Author Archive
Chiropractor Camarillo: Zinc, Does it Help a Cold?
Posted by: | Comments
Camarillo Chiropractor weekly health alert:
A review of the medical research on zinc shows that when it is taken within one day of the first symptoms, it can cut down the time you have a cold by about 24 hours. It also greatly reduces the severity of symptoms.
The authors of the review did not make any suggestions as to what type of zinc product to buy. The also did not suggest an optimal dose or formulation, stating that more research was needed before such a recommendation could be made.
Zinc supplements also have downsides — they can cause nausea and a bad taste in the mouth, and they may interfere with your body’s uptake of other key minerals.
According to the New York Times:
“Zinc experts say that many over-the-counter zinc products may not be as effective as those studied by researchers because commercial lozenges and syrups often are made with different formulations of zinc and various flavors and binders that can alter the effectiveness of the treatment.”
Colds are transmitted only by droplets, such as from sneezing, that come from a person who’s infected. These droplets can, however, remain on surfaces for some time. Colds normally last about seven days. Cold medicines are not recommended for children under 4, and no cold medicines are cures — they only relieve symptoms. Washing your hands is still the number one recommended way to keep yourself free of colds.
Sources:
New York Times February 15, 2011
457 Carmen Dr. Camarillo, CA, 93010 USA
aabates03@aol.com • 805-389-9222
Chiropractor Camarillo: Better Eat Your Spinach!
Posted by: | Comments 
Camarillo chiropractor with your weekly health alert: New research shows that, after taking a small dose of inorganic nitrate for three days, healthy people consumed less oxygen while riding an exercise bike. This provides one explanation for the well-known health benefits leafy green vegetables in particular; the nitrate was equivalent to the amount found in a plate of spinach. Until recently, nitrate wasn’t thought to have any nutritional value at all. But in fact, dietary nitrate feeds into a pathway that produces nitric oxide, a physiologically important molecule that opens up your blood vessels to help lower your blood pressure. Science Daily reports:
“The new study offers yet another benefit of nitrate and the nitric oxides that stem from them. It appears that the increased mitochondrial efficiency is owed to lower levels of proteins that normally make the cellular powerhouses leaky.”
Questions still remain though. The current results show that increased dietary nitrate can have a short term effect. But it’s not yet clear what could happen in people who digest increased levels of inorganic nitrate over longer periods of time. The authors say it will be a natural next step to repeat the study with subjects with conditions linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, including diabetes and heart disease, to see if they also will be able to partake of the benefits of nitrates.
Sources:
Chiropractor Camarillo: Is your Hood Making You Fat?:
Posted by: | CommentsCamarillo Chiropractic Alert:
According to several studies, your neighborhood may be making you fat. It can be difficult to work on your weight when your environment is one in which access to healthy foods — or even safe sidewalks — are almost impossible to find. One recent study found that women who lived closer to a convenience store than a grocery store were more likely to have a higher body mass index (BMI).
But what can be done about this? Remember that individuals can change a neighborhood. Kristin Kirkpatrick, writing in the Huffington Post, offers several suggestions as to what steps you can take. They include:
1) Communicate with store owners to determine if opportunities exist to offer more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
2) Identify and contact farmers market vendors to determine if they are able to set up a market in your community.
3) Gather residents together to plan a community garden.
4) Think about starting a community supported agriculture (CSA) program or find one near you.
Sources:
The latest health alert from your Camarillo Chiropractor: Roundup, Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicide, is causing Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), a serious plant disease, in many fields. Study after study shows that glyphosate is contributing not only to the huge increase in SDS, but to the outbreak of numerous other diseases.
Glyphosate is the world’s bestselling weed killer; it was patented by Monsanto for use in their Roundup brand, which became more popular when they introduced “Roundup Ready” crops — genetically modified (GM) plants that can withstand applications of normally deadly Roundup. But the herbicide doesn’t destroy plants directly; instead, it creates a unique perfect storm of conditions that activates disease-causing organisms in the soil, while at the same time wiping out plant defenses against those diseases.
The Institute for Responsible Technology reports:
“By weakening plants and promoting disease, glyphosate opens the door for lots of problems in the field. According to Don [Huber, a plant pathologist], ‘There are more than 40 diseases of crop plants that are reported to increase with the use of glyphosate …’ Some of the fungi promoted by glyphosate produce dangerous toxins that can end up in food and feed … They’ve ‘been linked to the plague epidemics’ of medieval Europe, ‘large-scale human toxicosis in Eastern Europe,’ oesophageal cancer in southern Africa and parts of China, joint diseases in Asia and southern Africa, and a blood disorder in Russia.”
Sources:
Your Camarillo Chiropractor: Tomatoes and Vascular Disease
Posted by: | Comments
Tomatoes, the most widely produced fruit in the world, contain a nutrient which could prevent the onset of vascular diseases. The compound, 9-oxo-octadecadienoic, was found to have anti-dyslipidemic affects. Dyslipidemia is a condition caused by an abnormal amount of lipids in the blood stream. It can lead to vascular disease.
Tomatoes are already known to contain many other compounds beneficial to health.
According to Physorg:
“In this study the team analyzed 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid, to test its potential anti-dyslipidemia properties. The compound was found to enhance fatty acid oxidation and contributed to the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. These findings suggest that 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid … can therefore help prevent vascular diseases.”
Sources:
Your Camarillo Chiropractor says: Exercising This Time of Day is Better
Posted by: | Comments
A new study suggests that exercising in the morning, before eating, can significantly lessen the ill effects of a poor holiday diet.
Researchers recruited healthy, active young men and fed them a bad diet for six weeks. A group of them that exercised before breakfast gained almost no weight and showed no signs of insulin resistance. What’s more, they burned the fat they were taking in more efficiently.
According to the New York Times:
… Working out before breakfast directly combated the two most detrimental effects of eating a high-fat, high-calorie diet. It also helped the men avoid gaining weight.
Sources:
Camarillo Chiropractor: Jet Lag and Travel during the Holidays
Posted by: | Comments
The holiday season brings lots of travel — visiting family and friends, taking vacations. If you have ever traveled and experienced jet lag, you know that you can feel that you are just not quite fully functioning (particularly when traveling east) when you arrive at your destination. A new study shows that this particular effect of jet lag may linger longer than we realize.
Researchers at The University of California at Berkley conducted an interesting experiment. They used an animal model in which they compared the performance and memory tasks of jet lagged hamsters against a control group. The researchers learned that jet lag affects the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning:
Whether you are traveling across the country, or picking up a holiday shift, here are some simple things to help fight jet lag (and keep your brain healthy):
. Time your flights. If you are only flying over two to three zones, avoid the “red eye” flights as much as possible. Remember, jet lag is worse if you traveling east.
. Get outside and get some sunlight! Light helps reset your circadian rhythm and reduces the effects of jet lag.
. Adjust with exercise. Exercise also helps reset your biological clock. I would not suggest running a marathon, but while you are outside getting sunlight, consider taking a brisk walk.
. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Both will negatively affect your sleep cycle, which will already be slightly off.
. Resist napping on the plane. You may need to fall asleep earlier than your body is used to at your new destination. Being a little more tired could be helpful.
. Melatonin might not be the best answer; the studies on its effectiveness are mixed. As I have “blogged” before melatonin often comes in an overdose amount — we’re talking anything over one milligram. It’s important to check with your doctor before taking this hormone.
. Consider a jet lag calculator app. These can help guide you through overcoming and preventing jet lag. Virgin Atlantic offers one that I enjoy from Mental Workout.
Purple Fruits Ward Off Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s
Posted by: | Comments
Eating purple fruits, such as blueberries, can help ward off neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. Drinking green tea can also have the same protective effect.
New research finds that the majority of debilitating illnesses are in part caused by poorly-bound iron. The iron causes the production of dangerous toxins, called hydroxyl radicals, that cause degenerative diseases of many kinds. Nutrients known as iron chelators, however, can bind the iron tightly.
Science Daily reports:
“Brightly-colored fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of chelators, as is green tea, with purple fruits considered to have the best chance of binding the iron effectively.”
Sources:
Science Daily December 8, 2010
Your “Fit for Food” Camarillo Chiropractor Shares More Thoughts About Thanksgiving
Posted by: | Comments
As your Camarillo chiropractor, over the years I have blogged often about the adverse effects of obesity on the musculoskeletal system. Because excess weight can cause misalignment of the spine, tilting of the pelvis, unhealthy gait patterns, and wear and tear on the joints, it has been my experience that preventative and relief measures, such as weight loss, is essential for good health. But, this time of year, my thoughts are not so much on those who have more than enough to eat, but on those who don’t get enough food each day to sustain their body in a healthy way.
As you likely already know, during this holiday season our Camarillo clinic is offering a “Fit for Food” program (you get an exercise ball for fitness, a person in need gets food), and many of my other colleagues are also offering incentives to current and new patients that, in exchange for chiropractic adjustments, will help to provide money for local food banks or food items for charitable organizations to distribute directly to those in need.
And, as Thanksgiving approaches, I want to offer my gratitude to all of my loyal patients who, as they move from the limitations of health challenges and into the freedom optimal health, give me hundreds of reasons to continue to do what I do. And, my appreciation goes out to my chiropractic colleagues, as well, who believe deeply in the efficacy of chiropractic treatment and through their dedicated work make such a great contribution, and big difference, to the people in their communities.
Holiday Exercise Tips Offered by Your Camarillo Chiropractor
Posted by: | Comments
Here I go again talking about exercise, one of my favorite subjects as your Camarillo chiropractor when it comes to an essential part of good health that no one can do for you but you. In my past blogs I’ve talked about simple ways that you can add exercise to your daily routine without altering your schedule too much, like using your lunch break to jog or take a brisk walk, taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator, and when shopping at a mall or market, find a parking spot on the outskirts of the lot, instead of close to the building.
But, with holiday shopping and other “to-do” activities, even the simple exercise options above might fall by the way side. Your lunch break becomes an opportunity to get pressing holiday necessities accomplished and if you’re in a rush, you may find parking close to a mall or market entrance, and taking an elevator instead of the stairs far less time-consuming.
However, many holiday activities offer ways for you to get the 30 minutes of daily moderate physical activity that your body needs. And, in addition to the usual health benefits, making sure you continue to get exercise will also help your body burn extra holiday calories! And, of course, as I’ve mentioned before, you don’t need to get in your 30 minutes all at once, but instead, exercising in 10- to 15-minute “chunks” can also be beneficial.
So, here are a few tips to healthfully get you through the holiday season:
If you’re holiday shopping and in a hurry, continue to park farther away from the mall entrance, and get your heart pumping by picking up your walking pace. You’ll save time and get a workout. Once you’re inside, remind yourself that taking the stairs may seem to take longer, but waiting for the elevator is often more time consuming. And, when your purchases aren’t too heavy or bulky, try carrying them instead of using a shopping cart to help get your heart pumping and strengthen your muscles.
If you’re hosting guests for the holiday, getting ready for them and cleaning after they leave can be a good way to get in your aerobic exercise. Housework, such as vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing, and even decorating (and “undecorating”) uses large muscle groups like those in your legs and back. The most important thing is to get your heart rate up at a consistent level for at least 10 minutes without stopping.
Don’t let inertia set in during the holidays. It’s hard to start exercising again once you’ve gotten out of the habit. And, if it helps, keep an image of Santa Claus and his big round belly in mind. Remember, he only exercises one night a year!
