First we must decide what Qualifies as "Green".

online Merriam-Webster defines Green as:

relating to or being an environmentalist political movement b: concerned with or supporting environmentalism c: tending to preserve environmental quality (as by being recyclable, biodegradable, or nonpolluting)

Prescription drugs polluting our water.

With the alarming rate that Americans are being prescribed medication for everything under the sun, it was only a matter of time before it started showing up in our drinking water.

 http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=87742

from the article: 

According to the investigation, the drugs get into the drinking water supply through several routes: some people flush unneeded medication down toilets; other medicine gets into the water supply after people take medication, absorb some, and pass the rest out in urine or feces. Some pharmaceuticals remain even after wastewater treatments and cleansing by water treatment plants, the investigation showed.

Although levels are low — reportedly measured in parts per billion or trillion — and utility companies contend the water is safe, experts from private organizations and the government say they can't say for sure whether the levels of drugs in drinking water are low enough to discount harmful health effects.

Chiropractic- healthy lifestyle choice

First off, Chiropractors, in general, are health care providers that stress healthy lifestyle choices. While chiropractic adjustments focus on the spine and the bodies nervous system, we also believe our food sources, movement with exercise are also vitally important to attaining and maintaining health. 

With this basic formula, what conditions can be alleviated to prevent the "need" for medication?

The obvious answers are there is less need for pain killers and muscle relaxers once the cause of the problem is addressed in the spine.  Chiropractors based an entire profession on this, but you would be surprised how many people will still run to get their meds when all they need is a chiropractic adjustment.  

I'm a big fan of The Biggest Loser.  What I like about that show is that it you can't argue with the results.  People come into the show with one foot in the grave and on a plethora of prescriptions from Type II diabetes, high cholesterol, pain killers for overloading their joints, diet pills, you name it.  Their medical test results would tell them they don't have much longer to live if they don't take these medications.  After a couple months of making the right lifestyle choices of diet and exercise, they eventually don't need the medications.

Why I say Chiropractic is "Green".

 1.  Less need for pain killers.  Less pollution.  Better for your overall health.

 2. Encourage a healthy lifestyle.  Natural and Organic.  

 3. Chiropractic requires little if any energy consumption for equipment compared to the cost to manufacture pills.  And think of the waste from the chemical plants that go into our environment.

 4.  Being able to move better after being in alignment will make exercise easier.  You won't have to drive around the parking lot to find the nearest parking spot.  Walking to the grocery store instead of hoping in the car.  Walk together as a family!

 5  Save green in the wallet.  Chiropractic care is much more affordable.

 6.  Less Back and Joint pain = More exercise = less fat = less stored heat = lower need for air conditioning = lower utility bill = saving more green.

Here are some common questions surrounding  vitamins and supplements.  Answers below:

a. How do I know my vitamin is actually working?

b. Why does your vitamin make me feel bad?

c. Sure I am taking Ascorbic Acid and a-tocopherol, but is it really Vitamin C  and Vitamin E like the label says it is?

d. What is Whole Vitamins?

e. Why does my vitamin give me mega doses?

f. Is more expensive better?

g.  Which studies are correct?

h. Which company do I recommend?

Here are the answers and some tips when you are vitamin shopping and what I have noticed in my chiropractic health practice when a person is taking the right vitamins:

a.  How do I know my vitamin is actually working?  If you have to ask this question, then chances are you are taking the wrong vitamin.  When you take the right vitamin, your body will respond.  When placed on the right vitamin, most people will notice that they have more healthy energy during the day and aren't drained to the point they can't get off the couch after they get home from work every night.  Would you put stale gasoline in a sports car and wonder why the car isn't working?  You have to used the right vitamin!

b.  Why does my vitamin make me feel bad?  Not all vitamins are created equal.  The FDA doesn't regulate vitamin manufacturing (nor do we want them to), but we have to be responsible in knowing where our vitamin comes from before we ingest.  Things to look for on the label:  Where the vitamin comes from.  For instance instead of just seeing ascorbic acid on the ingredients, but looking for citrus fruits or the like.  Is your vitamin coming from whole food sources or is it being formed in a lab from coal tar where manufacturer BASF gets their a-tocopherol (Vitamin E).  Yes some vitamins manufactured in labs are actually toxic.  That is why you feel bad after taking your vitamins.

c.  Sure I am taking Ascorbic Acid and a-tocopherol, but is it really Vitamin C  and Vitamin E like the label says it is?  I already touched on this in the previous answer.  Vitamins have several components to them.  However, the FDA only requires the "active" component to be present to call it a vitamin.  For instance on component of Vitamin E is a-tocopherol.  However, Vitamin E actually has 8 components.  If you only take a-tocopherol (compound made in a lab probably in another country) then you miss out on the benefits of  the other 3 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols and their anti-oxidant effects.

Most Vitamin C is being manufactured in China through processing Glucose into sorbitol plus fermentation and couple more fermenting with chemicals (hydrochloric and sulphuric acid) steps to make Ascorbic acid.  Should we load up on this?  Check the label to see where the Vitamin comes from.  If it doesn't say, stay away from it.  It is probably toxic!

Don't think that these manufacturing methods are just limited to just C and E.

d.  What is Whole Vitamins?  Whole Vitamins are the complete Vitamin and its entire complex from natural food source.  It's like you can buy the engine, but what good is it without the car?  Will the car move without it's tires?  Yes, but not very well.  The same is true with vitamins.

 Organic is best, but make sure the vitamin company has a good reputation first.  It seems anyone can claim organic.  It is worth doing your research or making phone calls to the company.  Some vitamin companies will even let you visit their farms first hand.  It is important to know that you can have a good relationship with the people that are working to keep you healthy.

e.  Why does my vitamin give me mega doses?  Vitamins give you mega doses because it's cheap and it looks better to the average person when comparing labels.  I admit I was guilty of this before I became informed.  You don't need 400% of a-tocopherol.  It won't be nearly as effective as 25% of the whole Vitamin E complex.  If you eat an egg, do you eat an entire dozen of egg shells or do you just eat one or two entire eggs?  Stick with whole vitamins and you won't have to worry about mega dosing with potential toxins.

f.  Is more expensive better?  Vitamins do not have to be expensive.  But be careful of cheap vitamins.  You will know a fair price when you see one after you do some research on the manufacturer.  Be informed before you go to the store to choose.  If it's manufactured by a company that also manufactures chemicals and/or pharmaceuticals, then that's a good sign it is toxic.  

Is the vitamin even absorbable.  For instance, Calcium needs an acidic environment in the stomach to be absorbed.  How much Calcium do you think will be absorbed when you take an anti-acid.  Tums with Calcium sounds great for marketing, but chances are, you won't be absorbing any of the calcium.

Also, will your vitamin dissolve in water?  How long does it take?  We've all heard the story about the vitamins still intact in the septic tank.

g.  Which studies are correct?  How do you know which studies are correct?  First find out who is doing the research.  What do they have invested for a favorable result.  What product are they testing?  Are they testing the right vitamin supplement or one that only uses one component of the vitamin that was made in a lab from a toxic source or series of fermentations?

For instance, the herb Echinacea has been said to be ineffective by researchers.  But they used the wrong part of the plant in their test.  Most Echinacea you buy in your mega-mart is Echinacea purpura flower.  Of course it's ineffective because that the part of the plant that doesn't work, but the cheapest to grow and process.  When you buy Echinacea, look for Echinacea Augustifolia root.  This is the part of the plant that works to help boost the immune system against infections and even preventing cancer.  Why doesn't all companies that sell Echinacea include this?  Because the root is the hardest and most expensive part of the plant to grow.  They are in the business of making money, not keeping people healthy.

You can easily test if your Echinacea is works.  First make sure it is Augustifolia root.  Next, chew the tablet (I know it has a bad taste) and keep in the mouth a little while before you swallow with water.  In around a minute your mouth will tingle.  And it will tingle for awhile.  Try this out!

h. Which company do I recommend?  Since I am a chiropractor in the health field, I do research a lot of health topics.  I devote nearly every day to reading research articles in a variety of health topics and attend seminars on health and nutrition.  I have even experimented on myself and tried many different so-called "best vitamins on the market".  The only vitamin manufacturer I can say that has made a difference in my life, and my wife can attest to it, is Standard Process.  They grow their own whole foods on their organic farm in Palmyra, Wisconsin where the soil is dark and rich and manufacture the supplements themselves.  

They have a product line for many different conditions and helping nutritionally.  Are you stressed and burned out?  The check out the nutritionals for supporting the endocrine- adrenal gland with synergistic herbs.

Standard Process is pharmaceutical grade which means they adhere to a higher standard than the vitamins you can buy at your mega mart.  For this reason, they are only sold through doctors and health practitioner's offices.

The multivitamin for Standard Process is Catalyn.  This is a great place to start noticing the benefits of taking the right vitamins.

What ails you? Find help here!  Product Guide Standard Process  MediHerb

If you need any further information or assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

06/11/08- How did I get here?

The easy answer is that most injuries are repetitive injuries outside of an accident or fall.  If you sit at a computer all day, you might wonder why you suffer frequent headaches and tightness in the shoulders.

If you drive frequently, you might wonder why you have low back pain.

If you sleep on your stomach, you may wonder why you have an occasional "crick" in your neck.

These are all repetitive injuries.  What usually happens is that a vertebrae may already misaligned, but your body has "learned to manage".  However, since it isn't in its correct position, your body will try to stabilize the misalignment by putting down calcium to give it some support.  This is the beginning stages of degeneration.  A vertebrae only has to be out of alignment for as little as 3 weeks for permanent degeneration to set it.

What does degeneration mean?  It means bone spurs and a pathway to slipped and herniated discs.  If a disc gets on one of the nerves that runs between the vertebrae, that means excruciating pain.  And from what I have observed, it usually happens at the least convenient time for people similar to a blown out tire on the car.  

The good news is the sooner the misalignment is adjusted by a chiropractor, the sooner it will go back in alignment and prevent the degeneration and pain that will inevitably follow.

The bad news is, if you wait too long, it might be too late and will require the S word: Surgery.  As a chiropractor, I try to avoid surgery for patients as much as possible.  But, if the bone has already degenerated enough to where there is no disc and the spurs are fuse together, there is nothing I can do.  The surgery requires cutting out about half the vertebrae leading to a lifetime of pain killers.

Let's avoid that.  Chiropractors are trained to find the misalignments that we call subluxations before they cause problems and pain.  If you haven't had your spine checked, it would be a good idea to have it checked soon before you start showing symptoms of pain and stiffness.  If you already have symptoms, the longer you wait, the more it will degenerate until you have no other choice.

Call or use our Contact Us page to schedule a chiropractic evaluation today.  I will be able to let you know where you are out of alignment and the best way to correct it in addition to chiropractic adjustments.

05/09/2008- Pain Killer Deficiency

It seems these days that a lot of people can't get through their day without popping a couple over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines.  For many it is just easier to buy the 100 capsule bottle at the discount store and take a few every day for that constant backache, headache, or even just not feeling right.  Did you know these OTC's are addictive?  And have very harmful side effects?

If you're one of those people that have to keep taking these pills, you might be having rebound effects when you forget.  This is very dangerous.

First off, what is so dangerous about these pills that are marketed by the pharmaceutical companies as safe and sometimes "good for you".

1.  Aspirin has to be detoxed by the liver.  Ok, you're trying to prevent stroke and heart disease and the chronic headache, but your liver is picking up the tab on this one.

2. Acetamenopen (Tylenol)- harmful to the liver.  Why do you think so many people are developing cirrhosis of the liver these days without drinking a sip of alcohol?  Furthermore, if you drink alcohol after taking one of these, it breaks down to formaldehyde in the liver.  As we know, formaldehyde is what morticians use to preserve deceased bodies.

3. Ibuprofen- This is harmful to the kidneys.  The kidneys cannot regenerate as well as the liver.  Try to avoid kidney damage at all costs unless you don't mind going in for dialysis later in life.

Those are just the most common.  For every drug there is a side effect and it almost in every case puts stress on the organs.  Stay away from these as much as possible. 

If you need to quit here are my suggestions:

1.  Start weaning yourself off  unless it's prescribed by an MD.  If it is prescribed, ask him/her what steps you can do to get off the pain medication.  If you are just taking OTC's on your own, take a little bit less each time and take it further apart from the previous one.

2.  Fix the cause!  Don't let the pain just be there and get worse.  Using pain killers is covering up what is causing the pain.  How can you fix the cause of backaches and headaches? 

Chiropractic of course!  When your nervous system isn't working at its best, your brain can interpret this as pain.  Furthermore, since your nervous system isn't at 100%, that means the organs those nerves are going to are compromised.  If you have a T5 that is out of alignment, putting pressure on a T5 nerve, this can cause pain in your mid back and compromise the way your liver functions.  If you take a Tylenol, that's a double whammy.  Not only is your liver not receiving the proper signal, but is now receiving added stress by the toxin you just introduced to cover up the brain signal of pain.

Another way to help fix the cause is Diet and Exercise.  A toxic diet can increase inflamation in the body.  Junk foods and preserved foods are usually toxic.  A toxin that people probably isn't aware of is in chewing gum.  Actually 3 toxins, but that's for a later blog.

Exercise with stretching and resistance will make the muscles healthy that are controlling the bones (vertebrae).  Keeping your back healthy and strong will help you recover quicker!  If you're unsure of what exercises you should be doing, Please Contact Me and I can set up a consultation with you.

Health is something we have to work for when we get older.  We can make the right and wrong choices.  Life isn't about how long your live, but how well you feel while living it!

05/02/2008- First things first- "reboot" your brain.

Today is the beginning of my blog that I will plan to update frequently with topic on health.  Once in awhile I will ask for input and you can respond directly at the link above.

Did you know:  It is being proven that getting a chiropractic adjustment to reboot the nervous system is very similar to "rebooting your computer".  Studies in New Zealand have already confirmed this and are continuing to find out other health benefits.

That explains why many patients say after the adjustment "It's like getting a breath of fresh air to my body". 

By rebooting the nervous system, you are also giving a boost to your immune system and everything else the nervous system controls... EVERYTHING. 

This is another reason why many top-class athletes will receive a chiropractic adjustment before their big event.  They have actually included it in their warm-up along with their stretches.

Today, I encourage everyone who reads this to have their computer's rebooted.  Call your chiropractor for an appointment if you haven't in awhile.  If you don't have a chiropractor, click here.

Living sluggish, isn't really living!  Let's feel great more often so we can give our family and friends the best of ourselves!

Check back soon for more topics!