The Real Difference Between MD’s and DC’s

The difference between Medical Doctors and Doctors of Chiropractic is something like this: Say you have a short circuit in your house. It starts a fire. An MD would show up, put the fire out, and tell you to call if it happens again. A DC would show up, put the fire out, and figure out what caused the fire in the first place so it never happens again.

In one situation, you’re always at risk. In the other, your risk has been eliminated. Read more

5 REASONS YOU MAY NEED A TRACTION DEVICE

Relieves a sore and stiff neck—This neck traction device also called a posture pump relieves soreness and stiffness by stretching soft tissues and separating joint surfaces. By squeezing the air pump, the traction force increases to gently stretch your neck and your head will be slightly lifted upward to relieve neck pain and muscle spasms.

Relieve Tension and Stress—The Posture Pump can relieve tension headaches, pinched nerves, and assist in relieving pain from degenerative conditions.

            Chronic tension headaches are one of the first signs of bad posture. It is a trend we have seen in great numbers of patients who spend a lot of time at a computer, especially those who use a laptop.

Prevent Bad Posture—When the traction device is inflated, it lifts up the head and straightens your neck. Poor posture causes a loss of the normal curvature in the neck creating less shock absorption and more compression. The posture pump is proven to restore normal curvature and will actually help you to become more aware of your posture. Using the Posture Pump regularly will help your spine become straighter.

Relieve Pain from a Compressed Disc—Since the Posture Pump straightens the neck and head, it is proven to relieve pressure from a compressed disc and increase hydration of all the discs keeping them healthy. Most people feel a reduction in pain or elimination of pain when the neck traction is used regularly.

Affordable and Easy to Use—Most people suffer from chronic neck pain as a result of stress, poor posture, whiplash, or computer work.With the Posture Pump you can treat the source of neck pain in the comfort of your own home at a reasonable price. Some insurance carriers will cover most or all the cost of the unit.

Who can benefit from a posture pump?

People who have sore and stiff neck muscles

People who spend lots of time in front of a computer

Office workers with poor posture

People Suffering from Pressure Buildup in the neck and Shoulders

People with Degenerative Arthritis

Ask Us if You May Benefit From a Traction Device.

YOUR SECRET WEIGHTLOSS ENEMY

If you started off the New Year by cutting back on calories, my hat’s off to you. That’s an especially wise move if the axed calories are from sugar-added foods and other simple carbohydrate items. You’re cutting back on fried foods too? Look at you! Way to go!

So how is your battle with ghrelin going?

What the heck is ghrelin? If you’re cutting calorie intake – any type of calories – ghrelin is a formidable adversary.

When it comes to desire for food, you’re largely at the mercy of the hormones leptin and ghrelin. A rising ghrelin level prompts your brain to register the sensation of hunger. As you eat and fulfill your body’s need for nourishment, leptin rises, ghrelin drops, and hunger fades.

Simple. But when you’re trying to lose weight – not so simple.

A 2002 Journal of Medicine study followed subjects’ ghrelin levels over the course of a six-month weight reduction effort. After the first three months, each of the overweight subjects had lost an average of nearly 40 pounds. By the end of the study they had managed to maintain that level of weight loss.
But here’s the bad news (and possibly the key reason dieters typically regain lost weight): As body weight dropped, ghrelin output increased. At the end of the study, the subjects’ LOWEST ghrelin levels were almost as high as their pre-meal ghrelin peaks before their weight-loss program began.

It’s a real bummer! Here you are, working hard, day after day, depriving yourself of calories, while ghrelin lays the groundwork for backsliding the moment you let your guard down.

Now for the good news: There are  steps you can take to help tame the ghrelin gremlin.

1) Get enough sleep – Avoid fructose—Fructose makes ghrelin rise. And fructose shows up in a wide range of processed foods.

A study in which subjects of normal weight drank a fructose drink or a glucose drink after each meal for 24 hours. Results: High fructose intake was linked to higher ghrelin levels, and lower leptin and insulin levels.Research shows that ghrelin levels are generally higher and leptin levels are lower in people who regularly get inadequate sleep. As a result, hunger is more pronounced during the day. And worse: Sleep-deprived people tend to desire calorie-dense, high-carbohydrate foods.

Do you have to get 8 hours? A 2006 sleep study shows that many overweight people may experience benefits by adding just 20 minutes of additional sleep each night.

2)

 

3) Don’t Crash Diet—Too steep of a drop in caloric intake is a shock to the system which can increase grehlin. Cutting refined carbohydrates is a must, consuming inferior carbs just makes you hungry for more carbs.

newsmax.com

-Remember to Keep the Grehlin Gremlins at Bay by Getting Needed Rest, Decreasing High Fructose Corn Syrup and Don’t Starve Yourself! – Dr. B

 

Going Vegan Days 4,5,6

Thursday – lost weight and feeling a bit bloated.

I have lost a couple of unintentional pounds which is a benefit of the diet for those looking to drop some weight.

Breakfast – Peanut Butter Burrito. Its getting to be a habit but i can’t have my usual yogurt.

Lunch – Morrocan Soup, awesome hearty soup with Artichoke hearts, cou sous, zuccini, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, cinnamon(a natural anti-inflammatory) and herbs. My wife made it and it was a nice change from the other beans that we have been eating.

Dinner – Veggie Potstickers and Broccoli Slaw w/sesame ginger dressing. The potstickers were found in the freezer section sauteed in a little oild and then steamed in the same pan for a few minutes serve with a little low sodium soy sauce and they are delicious and filling. The broccoli slaw is prepackaged in the produce section and a couple of tablespoons of any good sesame ginger dressing makes it a very flavorful, crunchy side dish. 

Friday

Breakfast – Peanut Butter Bagel. No surprise I’m sure.

Lunch – Amy’s Enchiladas. Actually really good although i was thinking that some sour cream on top would have made it great.

Afternoon snack – Pretzels, yes these are actually vegan. No egg or dairy.

Dinner – Ethiopian Yellow lentils (kik wat) w/Flatbread (vegan) – These are cooked and mixed with an ethiopian spice called berbere, the result is a mixture that is similar to hummus in texture with a little kick to it. You use the bread to dip and eat.

Saturday-Last day

Breakfast – Peanut Butter Burrito

Lunch – Leftover Lentils mixed with saffron rice and tomatoes. This is my own mixture that I came up with based on what was available.

Dinner – Chinese Take Out – To finish out the week we decided to get something good. We ordered Vegetable lo mein(noodles), Vegetable combo (broccoli, onions, etc. in a non-dairy whie sauce), and vegetable rolls (yes, they were fried so not entirely healthy but still vegan).

What Have I Learned?

Well, there you have it. One week with no meat, pork, fish, or dairy. I learned that eating a lot of beans can make you pretty gassy and uncomfortable. My body did seem to start to accomodate the new diet in the last days. I learned that even though there are many choices out there for vegans today, you need to really plan meals and have snack foods available. Breakfast was not an issue since i obviously like peanut butter but someone who doesn’t would have to plan ahead a little better. if i had more time in the morning i might incorporate a hot cereal into the mix.

Am I going to “turn” vegan? Probably not. On Sunday I woke up and had a breakfast burrito with egg, cheese and bacon and it was great. For dinner we had steak and baked potato with grilled asparagus. Again, it was wonderful.

What foods did i miss most? I found I have a much greater fondness for cheese than I had previously thought. Love sour cream and yogurt. My love for Bacon is unhealthy and something that needs to be addressed. I don’t drink milk and meat is something I eat 2-3 times per month. 

What Now? 

I have a new found appreciation for the vegan diet, the environmental benefits, the ethical choice, and the many health benefits that come with it. For now I will commit to having meatless meals at least a couple of times per week to give my body and digestive system a chance to “clean house” and rest.

If you would like to try any of the recipes I mentioned here send me an email with the subject “vegan recipes” and i will be happy to send you any that you are interested in.

Vegan for a week; Day 3

Here we are at day 3 and I still love the smell of bacon and i’m still missing cheese a little. I am feeling pretty tired today don’t know if  I am still detoxing all the crud I ate over the holidays or what. I’m going to go with detoxing.

BREAKFAST

Peanut butter on a bagel-Boring but quick and filling.

LUNCH

Bocaburger and salad – Yes, i had ketchup on my “veggie burger” and the salad was a premix with cranberries and nuts as well as cider vinaigrette. Good stuff!

DINNER

Leftover Quinoa w/Spinach and white beans and 1/2 an acorn squash – Can’t let the leftovers go to waste and the acorn squash cooks in 7 minutes in the microwave, hardest part is cutting the dang thing in half. A little salt and pepper and some brown sugar to taste.

A little wine and I should be good for today. Is it organic wine? I have had one pretty good organic wine and 2 very bad organic wines so I am not completely sold on them yet. I will keep you updated.