ARE YOU EATING TOO MUCH SALT?

Salt is one of the essential minerals we need in order to survive. That is one reason that we often crave it. The components of salt, sodium and chloride, are necessary for the flow of nerve impulses along nerve pathways, among many other functions. Without these components, your body would literally cease to function. Salt is commonly found in refined foods and is also a common preservative, so in modern society most people tend to have too much of it. Excessive salt intake can lead to many different problems, including high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. There is also some evidence linking high salt intake to exercise-induced asthma, heartburn, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and ulcers. So how much salt should you consume? The experts say that most people should have between 4-6 grams per day. This amounts to only about one teaspoon a day. But remember, most foods naturally contain salt, so we don't really have to supplement our diets with salt. Start eating less of it, and you will become more sensitive to foods that have too much salt and you will consume less of it. In the end, you will function better.

IS YOUR DEODORANT HARMING YOU?

One of the most commonly used hygienic products in the modern world is the trusty deodorant. It certainly works well, but did you know that deodorants are classified as an over-the-counter drug? No scientific studies have proven its long-term safety, yet its main ingredient, aluminium, is potentially harmful. Some recent small studies have shown that aluminium has cancer-causing properties. Also, aluminium in high doses has neurotoxic effects, potentially being stored in the brain and spinal cord. The area where the deodorant is applied has a large number of lymph vessels and nodes, so it makes sense that this is a vulnerable area, especially for women that shave their underarms, making the skin more penetrable. There are a growing number of alternative and more natural deodorants that do not contain aluminium, which you can find at most major local pharmacies. Remember, when you pollute your body less, your body will function better. (reference)

ARE YOU EXERCISING YOUR BRAIN?

Meditation has been practiced for centuries as a way of helping to balance a person’s physical, mental, and emotional states. Research has shown that meditation can produce significant positive changes in the brain. One study compared the brains of regular meditation practitioners with people with no experience with meditation. The MRI scans showed that certain regions of the brain associated with sight, hearing, emotional processing, and cognitive function were significantly thicker in the meditation group. This study suggested that meditation could help reduce the thinning of the frontal cortex, which occurs as people age. This study shows that much like when you are not using a certain part of the body, such as a muscle, it will start to atrophy or decrease in size due to disuse. I believe that there are many forms of meditation that can have the same effect. Prayer can be seen as a form of meditation. Also, when a person is physically exercising, the brain also goes into a type of meditative state. Unfortunately, sitting in front of a TV does not count, as the mind is more or less switched off.
So choose your own form of meditation, and make it a part of your lifestyle. You will benefit in ways you would not have imagined. Also, with your spine being more balanced and subluxation-free, the effects on the rest of your body will be even more profound.

(Previously published in Healthy Habits Update Winter 2006)

IMPROVING YOUR LIFE PERFORMANCE

Our basic goal in chiropractic is to improve the way your body functions, allowing you to live more efficiently. Some very good recent studies have shown how chiropractic care improves specific aspects of the way we function.

A good example of this is a study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension that found that “chiropractic upper cervical adjustments to correct the position and function of the atlas vertebra can significantly lower blood pressure in patients with [high blood pressure].” Most of you are familiar with the atlas or C1 and the profound effects of a subluxation at this level. No other single vertebra has as far-reaching an effect on your overall function. So the results of this study are not that surprising.

Another great study showed how chiropractic care greatly reduces the incidence of injuries for Australian Rules footballers. It revealed that those athletes also receiving chiropractic care had a much lower incidence of hamstring, lower leg, knee, and low back injuries. This obviously makes a lot of sense considering the mechanical effects of the pelvis and nerves from the spine.

And finally, a study published this year showed that chiropractic care for employees of a meat processing plant in Canada resulted in a 43% reduction in days of work lost due to injury. The study also showed a significant reduction of the need for surgery, a considerable savings to the company.

All in all, further evidence of the importance of a balanced spine and nervous system.

POSSIBLE DANGERS OF CELL PHONES

Today's cell phones have become a part of almost every person's life, especially in South Africa. They have not been around for very long, so the long-term health implications have not been established as yet. Here is a review of the possible dangers that some preliminary studies have come up with:

- Lower fertility: A study from 2006 in India found that men who used their cell phones for more than 4 hours a day had less sperm and fewer normal sperm. (reference)

- Disturbed sleep: A 2007 study done by U.S. and Swedish researchers demonstrated that cell phone radiation did affect sleep patterns, finding that the study participants took longer to reach deep sleep and spent less time in the deepest state of sleep when our bodies actually do the most healing from the rigours of the day. (reference)

- Increased cancer risk: There are conflicting studies on this issue. However, more and more studies are showing a higher risk of developing tumours for people with high amounts of exposure to mobile phones over a long period of time. One study found that the risk is even greater for those that are less than 20 years of age. (reference)

Until the true safety of cell phone use has been established, in light of the few studies thus far, it is wise to limit your exposure to the electromagnetic radiation from cell phones. Here are a few precautionary steps you can take:

1. Avoid talking on your cell phone the last hour before bed and avoid placing the phone at your bedside. Radiation is emitted even when the phone is not in use.

2. Limit your cell phone use to no more than an hour a day, if at all possible. Use land lines whenever available.

3. Try not to keep the phone on you at all times.

4. Do not allow growing children to use cell phones, even to play games or take pictures. They should only use them for emergencies.

KEEPING YOU FINE-TUNED

One unfortunate aspect of working from a “medical centre” is that some people on their initial visit expect a “medical” experience, typical of a visit to a medical doctor. In contrast, chiropractic care is vitalistic in its approach and does not fit well into the medical model. Nearly all of our patients get relief for the main problems that bring them here. Many also notice other, unexpected, benefits. For example, a patient just told me that aside from the improvement in her back, she has noticed that her nails have become much stronger and less brittle than before. This of course is something that you notice on the outside. Imagine the changes on the inside. Two other patients a few weeks ago mentioned that their bowel function had definitely improved as their spine improved. The effects are far-reaching, and go beyond even the physical realm that we are aware of. In order to understand the chiropractic approach, though, you have to move away from the disease model of health care. I like to think of it like keeping an instrument or motor vehicle in fine-tune. The more you play an instrument or drive a car, the more tuning it requires. This same principle applies to your spine and nervous system. Life is much easier when you are in tune.

ACTIVATOR ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH EAR INFECTIONS

Several studies over the years have shown that chiropractic care is effective for helping children. Few people realize that chiropractic care can actually help with a variety of conditions, including persistent ear infections. An American news program recently did a report on the experience of one family and a chiropractor that utilized the Activator instrument to safely and comfortably adjust children, with very positive results. To see the video, just click here.

ARE YOU ON THE WELLNESS PATH?

I have recently changed my business card background, from what looked very clinical to something that hopefully is more inspiring to you. With modern print and design technology, you can put almost anything on a business card. So I decided why not have a picture depicting something that is both calming and thought-provoking. I finally came upon a picture of a walking trail through a lush, green moss-covered forest. As soon as I saw the first proof from the printers, I knew it was perfect. The walking trail represents what I call the “wellness path.” The wellness path is basically making healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating right, sleeping well, exercising regularly, etc. The vast majority of health problems are lifestyle related. If your lifestyle does not change, you are doomed to struggle with the same health problems that your poor choices or circumstances have created. Chiropractic care is merely one ingredient that helps to make you well and keep you well. Remember, what you do (or don’t do) today, will affect your health tomorrow. It is all up to you.

ANTI-AGING EFFECTS OF CHIROPRACTIC

As a chiropractic patient, you have had first-hand experience with the short term effects of chiropractic care. Most of these effects deal with the alleviation of some sort of symptoms. However, did you know that a recent study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research showed that long term chiropractic care has possible anti-aging effects. What’s also intriguing is this study showed these effects on a biochemical level. The researchers measured the activity of DNA repair enzyme activity, which is important to repair and restore your bodies cells. In this study, people who had been under chiropractic care for two years or more were found to have a higher activity of this process, meaning that their cells were doing a better job of dealing with normal stress and recuperating much more efficiently. This is just another example of the effects of proper spinal nerve function.