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.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
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
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