in the fight-or-flight feedback loop (doctors call this the sympathetic nervous system). Remembering how terrifying your last attack was might cause a cascade of nerve and hormonal responses, which can aggravate the asthma. While it is hard to call upon your mind to relax when your breathing supply is compromised, with practice, it can be achieved. For years, panic attack sufferers have been taught deep breathing exercises (belly breathing) when they feel an attack coming on. An asthma attack could be thought of as a “panic attack of the lungs”. Doctors call the relaxation response “the para-sympathetic system”.

There is much to learn and share about this increasingly common condition. A new perspective is often critical to finding powerful solutions to age-old problems.

Detox: It passed

2008-01-30T12:46:00.000-08:00

Relief, wow, I feel energetic. I’ve been going since 6:30 this morning and it’s now past 10PM and I’m feeling like I could get a lot more done. Presently, I’m basically eating only fruit and vegetables and yet I’m not hungry or craving any food in particular.

Detox: I have gas!

2008-01-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

Enough said. I’m now in the Detoxification phase, having three servings of nutritional support powder a day. As I said earlier, when mixed with some juices one drink can be 300 calories or more. 900 calories a day in drinks alone! No wonder I’m not losing weight.

Detox: A reminder of why I'm doing this

2008-01-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing like a weekend at the beach to derail a detox. Saturday night I had vodka – hey, I was at the beach! Sunday morning I had coffee and Sunday afternoon I had clam chowder and one of my friend’s fish and several of her chips. Fried food, what was I thinking? I felt so ill, a reminder of just how toxic my normal diet is. I hope I remember that feeling of having something so obviously foreign to my body that it caused a revolt

Detox: Why am I so tired?

2008-01-25T12:20:00.000-08:00

It wasn’t until the end of the week that I realized just maybe I was so tired because of the detox. The first six days of Initial Clearing have gone extremely well. I have eliminated potentially allergenic foods while slowing increasing my intake of the nutritional support powder drink. I haven’t experienced any symptoms of withdrawal. (I was decaffeinated before I began the detox.) But by week’s end, I was dragging butt.

What is Chiropractic?

2008-01-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts which is based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system. Chiropractic emphasizes the idea that the cause of many disease processes and abnormalities begin with the body's inability to adapt to its environment. It addresses these abnormalities by locating and adjusting a musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly, rather than by the use of drugs. Although Chiropractors make no use of drugs or surgery, they do refer patients for medical care when necessary.

Detox: Sweet Finds

2008-01-23T12:02:00.000-08:00

I found a permissible sugar substitute, SweetLeaf Stevia. It claims to have zero calories, zero carbohydrates, zero chemicals and a glycemic index of zero. It makes you wonder what it is. It’s the extract from the naturally sweet Stevia plant native to Paraguay. A packet of Stevia is the equivalent of two teaspoons of sugar. Another sweet find is Good Earth’s Sweet and Spicy herbal tea. It’s sweet enough to drink without sugar. It’s getting me through these cold afternoons.

Detoxing my way into 2008

2008-01-21T09:43:00.000-08:00

I’m participating in Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic’s detoxification support program. I must admit I already have a quite healthy diet, I’m fairly active, blessed with great health and have had more than a decade of 39th birthdays. I had just come off a rather reckless holiday season – too much sugar and alcohol and not enough sleep or exercise. I decided it was time to shake things up; maybe secretly hoping to lose ten pounds.

I didn’t enter into this lightly. I researched the whole process of body tissue detoxification during the first two weeks of the new year and with the help of Dr. Scott Abrahamson decided to use Metagenics’ UltraClear PLUS nutritional support to promote my detoxification. Before attempting to clean out my body, I cleaned out my kitchen and began testing flavors. Two scoops of “medical food” powder are dissolved in 8 ounces of chilled water or juice. This super nutrient-rich powder already contains 160 calories so you can really create a high calorie drink if you’re not careful. I didn’t mind the taste but found the chalky consistency offensive, reminding me of Metamucil. I could best disguise the drink’s texture by using the Original Vanilla flavor mixed in juice. I like it best with Trader Joe’s unfiltered concord grape juice, adding a whopping 160 calories. So much for dropping those ten pounds! For a treat I tried mixing the powder into Mighty Mango juice smoothie by Naked. It’s thick and rich and hard to believe it’s less calories than the grape juice. At work during the day, I use the Natural Berry flavor mixed with bottled water as it’s less hassle, less calories, and unfortunately less satisfying.

The body’s capacity to carry out this complex process of detoxification has to do in large measure with nutrition. Certain food can burden the detoxification machinery of the body, while other foods and nutrients can help it. I felt certain that the medical food beverage would nutritionally support my metabolic cleansing and detoxification process that I chose not to employ the AdvaClear supplement.

But what are these foods that tend to gum-up the machinery? According to the basic dietary guidelines of this program the biggest culprits must be eliminated from your diet immediately. First on that list is sugar – all sugar, sucrose, fructose, dextrose, molasses, honey, maple syrup, and alcohol. Say farewell to cake, cookies, candy, pastry, beer, wine and liquor. Then, of course, all forms of caffeine are eliminated including both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, black and green teas, as well as soda pop. In addition, artificial colorings, flavorings, and sweeteners are on the forbidden list. Gluten-containing grains (basically everything except rice and oats) should not be consumed either. Adios to shellfish, beef, pork, and processed meats. I enjoyed fish and chicken, knowing it too would be added to the list next week. But the most difficult for me was getting by without dairy products, especially eggs and yogurt. I tried almond milk and rice milk, but without coffee or cereal, there was little need for milk. And soy, no soy, why no soy? I have no idea. Am I beginning to sound a bit grumpy yet?