A great article shared for Keloland.com -
Keep in mind that taking fish oils is also a great way to improve your heart health.
SIOUX FALLS, SD - Former President Bill Clinton is adding attention to the possible link between a vegan diet and heart disease.
Clinton has a history of heart problems. He says after a second heart procedure last year, he decided to cut out animal products entirely. The former meat lover now says he's a vegan, which means he doesn't eat anything that comes from an animal.
Dietitians at Avera Heart Hospital say they don't usually recommend a vegan diet for those fighting heart disease because it can be difficult to get the needed nutrients and vitamins, including calcium, iron and B12.
"You could develop deficiencies of B12, which is only available through animal foods. A vegan diet restricts all animal foods, including dairy foods, eggs, milk, yogurt, all those foods," Registered Dietitian Joanne Shearer said.
Instead, Shearer recommends a Mediterranean Diet, which allows meat, such as fish, poultry and extra-lean red meat. The focus is on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and also includes healthy oils and dairy foods. With fewer restrictions, it may also be easier to maintain.
"This is a style of eating that is very easily adaptable to the typical, average American's food choices with some modifications, and it also has very good evidence to support that it's actually a very good way to eat to reduce your heart disease risk," Shearer said.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Backpacks: Chronic Pain Waiting to Happen
As a physical therapist, my job isn't just to treat my patient’s injuries. I've also got to advise them on how to avoid similar injuries in the future. A good physical therapist doesn’t just heal – they prevent. So when I see kids walking around my neighborhood with these great, heavy backpacks that look like they’re filled with rocks, I can’t help but see a chronic back problem waiting to happen.
Backpack misuse is nothing new. I actually remember slinging mine around on one shoulder. But kids today carry more, and new research is revealing this to be a more serious issue than anyone imagined.
I know that backpacks big enough to stuff your child’s whole room into are popular, but they’ll regret it in a few years. Improper use of backpacks can lead to lower back pain, poor posture, spinal distortion, knee problems and even poor breathing patterns. Thousands of children are treated every year by physicians and physical therapists for such injuries, and an increasing number of kids in their late teens are presenting with posture and muscle issues thanks to years of incorrect backpack usage.
Here are some guidelines you can use to make sure your child is using theirs correctly:
If you want to make sure your child stays free from back pain in the future, make sure you buy them backpacks that are appropriate for their body size, and talk to them about good backpack posture today. They might not like having to wear theirs properly, but they’ll thank you later when they can stand up straight and bend over without groaning.
Backpack misuse is nothing new. I actually remember slinging mine around on one shoulder. But kids today carry more, and new research is revealing this to be a more serious issue than anyone imagined.
I know that backpacks big enough to stuff your child’s whole room into are popular, but they’ll regret it in a few years. Improper use of backpacks can lead to lower back pain, poor posture, spinal distortion, knee problems and even poor breathing patterns. Thousands of children are treated every year by physicians and physical therapists for such injuries, and an increasing number of kids in their late teens are presenting with posture and muscle issues thanks to years of incorrect backpack usage.
Here are some guidelines you can use to make sure your child is using theirs correctly:
- A backpack's weight should not be more than 10-15 percent of your child’s own body weight.
- The contents should be organized so that your child doesn’t have any odd lumps or protrusions pressing into his or her back.
- Heavy items should be placed closer to the spine to reduce the leverage and effective weight.
- Packs should not be dropped below the waist.
- Waist straps should be worn, and the shoulder straps should be adjusted for the best fit.
- Good posture should be promoted at all times, whether your child is wearing a backpack or not. This means learning to walk with the head up, the stomach in, and the back as straight as is comfortable.
If you want to make sure your child stays free from back pain in the future, make sure you buy them backpacks that are appropriate for their body size, and talk to them about good backpack posture today. They might not like having to wear theirs properly, but they’ll thank you later when they can stand up straight and bend over without groaning.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Cavemen and Weight Loss
I was a courageous fool last month. I took my daughters camping. One adult, two kids, one boat ride, too much gear, an island off the coast of Southern California – I was outnumbered.
The trip was spectacular. But so much of camping is about food. Eating it, preparing it, carrying it, putting it away out of the reach of marauding raccoons, cleaning it up.
When we think about anxiety and obsession in modern terms, it’s about thinking about something all the time, allowing it to preoccupy you.
Many people who are trying to lose weight are like that – they think about their next meal, portion sizes, hunger. Cavemen, though concerned with survival, had to have been the same – where would they get it their food? How would they share it? How would they prepare it?
The campsite I found myself at was interesting. In order to get to the town where supplies like water could be had, it required a one-mile round-trip hike, includng a half-mile uphill. Making a fire was no small task, the site was perched on a bluff above the sea, and the winds all but blew away many of my attempts to ignite the tinder. Between carrying water, building fires, hiding food, retrieving food, and cleaning up afterward – meals required an epic, 2-3 hour aerobic workout. I burned more damn calories fetching water than I did eating the beans.
And perhaps that is the balance that our evolutionary predecessors were able to achieve. Maybe they achieved a perfect balance between calories in and calories out. When a 1000-calorie salad can be had in 15 minutes via a waiter and a credit card (sadly, we pat ourselves on the back for eating that salad while some burgers would have had less calories) – it’s too easy to eat badly.
Many of us may remember childhoods during which refrigerators were smaller, grocery shopping for fresh ingredients was done more frequently, and less prepared foods were available. Cooking was an effort.
Obviously, today, the right answer is somewhere between slaying and skinning our own dinner and grabbing dinner from the drive-thru. But, I must say my days on that lovely island brought me back to basics. Me and my girls are now spending more time cooking basic food in basic ways, expending effort in the kitchen, and burning calories while making calories. I am eating out less than ever and finding that maintaining a healthy weight has never been easier.
So, treat your kitchen like a campsite, and see where it gets you. Instead of obsessing about portions and calories – make cooking an adventure.
Happy trails.
The trip was spectacular. But so much of camping is about food. Eating it, preparing it, carrying it, putting it away out of the reach of marauding raccoons, cleaning it up.
When we think about anxiety and obsession in modern terms, it’s about thinking about something all the time, allowing it to preoccupy you.
Many people who are trying to lose weight are like that – they think about their next meal, portion sizes, hunger. Cavemen, though concerned with survival, had to have been the same – where would they get it their food? How would they share it? How would they prepare it?
The campsite I found myself at was interesting. In order to get to the town where supplies like water could be had, it required a one-mile round-trip hike, includng a half-mile uphill. Making a fire was no small task, the site was perched on a bluff above the sea, and the winds all but blew away many of my attempts to ignite the tinder. Between carrying water, building fires, hiding food, retrieving food, and cleaning up afterward – meals required an epic, 2-3 hour aerobic workout. I burned more damn calories fetching water than I did eating the beans.
And perhaps that is the balance that our evolutionary predecessors were able to achieve. Maybe they achieved a perfect balance between calories in and calories out. When a 1000-calorie salad can be had in 15 minutes via a waiter and a credit card (sadly, we pat ourselves on the back for eating that salad while some burgers would have had less calories) – it’s too easy to eat badly.
Many of us may remember childhoods during which refrigerators were smaller, grocery shopping for fresh ingredients was done more frequently, and less prepared foods were available. Cooking was an effort.
Obviously, today, the right answer is somewhere between slaying and skinning our own dinner and grabbing dinner from the drive-thru. But, I must say my days on that lovely island brought me back to basics. Me and my girls are now spending more time cooking basic food in basic ways, expending effort in the kitchen, and burning calories while making calories. I am eating out less than ever and finding that maintaining a healthy weight has never been easier.
So, treat your kitchen like a campsite, and see where it gets you. Instead of obsessing about portions and calories – make cooking an adventure.
Happy trails.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Are you battling a summertime cold?
See the article here that was posted on Keloland.com. Are you battling a summertime cold? I know there have been a few of us here at the clinic that have suffered from the summertime cold season. One of the best things you can do to help avoid that cold is to get your regular adjustments to keep your immune system running at its top speed. Keeping your immune system healthy will help fight the bugs!
By
Published: July 8, 2011, 6:03 PMHARTFORD, SD - A runny nose, sore throat, a nagging cough: all signs we've come to expect with a cold, but, in the middle of summer? It turns out summer colds make their rounds just as easily in the warm months as they do in the cold.
It was a trip to the doctor Joan Nichols wasn't expecting to make in July.
"Nasal drip, congestion, headache, fever and chills, feeling very warm," Nichols said.
Fed up with feeling rundown with symptoms of a cold for a few days, she wanted to get checked out to see whether that's what was getting her down.
"It doesn't seem to be getting any better," Nichols said.
Nichols is far from being the only patient Certified Nurse Practitioner Julie Bostic has seen come through Sanford's doors this summer with those symptoms.
"I see several summer colds every day. Summer colds are related to viruses so as people contact people, they can get it," Sanford CNP Julie Bostic said.
Just like a winter cold, the virus can stick around for quite sometime, putting a kink in summer plans. However, the recommended treatment can slow you down even more.
"Good healthy behaviors, we want people to eat lots of veggies, some fruit, exercise and sleep," Bostic said.
Determining whether what you have is a cold can be a little trickier in the summer months, because what seems like a pesky illness could, in fact, be allergies.
"Allergies are a little different than a summer cold because it's the real runny, drippy nose, itchy, watery eyes, but usually people will notice them about the same time of the year," Bostic said.
Telling the two a part can be difficult. But, Bostic says checking with your doctor and into your family history can help answer the question.
"If mom and dad have allergies, chances are you might have them too,' Bostic said.
In Nichols case, she doesn't believe allergies are boethering her, but she still wants her nagging cough and headache to go away so she can get back to enjoying the warm weather.
"Let’s get it over with and get to feeling better," Nichols said.
Bostic says colds can be treated with decongestant, but she recommends talking with a pharmacist first to determine which medication is best for you. She also says nasal rinses, while not the most comfortable, can help as well.
© 2011 KELOLAND TV. All Rights Reserved.
By
Published: July 8, 2011, 6:03 PMHARTFORD, SD - A runny nose, sore throat, a nagging cough: all signs we've come to expect with a cold, but, in the middle of summer? It turns out summer colds make their rounds just as easily in the warm months as they do in the cold.
It was a trip to the doctor Joan Nichols wasn't expecting to make in July.
"Nasal drip, congestion, headache, fever and chills, feeling very warm," Nichols said.
Fed up with feeling rundown with symptoms of a cold for a few days, she wanted to get checked out to see whether that's what was getting her down.
"It doesn't seem to be getting any better," Nichols said.
Nichols is far from being the only patient Certified Nurse Practitioner Julie Bostic has seen come through Sanford's doors this summer with those symptoms.
"I see several summer colds every day. Summer colds are related to viruses so as people contact people, they can get it," Sanford CNP Julie Bostic said.
Just like a winter cold, the virus can stick around for quite sometime, putting a kink in summer plans. However, the recommended treatment can slow you down even more.
"Good healthy behaviors, we want people to eat lots of veggies, some fruit, exercise and sleep," Bostic said.
Determining whether what you have is a cold can be a little trickier in the summer months, because what seems like a pesky illness could, in fact, be allergies.
"Allergies are a little different than a summer cold because it's the real runny, drippy nose, itchy, watery eyes, but usually people will notice them about the same time of the year," Bostic said.
Telling the two a part can be difficult. But, Bostic says checking with your doctor and into your family history can help answer the question.
"If mom and dad have allergies, chances are you might have them too,' Bostic said.
In Nichols case, she doesn't believe allergies are boethering her, but she still wants her nagging cough and headache to go away so she can get back to enjoying the warm weather.
"Let’s get it over with and get to feeling better," Nichols said.
Bostic says colds can be treated with decongestant, but she recommends talking with a pharmacist first to determine which medication is best for you. She also says nasal rinses, while not the most comfortable, can help as well.
© 2011 KELOLAND TV. All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Are Energy Drinks Safe For Kids?
Dr. Kirk at Sioux Falls Chiropractic wanted to share this article that recently on Keloland TV. Something to keep in mind when kids want to reach for an energy drink or a sports drink.
By
Published: July 5, 2011, 6:13 PMSIOUX FALLS, SD - If you haven't tried them yourself, you've most likely seen them on store shelves with advertisements to keep you awake for hours. We're talking about energy drinks that come in the smallest of bottles to the biggest of cans. But is that jolt of energy something kids should be downing? A new article in the American Academy of Pediatrics says no.
After a long night of no sleep and facing a big to-do list, it's all too easy for teens and children to reach for that can or bottle filled with a quick burst of energy.
"There's no real good reason a child or adolescent should be consuming caffeine," Sanford Health Dr. Michael Bergeron said.
However, many do, and they get it in the form of sports and energy drinks. But an article in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging against that. Bergeron contributed to that article and says the drinks just aren't needed.
"A lot of kids are using the caffeine energy drinks to stay awake, more alert in school, probably very few to enhance athletic performance," Bergeron said.
Bergeron says there is a difference between sports and energy drinks. Sports drinks can have a benefit for athletes because they contain carbohydrates and electrolytes to help provide needed energy, but for those not heavily active, they could just mean more calories.
"They have carbohydrates, which mean they have calories. So, do they need to be consuming extra calories in the day, unknowingly? Probably not," Bergeron said.
That's the same case for energy drinks. However, Bergeron says teens and children should not consume these at all if they're using it to stay awake and alert because caffeine can have negative effects.
"If they're using the energy drink for these purposes, there's clearly a problem. They're not getting enough sleep, not eating well otherwise. I would endorse the recommendation to steer clear of these because there's probably another issue going on where they're trying to do too much on too little sleep," Bergeron said.
The article focuses on children, but Bergeron says it's also a good idea for adults to limit the amount of caffeine and other stimulants throughout the day. And when it comes to hydration, water is still the best choice.
By
Published: July 5, 2011, 6:13 PMSIOUX FALLS, SD - If you haven't tried them yourself, you've most likely seen them on store shelves with advertisements to keep you awake for hours. We're talking about energy drinks that come in the smallest of bottles to the biggest of cans. But is that jolt of energy something kids should be downing? A new article in the American Academy of Pediatrics says no.
After a long night of no sleep and facing a big to-do list, it's all too easy for teens and children to reach for that can or bottle filled with a quick burst of energy.
"There's no real good reason a child or adolescent should be consuming caffeine," Sanford Health Dr. Michael Bergeron said.
However, many do, and they get it in the form of sports and energy drinks. But an article in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging against that. Bergeron contributed to that article and says the drinks just aren't needed.
"A lot of kids are using the caffeine energy drinks to stay awake, more alert in school, probably very few to enhance athletic performance," Bergeron said.
Bergeron says there is a difference between sports and energy drinks. Sports drinks can have a benefit for athletes because they contain carbohydrates and electrolytes to help provide needed energy, but for those not heavily active, they could just mean more calories.
"They have carbohydrates, which mean they have calories. So, do they need to be consuming extra calories in the day, unknowingly? Probably not," Bergeron said.
That's the same case for energy drinks. However, Bergeron says teens and children should not consume these at all if they're using it to stay awake and alert because caffeine can have negative effects.
"If they're using the energy drink for these purposes, there's clearly a problem. They're not getting enough sleep, not eating well otherwise. I would endorse the recommendation to steer clear of these because there's probably another issue going on where they're trying to do too much on too little sleep," Bergeron said.
The article focuses on children, but Bergeron says it's also a good idea for adults to limit the amount of caffeine and other stimulants throughout the day. And when it comes to hydration, water is still the best choice.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
5 Foods For Better Health
I thought this was interesting when I caught an episode of Dr. Oz so I wanted to share - a good tip of 5 foods to eat for better health! Enjoy - Becky
1. Cooked Asian Mushrooms (Serving size: Unlimited)
Mushrooms contain immune system boosting compounds, helping to prevent illness. At less than 100 calories per cup, they’re good for your diet too. But be careful, you’ll lose the benefits if they’re not cooked well. Here are some varieties to try: shitake, maitake, oyster and enoki.
2. Whole Soy Foods (Serving size: 1-2 servings a day)
When you’re shopping, look for whole soy foods over isolated soy protein powders like fake meats with soy isolate. Try eating tofu, tempeh, soy milk, edamame and soy nuts. They’re good sources of protein and help guard against hormonally driven cancers, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer.
3. Cruciferous Vegetables (Serving size: Unlimited)
Cruciferous vegetables belong to the cabbage family. What’s great about these greens is that they protect against cancer. Look for cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, bok choy, kale and brussels sprouts.
4. Healthy Fats (5-7 serving a day; 1 serving is equal to 1 teaspoon of oil)
Not all fats are bad for you – some types actually protect your heart, like omega-3 fatty acids. If you’re looking to increase your intake of good fats and cut out the bad ones, make sure you add these to your grocery list: hemp seeds, flaxseeds, walnut oil, olive oil, hazelnut oil and omega-3 eggs.
5. Whole and Cracked Grains (3-5 servings a day; 1 serving is 1/2 cup cooked)
The good types of whole grain products are ones where you can actually see the grain or large chunks of grain. These foods won’t raise blood sugar the way products made with flour and sugar do. Stock up on basmati rice, wild rice, brown rice, buckwheat, barley, groats and quinoa.
Want more info? Follow this link! http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/five-foods-for-better-health
Mushrooms contain immune system boosting compounds, helping to prevent illness. At less than 100 calories per cup, they’re good for your diet too. But be careful, you’ll lose the benefits if they’re not cooked well. Here are some varieties to try: shitake, maitake, oyster and enoki.
2. Whole Soy Foods (Serving size: 1-2 servings a day)
When you’re shopping, look for whole soy foods over isolated soy protein powders like fake meats with soy isolate. Try eating tofu, tempeh, soy milk, edamame and soy nuts. They’re good sources of protein and help guard against hormonally driven cancers, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer.
3. Cruciferous Vegetables (Serving size: Unlimited)
Cruciferous vegetables belong to the cabbage family. What’s great about these greens is that they protect against cancer. Look for cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, bok choy, kale and brussels sprouts.
4. Healthy Fats (5-7 serving a day; 1 serving is equal to 1 teaspoon of oil)
Not all fats are bad for you – some types actually protect your heart, like omega-3 fatty acids. If you’re looking to increase your intake of good fats and cut out the bad ones, make sure you add these to your grocery list: hemp seeds, flaxseeds, walnut oil, olive oil, hazelnut oil and omega-3 eggs.
5. Whole and Cracked Grains (3-5 servings a day; 1 serving is 1/2 cup cooked)
The good types of whole grain products are ones where you can actually see the grain or large chunks of grain. These foods won’t raise blood sugar the way products made with flour and sugar do. Stock up on basmati rice, wild rice, brown rice, buckwheat, barley, groats and quinoa.
Want more info? Follow this link! http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/five-foods-for-better-health
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Vitamin D and Your Eyes
A recent article on KELOLAND news shares some information on how Vitamin D is good for women's eyes.
Vitamin D appears to be good for women's eyesight. A new study finds it could protect women from a leading cause of blindness.
A new study shows women under the age of 75 who have higher levels of Vitamin D in their blood are less like to develop macular degeneration later in life.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. It affects 1 in 10 Americans over 40 --some 8.5 million people. If you have it, you may notice vision changes like the need for bright light when reading, difficulty adapting to low light levels like when you enter a dimly lit restaurant and increasing blurriness of printed words.
A new study say a healthy dose of sun, the best way to get Vitamin D in the bloodstream, could protect your eyes. But just sun may still not be enough.
“The way to increase it to the levels that are protective, we need to eat properly. Eat Vitamin D rich foods,” Dr. Shantan Reddy said.
Those foods include leafy vegetables or fish like salmon and tuna. You can also find vitamin D fortified in things like milk, orange juice and some cereals.
http://www.keloland.com/healthbeat/NewsDetail6389.cfm?Id=113571
Vitamin D appears to be good for women's eyesight. A new study finds it could protect women from a leading cause of blindness.
A new study shows women under the age of 75 who have higher levels of Vitamin D in their blood are less like to develop macular degeneration later in life.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. It affects 1 in 10 Americans over 40 --some 8.5 million people. If you have it, you may notice vision changes like the need for bright light when reading, difficulty adapting to low light levels like when you enter a dimly lit restaurant and increasing blurriness of printed words.
A new study say a healthy dose of sun, the best way to get Vitamin D in the bloodstream, could protect your eyes. But just sun may still not be enough.
“The way to increase it to the levels that are protective, we need to eat properly. Eat Vitamin D rich foods,” Dr. Shantan Reddy said.
Those foods include leafy vegetables or fish like salmon and tuna. You can also find vitamin D fortified in things like milk, orange juice and some cereals.
http://www.keloland.com/healthbeat/NewsDetail6389.cfm?Id=113571
Monday, June 13, 2011
Living with Pets May Protect Your Infant from Allergies
Check out this great article to help reduce allergies for your young ones!
(Health.com) -- Children who live with dogs and cats are less likely to develop allergies to those animals later in life, but only if the pet is under the same roof while the child is still an infant, a new study suggests.
Compared to babies born into cat-free homes, those who grew up with cats were roughly half as likely to be allergic to them as teenagers, the study found.
Growing up around a dog reduced the risk of dog allergies by about the same amount for boys, but not for girls -- a finding that mystified researchers.
Being exposed to pets anytime after the first year of life appeared to have no effect on allergy risk, however, which indicates that timing may be everything when it comes to preventing allergies.
Health.com: 15 hypoallergenic dogs and cats
Though they can't say for sure, the researchers suspect that early exposure to pet allergens and pet-related bacteria strengthens the immune system, accustoms the body to allergens, and helps the child build up a natural immunity.
"Dirt is good," says lead researcher Ganesa Wegienka, Ph.D., summing up the theory. "Your immune system, if it's busy with exposures early on, stays away from the allergic immune profile."
This isn't the first study to find that having a household pet may protect kids from allergies, but it is the first to follow children until they were 18 years old.
Health.com: How to reduce pet allergens at home
Previous studies have had mixed results -- some have even linked pet exposure during infancy to an increased risk of allergy -- so it's too early to recommend getting a dog or cat just to ward off allergies in your infant, says David Nash, M.D., clinical director of allergy and immunology at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
"In the end, we'll probably find out that there are periods of opportunity when exposure to allergens, for some people, is going to have a protective effect," says Dr. Nash, who was not involved with the new study. "But we're a long way from figuring out who it's protective for and when that optimal period is."
By the same token, don't give away your beloved family pet because you're concerned the critter will provoke allergies.
"I would not get rid of my dog if I was having a child," says Wegienka, an epidemiologist in the department of public health sciences at Henry Ford Hospital, in Detroit. "There's no evidence that you should get rid of a dog or a cat."
Health.com: What to do if you're allergic to your pet
Moreover, it's possible that factors other than having a dog or cat in the house influenced the study participants' risk of allergy.
For instance, although the researchers took into account whether the children's parents were allergic to animals, they didn't ask about a broader family history of allergies or other health problems. So it could be that children who are genetically predisposed to animal allergies simply are less likely to grow up in homes with pets.
In the study, which appears in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Wegienka and her colleagues collected information from 566 children and their parents about the kids' exposure to indoor pets and their history of allergies.
In addition, when the kids turned 18, the researchers took blood samples and tested them for certain immune-system proteins (known as antibodies) that fight off cat and dog allergens.
The teenagers who lived with a cat during their first year of life had a 48 percent lower risk of cat allergy than their peers, and the teen boys who lived with a dog had a 50 percent lower risk of allergy.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/13/pets.infants.allergies/index.html?hpt=hp_bn6
http://www.siouxfallschiropractic.com/
(Health.com) -- Children who live with dogs and cats are less likely to develop allergies to those animals later in life, but only if the pet is under the same roof while the child is still an infant, a new study suggests.
Compared to babies born into cat-free homes, those who grew up with cats were roughly half as likely to be allergic to them as teenagers, the study found.
Growing up around a dog reduced the risk of dog allergies by about the same amount for boys, but not for girls -- a finding that mystified researchers.
Being exposed to pets anytime after the first year of life appeared to have no effect on allergy risk, however, which indicates that timing may be everything when it comes to preventing allergies.
Health.com: 15 hypoallergenic dogs and cats
Though they can't say for sure, the researchers suspect that early exposure to pet allergens and pet-related bacteria strengthens the immune system, accustoms the body to allergens, and helps the child build up a natural immunity.
"Dirt is good," says lead researcher Ganesa Wegienka, Ph.D., summing up the theory. "Your immune system, if it's busy with exposures early on, stays away from the allergic immune profile."
This isn't the first study to find that having a household pet may protect kids from allergies, but it is the first to follow children until they were 18 years old.
Health.com: How to reduce pet allergens at home
Previous studies have had mixed results -- some have even linked pet exposure during infancy to an increased risk of allergy -- so it's too early to recommend getting a dog or cat just to ward off allergies in your infant, says David Nash, M.D., clinical director of allergy and immunology at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
"In the end, we'll probably find out that there are periods of opportunity when exposure to allergens, for some people, is going to have a protective effect," says Dr. Nash, who was not involved with the new study. "But we're a long way from figuring out who it's protective for and when that optimal period is."
By the same token, don't give away your beloved family pet because you're concerned the critter will provoke allergies.
"I would not get rid of my dog if I was having a child," says Wegienka, an epidemiologist in the department of public health sciences at Henry Ford Hospital, in Detroit. "There's no evidence that you should get rid of a dog or a cat."
Health.com: What to do if you're allergic to your pet
Moreover, it's possible that factors other than having a dog or cat in the house influenced the study participants' risk of allergy.
For instance, although the researchers took into account whether the children's parents were allergic to animals, they didn't ask about a broader family history of allergies or other health problems. So it could be that children who are genetically predisposed to animal allergies simply are less likely to grow up in homes with pets.
In the study, which appears in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Wegienka and her colleagues collected information from 566 children and their parents about the kids' exposure to indoor pets and their history of allergies.
In addition, when the kids turned 18, the researchers took blood samples and tested them for certain immune-system proteins (known as antibodies) that fight off cat and dog allergens.
The teenagers who lived with a cat during their first year of life had a 48 percent lower risk of cat allergy than their peers, and the teen boys who lived with a dog had a 50 percent lower risk of allergy.
The authors suggest that infant girls may not develop the same immunity as boys because they may interact differently with dogs than infant boys, but that's only a guess.
Copyright Health Magazine 2010
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/13/pets.infants.allergies/index.html?hpt=hp_bn6
http://www.siouxfallschiropractic.com/
Monday, June 6, 2011
Workers' Compensation Update: Chiropractic Care More Valuable and Cost-Efficient
Dr. Bob would like me to share this article that was forwarded from the South Dakota Chiropractic Association. Take a look:
CARMICHAEL, Calif. - June 2, 2011 - A recent study conducted by medical and healthcare professionals outside the chiropractic profession, "Health Maintenance Care in Work-Related Low Back Pain and Its Association with Disability Recurrence," (Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, April 2011, Vol. 53 Is. 4, p: 396-404) concludes chiropractic care to be more effective for common, work-related, low back pain (LBP), when compared to treatment by a physical therapist or physician. Overall, chiropractic patients illustrated lower medical expenses, fewer disability recurrences and shorter initial periods of disability.
Researchers compared disability episodes across types of healthcare providers who treat claimants with new episodes of work-related LBP. After an analysis of 894 workers' compensation cases, it was concluded that the preventive healthcare, predominantly and explicitly recommended by chiropractic doctors, is associated with lower disability recurrences. In this study, a recurrent disability is defined as the resumption of at least 15 consecutive days of temporary total disability payments following the health maintenance stage -- the period following a patient's recovery and restoration of optimal health.
"A chiropractor provides an effective approach to maintain health, a key component in preventing episode recurrence," says Gerard Clum, D.C. and spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. "The clear trend revealed in this study shows chiropractic care resulting in the best outcomes, and the mechanism being used deserves the attention of both the consumer and healthcare professional."
Ten percent of patients experienced recurrent disability due to LBP between initial disabilities and the subsequent return-to-work or healthcare phase. After controlling demographic and severity factors, when compared to recipients cared for mostly by physicians and/or physical therapists, those treated mostly by chiropractors showed consistently better outcomes, less use of opioids, and had fewer surgeries, with overall lower medical expenses.
"A significant hypothesis derived from this study states that chiropractors may be instrumental in avoiding procedures or surgeries of unproven cost utility value or uncertain efficacy," adds Dr. Clum.
About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress aims to inform and educate the general public about the many benefits associated with chiropractic care. To learn more about the Foundation, please visit us on the web at http://www.yes2chiropractic.com/.
CARMICHAEL, Calif. - June 2, 2011 - A recent study conducted by medical and healthcare professionals outside the chiropractic profession, "Health Maintenance Care in Work-Related Low Back Pain and Its Association with Disability Recurrence," (Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, April 2011, Vol. 53 Is. 4, p: 396-404) concludes chiropractic care to be more effective for common, work-related, low back pain (LBP), when compared to treatment by a physical therapist or physician. Overall, chiropractic patients illustrated lower medical expenses, fewer disability recurrences and shorter initial periods of disability.
Researchers compared disability episodes across types of healthcare providers who treat claimants with new episodes of work-related LBP. After an analysis of 894 workers' compensation cases, it was concluded that the preventive healthcare, predominantly and explicitly recommended by chiropractic doctors, is associated with lower disability recurrences. In this study, a recurrent disability is defined as the resumption of at least 15 consecutive days of temporary total disability payments following the health maintenance stage -- the period following a patient's recovery and restoration of optimal health.
"A chiropractor provides an effective approach to maintain health, a key component in preventing episode recurrence," says Gerard Clum, D.C. and spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. "The clear trend revealed in this study shows chiropractic care resulting in the best outcomes, and the mechanism being used deserves the attention of both the consumer and healthcare professional."
Ten percent of patients experienced recurrent disability due to LBP between initial disabilities and the subsequent return-to-work or healthcare phase. After controlling demographic and severity factors, when compared to recipients cared for mostly by physicians and/or physical therapists, those treated mostly by chiropractors showed consistently better outcomes, less use of opioids, and had fewer surgeries, with overall lower medical expenses.
"A significant hypothesis derived from this study states that chiropractors may be instrumental in avoiding procedures or surgeries of unproven cost utility value or uncertain efficacy," adds Dr. Clum.
About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress aims to inform and educate the general public about the many benefits associated with chiropractic care. To learn more about the Foundation, please visit us on the web at http://www.yes2chiropractic.com/.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Benefits of Omega-3s
KSFY Medical Minute did a story recently on the benefits of Omega-3s. Not only are they good for your heart, they are also a great supplement to take for joint health!
Before you know if you are at risk for heart attack or stroke you need to know your numbers. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are 2 risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but Nancy Naeve Brown tells us there are some things you can do to supplement your heart health with diet and supplements.
The first thing you need to do, if you haven't done it in the last year, is to get your cholesterol checked. It's a simple blood test done on an empty stomach.
Your total cholesterol should be less than 200.
--HDL (happy or good cholesterol) should be greater than 50 in women, 40 in men.
--LDL (lousy or bad cholesterol) should be less than 100. Less than 70 if you have coronary disease.
--and your triglycerides should be less than 150.
--HDL (happy or good cholesterol) should be greater than 50 in women, 40 in men.
--LDL (lousy or bad cholesterol) should be less than 100. Less than 70 if you have coronary disease.
--and your triglycerides should be less than 150.
A healthy blood pressure is 120/80 or lower.
Cardiologist Dr. Mark Gordon with North Central Heart says, "Exercise works well to increase HDL and does to some degree lower LDL. Diet probably plays a greater role in reducing LDL cholesterol."
Dr. Gordon says eating a Mediterranean diet filled with whole grains, lots of fish and fruits and vegetables is best. Omega 3 fatty acids, found in salmon, helps reduce triglycerides and protects the walls of the arteries, but we need to have 2 to 3 servings of salmon a week which most in the Midwest don't and that's where supplements come into play.
Dr. Gordon says, "Red yeast rice has been shown to lower cholesterol. The latest study shows a combination or red yeast rice with fish oil actually reduced cholesterol to the same degree as Zocor/ Simvastatin could (lipid lowering prescription medication which can be expensive and have adverse side-effects for people)."
Dr. Gordon says it's important to read the label of your fish oil. Make sure your fish oil pills have concentrated DHA. Dr. Gordon says we should take 2 grams of DHA. So either follow the serving size or do some math 1000 mg = 1 gram. Dr. Gordon recommends Nordic Natural which you can find at Wayne and Mary's Nutrition Center in Sioux Falls. That brand contains 450 mg of DHA in each capsule and you won't burp up fish.
Dr. Gordon says, "The other natural things you can do to reduce your cholesterol is to take plant sterols or plant stanols. They have been FDA approved to lower cholesterol; you need .8 grams a day."
The less prescription medications you have to take the cheaper it is for you and the better off you'll be. So change your diet, increase your exercise and supplement instead.
We went to Wayne and Mary's Nutrition Center in Sioux Falls and suggest if you are looking for insight into what supplements are best and which ones are best for you.. to go there.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Acupuncture Care
Take a look at this article from KSFY.com about benefits of Acupuncture.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that involves putting tiny needles in the skin at certain points in the body to restore the flow of energy through the body. Nancy Naeve Brown met a Sioux Falls woman who is sold on it's healing nature because she no longer has hot flashes, insomnia or allergy congestion.
http://www.ksfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=13805188
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that involves putting tiny needles in the skin at certain points in the body to restore the flow of energy through the body. Nancy Naeve Brown met a Sioux Falls woman who is sold on it's healing nature because she no longer has hot flashes, insomnia or allergy congestion.
Linda Olson has been coming to get acupuncture from Dr. Dawn Flickema at the Sioux Falls Avera McGreevy Clinic on 69th going on 3 months now and going on 3 months she says she has never felt better.
Linda says, "I'd been having issues with hot flashes and insomnia for well over a year and anytime I don't have to take a pill I'm for it."
Dr. Flickema says, "It's not a hollow needle like you draw blood with. It's a solid stainless steel sterile needle when I put the needle in I'm looking for specific anatomic landmarks as to where the meridian is for the person I'm trying to fix. What I do is twist the needle down to hit the specific cells associated with the meridian."
The needles in her leg are helping with hot flashes, insomnia and respiratory issues.
Dr. Flickema says, "The Chinese or oriental theory is that illness is because energy through the meridian is not flowing through the meridian. So what you are doing with acupuncture is unblocking that channel to provide relief or benefit of the problem."
Linda says, "Dr. Flickema is a lifesaver. I sleep 5 to 6 hours at night now and I used to wake up every hour on the hour. Very rarely do I have a hot flash."
Since acupuncture has resolved her insomnia, hot flashes and allergy congestion Linda has now moved on to weight loss. She's already dropped 5 pounds in the last month. Linda says something that's been around for 5000 years certainly has a history of healing behind it and it's made a loyal believer out of her.
Dr. Flickema says 3 symptoms is the most she will treat at one time and typically doesn't use more than 10 needles in a session. Once the needles are in place, patients will sit for 20 minutes. Linda says she is so relaxed she falls sound asleep. Dr. Flickema says it usually takes about 10 sessions to alleviate symptoms.
For more information call 605-322-5240 or visit http://www.averamcgreevyclinic.org/
http://www.ksfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=13805188
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Feeling Like you Have No Energy?
Try some vitamin B12. Here is a great article on the benefits of B12 Vitamins. We have started carrying B12 vitamin liquid shots here at the clinic. Don't hesitate to ask questions the next time you're in for your adjustment!
Vitamin B12 is sometimes also called cyanocobalamin because they contain a metal ion which is cobalt. The vitamin b12 benefits that are the most popular are often due to its crucial role in giving you energy. While not all the functions and vitamin b12 benefits are clear they definitely have a vital role in the creation of healthy red blood cells. In fact, you might sometimes hear of people such as athletes or people with low energy getting a B12 injection. You often hear about these injections because clinicians use them to help your energy level and nervous system. These vitamins might also be important in the production of neurotransmitters in your brain such as dopamine and serotonin.
Another of the B12 benefits is that it protects myelin which is a fatty material that covers your nerves and enables them to transmit electrical impulses/messages between the nerve cells throughout the body. Depressed patients often have low serotonin so one of the benefits of vitamin b12 is their role in preventing depression which is another of the reasons it is often called an energy vitamin. They also support your growth and appetite. People sometimes associate this vitamin with weight loss because since it increase your energy and metabolism your body will naturally increase its daily energy consumption.
B12 vitamin is found in animal-based foods such as eggs, dairy products, fish including crabmeat, croaker, lobster, oysters, scallops, and meat. This is one of the reasons why vegetarians often have problems with vitamin B12 intake and might suffer from vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms . It’s interesting to note that your body actually produces a small amount of vitamin B12 in your small intestine thanks to bacteria that live there and help you digest foods. If you are vegetarian make sure you have enough B12 vitamins in your diet. If not, supplements are heavily recommended because this is an essential vitamin and you will have to add a much harder time making sure you have sufficient amounts of B12 in your diet. Other people at risk of deficiency in vitamin B12 are young children and seniors who can have problems storing a good supply of vitamins in their bodies. As previously mentioned some people, especially those with pernicious anemia, also get vitamin b12 injections because their diet does not naturally have enough for their needs.
You only need a few micrograms of the vitamin daily to receive all the benefits of vitamin b12; people sometimes enjoy taking up to a few milligrams claiming improved energy and no side effects. Since Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin all excess will simply be washed away in your urine. This is unlike vitamins such as vitamin A which are stored in your fat so while you might want to take a lot of supplements to take advantage of all the vitamin A benefits your actually doing so at your own peril past a certain daily amount. If you decide to take Vitamin B12 supplements you definitely want to make sure there is ample information about the brand you want to buy and contacting your health doctor for his approval is probably also a good idea.
http://wisemensvitamins.com/vitamin-b12-benefits/ For more information on this article, follow the link.
Vitamin B12 is sometimes also called cyanocobalamin because they contain a metal ion which is cobalt. The vitamin b12 benefits that are the most popular are often due to its crucial role in giving you energy. While not all the functions and vitamin b12 benefits are clear they definitely have a vital role in the creation of healthy red blood cells. In fact, you might sometimes hear of people such as athletes or people with low energy getting a B12 injection. You often hear about these injections because clinicians use them to help your energy level and nervous system. These vitamins might also be important in the production of neurotransmitters in your brain such as dopamine and serotonin.
Another of the B12 benefits is that it protects myelin which is a fatty material that covers your nerves and enables them to transmit electrical impulses/messages between the nerve cells throughout the body. Depressed patients often have low serotonin so one of the benefits of vitamin b12 is their role in preventing depression which is another of the reasons it is often called an energy vitamin. They also support your growth and appetite. People sometimes associate this vitamin with weight loss because since it increase your energy and metabolism your body will naturally increase its daily energy consumption.
B12 vitamin is found in animal-based foods such as eggs, dairy products, fish including crabmeat, croaker, lobster, oysters, scallops, and meat. This is one of the reasons why vegetarians often have problems with vitamin B12 intake and might suffer from vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms . It’s interesting to note that your body actually produces a small amount of vitamin B12 in your small intestine thanks to bacteria that live there and help you digest foods. If you are vegetarian make sure you have enough B12 vitamins in your diet. If not, supplements are heavily recommended because this is an essential vitamin and you will have to add a much harder time making sure you have sufficient amounts of B12 in your diet. Other people at risk of deficiency in vitamin B12 are young children and seniors who can have problems storing a good supply of vitamins in their bodies. As previously mentioned some people, especially those with pernicious anemia, also get vitamin b12 injections because their diet does not naturally have enough for their needs.
You only need a few micrograms of the vitamin daily to receive all the benefits of vitamin b12; people sometimes enjoy taking up to a few milligrams claiming improved energy and no side effects. Since Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin all excess will simply be washed away in your urine. This is unlike vitamins such as vitamin A which are stored in your fat so while you might want to take a lot of supplements to take advantage of all the vitamin A benefits your actually doing so at your own peril past a certain daily amount. If you decide to take Vitamin B12 supplements you definitely want to make sure there is ample information about the brand you want to buy and contacting your health doctor for his approval is probably also a good idea.
http://wisemensvitamins.com/vitamin-b12-benefits/ For more information on this article, follow the link.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Chiropractic Speeds Up Your Golf Swing!
Take a look at this article about how simple physics and chiropractic improves the speed of your golf swing!
Article shared from Planet Chiropractic News. (http://www.planetc1.com/)
Marietta, Georgia -- It is a simple physics equation in golf: the higher the swing speed, the farther the golf ball travels. The average PGA Tour player generates a swing speed in the neighborhood of 110 MPH. Maurice Allen, a first year chiropractic student at Life University, recorded the highest ever swing of 161 MPH as recorded on the Momentus® Speed Whoosh, a golf training aid.
The previous record of 159 MPH was set by Joe Miller, the 2010 Remax Long Drive Champion. Before Miller, the record of 157 MPH was held by Jamie Sadlowski, the 2008 and 2009 Remax Long Drive Champion. Maurice will attempt to qualify for the 2011 Remax event beginning in March. The finals will be held in Mesquite, Nevada in November.
Allen attributes his long drive prowess to God-given abilities. “I’ve never really played golf,” he says. “My dad played when I was growing up, but I never competed and never owned golf clubs.” He only discovered his uncanny knack for long hitting about six months ago.
“I lost a bet,” says Allen. “I was helping a friend of mine named Steve Harrison organize a golf event, and he bet me I couldn’t hit the ball very far.” From that first shot, a phenomenon was born. You can regularly find Maurice Allen in the PGA Superstore in suburban Atlanta, literally cracking golf balls into a net. On a recent visit, he cracked the covers of three regulation golf balls, the sheer force of the club splitting the ionomer polyelectrolyte cover.
Allen is taking his newly discovered talent seriously, training in the Life University Sport Science Institute (LUSSI). LUSSI is a proprietary center on the campus of Life University that specializes in helping elite athletes reach peak performance. Through a specific regimen of chiropractic adjustments, fitness and nutrition, Allen is becoming a finely tuned athlete, ready to take on all comers in long drive competitions. He credits LUSSI’s Dr. Keith Rau with helping him break the club head speed record, and looks forward to seeing how far he can push the limit of the golf ball.
About Life University Founded in Marietta, Georgia in 1974, Life University is the largest chiropractic college in the world. Life University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) to award four-year undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of health care, science, business and general studies fields. The mission of Life University is to empower students with the education, skills and values necessary for career success and life fulfillment, based on vitalistic philosophy.
Article shared from Planet Chiropractic News. (http://www.planetc1.com/)
Marietta, Georgia -- It is a simple physics equation in golf: the higher the swing speed, the farther the golf ball travels. The average PGA Tour player generates a swing speed in the neighborhood of 110 MPH. Maurice Allen, a first year chiropractic student at Life University, recorded the highest ever swing of 161 MPH as recorded on the Momentus® Speed Whoosh, a golf training aid.
The previous record of 159 MPH was set by Joe Miller, the 2010 Remax Long Drive Champion. Before Miller, the record of 157 MPH was held by Jamie Sadlowski, the 2008 and 2009 Remax Long Drive Champion. Maurice will attempt to qualify for the 2011 Remax event beginning in March. The finals will be held in Mesquite, Nevada in November.
Allen attributes his long drive prowess to God-given abilities. “I’ve never really played golf,” he says. “My dad played when I was growing up, but I never competed and never owned golf clubs.” He only discovered his uncanny knack for long hitting about six months ago.
“I lost a bet,” says Allen. “I was helping a friend of mine named Steve Harrison organize a golf event, and he bet me I couldn’t hit the ball very far.” From that first shot, a phenomenon was born. You can regularly find Maurice Allen in the PGA Superstore in suburban Atlanta, literally cracking golf balls into a net. On a recent visit, he cracked the covers of three regulation golf balls, the sheer force of the club splitting the ionomer polyelectrolyte cover.
Allen is taking his newly discovered talent seriously, training in the Life University Sport Science Institute (LUSSI). LUSSI is a proprietary center on the campus of Life University that specializes in helping elite athletes reach peak performance. Through a specific regimen of chiropractic adjustments, fitness and nutrition, Allen is becoming a finely tuned athlete, ready to take on all comers in long drive competitions. He credits LUSSI’s Dr. Keith Rau with helping him break the club head speed record, and looks forward to seeing how far he can push the limit of the golf ball.
About Life University Founded in Marietta, Georgia in 1974, Life University is the largest chiropractic college in the world. Life University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) to award four-year undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of health care, science, business and general studies fields. The mission of Life University is to empower students with the education, skills and values necessary for career success and life fulfillment, based on vitalistic philosophy.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Chiropractic Care for Babies with Colic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXBns0lF_l8&feature=player_embedded
Watch this video for great information for babies with colic.
Watch this video for great information for babies with colic.
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