The Dirty Fruits & Veggies

Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of health problems, including cancer, diabetes, birth defects,  and even neurological disorders such Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.  Consider that when pesticides are being sprayed on crops, the sprayer is always wearing a mask or sitting in a plane, yet it's supposedly safe to eat.  To avoid consuming excessive amounts of harmful toxins, you should buy organic produce as much as possible.  Certain fruits and vegetables should be avoided even more because they require more pesticides than others.  These are often referred to as the "dirty" fruits and veggies:  apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, peppers, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, strawberries, baby marrow, lettuce, and blueberries.  Most of these crops require more than 40 different pesticides before reaching the shops.  And unfortunately washing them does not get rid of most of the pesticide residue.  On the bright side, there are other crops that do not require much pesticides, also known as the "clean" fruits and vegetables: onions, sweet corn, pineapple, avocados, asparagus, frozen sweet peas, mango, papino, brinjals, kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, and mushrooms.  While the availability of organic produce in South Africa is still sparse, the demand is growing, so it is getting better.

Watch the following short video which shows a Harvard University professor describing why eating organic foods is even more important for children:

For more information:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/261092.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257045.php
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23290489#
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#slide-5

Healthy Video: Got A Meeting? Walk and Talk

Before the mass production of cars, people were forced to walk to their destinations.  Today, most people sit more hours in the day than they sleep.  As a result, most people are becoming "chair-shaped," which inevitably leads to spinal problems and eventually the rest of your body will suffer as well.  If you think about it, I'm sure you can find time to walk.  This is a nice video about someone who discovered that "getting out of the box helped her to think out of the box" as well.

The Love For What I Do

In the last three days, I've spoken to two different people who, while earning good salaries, said they need a career change.  It reminded me once again how fortunate I am.  When I decided against attending medical school, realizing that I simply could not see myself prescribing drugs or doing surgery for the rest of my life, I was fortunate enough to stumble upon this unique and often misunderstood profession called chiropractic.  In fact, my studies began exactly 20 years ago.  Little did I know that these studies would not only allow me to help people while earning a comfortable living, but I would also learn about a whole new way of looking at the body and the world in general.  There's a quote by B.J. Palmer, one of the founding fathers of our profession, that comes to mind, and only truly makes sense to me now:  "Medicine is the study of disease and what causes man to die. Chiropractic is the study of health and what causes man to live."  I am eternally grateful for choosing the path less traveled, as it has not only helped me to live a more fulfilling and productive life, but also helped to improve the lives of my loved ones.  My wife never knew what a chiropractor does, despite attending one of the best medical schools in the world.  Today, she is my biggest supporter, often referring her own patients because she's seen the benefits first-hand.  My two kids have been adjusted since shortly after their birth, and both my wife and I have often been amazed at the effects.  We also live a simple life that is as close to the natural order as possible, by staying active, resting when necessary, and eating as naturally as possible all the time.  And while I've had my fair share of ups and downs in my career thus far, the one constant I'm grateful for is the love for what I do.  As the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius once said, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

Chiropractic for the Growing Years

Chiropractic care only began for me at the age of 21, and it changed my life in many ways, as my whole body seemed to function better.  My concentration and memory also improved, and my immune system became more resilient.  Also, I was then able to drive for more than an hour without back pain.  And I simply felt better overall: more centered, balanced, and in-tune with my body's needs.  My growing years could have been better if I had been to a chiropractor when I was a kid.  I'm convinced that many "childhood illnesses" would have been prevented or resolved quicker.  At that time, my parents had not even heard of a chiropractor, so the option of taking us to a chiropractor to make sure our nervous system was functioning properly was never considered.  This hasn't changed even today for most parents.  But slowly, more parents are seeking a more natural approach to helping their kids.  I have seen many childhood ailments often resolve with chiropractic care, including ear infections, infantile colic, breathing difficulties, bed-wetting, digestive problems, and even persistent warts.  Studies have also shown positive outcomes with many conditions, but chiropractic is merely a means of improving the function of the nervous system, to allow your inner doctor to do what it knows best.  So it is essential that all children be checked at least once a year, and more often if they have any trauma or illnesses that are not resolving quickly.  A well-adjusted child can enjoy growing up to be a balanced and content adult.

For more information:
http://welladjustedbabies.com/why-parents-take-children-to-chiropractors/
http://www.ccpa-accp.ca/blog/?p=1616
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/61111.php
http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=37423

Healthy Thought

Invest In Your Health

Most people tend to give more thought and energy toward their financial future, with minimal thought to their health future.  Whatever you do today, will affect your health in the future.  While we may all know of someone that leads an "unhealthy" lifestyle and "they seem to be fine," when you look at the big picture, studies after studies show a direct correlation between lifestyle patterns and future quality of life.  Fortunately, it's really not so complicated, either.  There are many things you can do, but here are just four:

1. Allow your body to heal.  The most significant healing takes place when we sleep.  While we are meant to be physically and mentally active during the day, at night we sleep to recover and heal from within, so we are ready for another day.  If you are not getting adequate rest and sleep, your body is not getting a chance to recover, rejuvenate, and heal properly.  Your sleeping habits are the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
2. Mobilize your joints.  Every joint in your body thrives on motion.  Your joints don't have a direct blood supply, so to stay healthy they require motion to pump the nutrients in.  So you should put every joint in your body through its full range of motion, every single day.  Otherwise, your joints will start to degenerate sooner than later.  This also stimulates your brain and nervous system, because your joints are full of motion nerve receptors, which are essential for keeping you functioning properly.  A simple and fun way to do this is by dancing to a nice song on a daily basis.
3.  Eat raw vegetables.  While many people do eat fruit regularly, it's more important to have more raw vegetables.  They are low in sugar, high in fibre, and packed with essential vitamins and minerals that your body can absorb and assimilate.  But try to make sure the vegetables are as close to natural as possible, preferably organic and not genetically modified (GMO).
4. Walk for exercise.  We are designed to walk.  If we take that away from our lifestyle, all sorts of problems develop.  You should take a brisk 20 minute walk at least three times a week.  This is also essential even if you do other types of exercise.  Nothing substitutes walking.

As a society, we've been led to believe that we are inevitable victims of disease.  Whether it's from viral infections, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, or just "getting older."  While we may not be able to prevent all disease, we can strengthen our bodies and minds so we are able to pick ourselves up again when we do fall, both literally and figuratively.  It all depends on your daily choices.  So invest time and energy in your most valuable resource:  your body, mind and soul; and you will reap the benefits of an active, joyful, and productive life.  All the money in the world cannot buy your health back.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "The first wealth is health."

Healthy Exercising: Dancing

One of the main reasons that most people don't exercise regularly is not due to lack of time, but because most types of exercise becomes quite boring and monotonous very quickly.  If it's not fun, most people won't keep doing it regularly.  One of the most ancient forms of keeping fit and having fun is dancing.  It can be found in nearly every culture around the world and forms an integral part of being human.  It turns out that there are also many health benefits of dancing, including emotional, spiritual, and physical ones.  So regardless of your age or fitness level, this is a great way to keep you body in motion, while reconnecting your mind, body and soul.

http://www.naturalnews.com/036481_dancing_physical_health.html
http://niagp.co.za/index.php
http://www.dancingdivas.co.za/studios/centurion/

"Sitting Is Killing You"

Healthy Thought

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."  

- Oscar Wilde

For more information:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/02/08/august-landmesser-hamburg-shipyard-worker-who-refused-to-make-nazi-salute-photo_n_1262876.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Landmesser

Healthy Thought

Sugar: Addictive and Toxic

     If you haven't figured this out yet, the processed food industry does not have your long-term health in its best interest.  This is an ad from probably more than fifty years ago, which encourages all parents to start their children as soon as possible on "a strict regimen of sodas and other sugary carbonated beverages right now, for a lifetime of guaranteed happiness."  And they claimed that "laboratory tests" were done proving the "benefits."  Well, happiness may be a short-term effect, but in the long run, sugar has been linked to heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and many other chronic diseases.
    And as it turns out, sugar is one of the most addictive substances known to man; apparently more addictive than cocaine.  Our brains require a minimal amount of sugar to function, so we have an innate desire to seek it out and consume it.   Unfortunately, the food industry has used this to their advantage to sell their colas, sweets, cereals, sauces, and countless other processed foods.  Sugar also promotes inflammation, increases the acidity of your body, and keeps you from functioning properly.  And as many studies are showing, the sugar substitutes are also bad for you.  Nature already provides us with abundant forms of sugar in fruit, vegetables, nuts, and grains, so eliminate all forms of sugar from your diet and you will feel the difference.

For more information:
http://www.activistpost.com/2013/01/sugar-and-saccharin-more-addictive-than.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/037737_sugar_consumption_public_health_gm_beets.html
http://www.livescience.com/18244-sugar-toxic-regulations.html

Healthy Video: In Sickness and In Movement

A wonderful video to watch if you're ever feeling lazy to get out and get moving. We are meant to be in motion. Our bodies are truly amazing if we allow it to be.

Enjoying The Birds

It seems that my indigenous gardening adventure has turned me into a bird-watcher.  I suppose it's a logical progression, as the local plant life attracts more wildlife, with the most conspicuous being the vibrant birdlife that we are so blessed to have here in Southern Africa.  I appreciate this even more after a recent trip to the USA, where I would be lucky to see 4 birds during my 30 minutes of morning exercise.  And this was next to a lake, where you would expect even more birds.  In contrast, here in my garden, in that same amount of time, without even looking for them, I can see more than 40 birds, consisting of more than 15 different species.  This is one of the reasons I now prefer exercising outdoors.  Unfortunately, my gym membership is in danger of lapsing, because I did not attend the gym the annual prescribed amount of times, despite the fact that I exercise almost every day.  When I did frequent the gym, I felt the need to always have music, while when I'm outdoors, the birds produce all the music that I need, keeping me alert for different sounds from birds I have not seen yet.  Watching the birds has also proven to be educational.  In contrast to the dynamic activity level of birds, I've realized that being physically active is something that's missing in the lives of most people living a "modern" lifestyle.  Most of us don't have to walk much, lift much, or carry much.  Everything is automated, available a short drive away at the nearby store, and with communication made so easy, we don't have to bother going to visit our friends and family.  In the end we are less active, and I firmly believe that our health suffers as a result.  When birds wake up in the morning and start foraging for food and reinforcing their nests, they are physically active until the sun goes down.  Many lessons can be learned from nature, as long as we are there to observe.

Chiropractic Improves Quality of Life

A recent study revealed that specific spinal adjustments to C1 (the upper-most vertebra in the spine) improved the quality of life for 19 patients that were diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).  The subjects were checked and adjusted, if necessary, for a period of 6 months and all showed a significant increase in general health.  This is encouraging for those that struggle with problems like CFS, since medically this can only be treated with drugs that simply cover up the symptoms, while creating other problems due to long-term side effects.  However, if your spine, especially C1, is subluxated or "out of sync," the nerve dysfunction which results can have far-reaching effects, especially if the problem persists for a long period.  For most people, subluxations are the result of trauma, but the effects are not always felt immediately.  So it is essential to have a chiropractic examination of your spine after any sort of trauma, physical or emotional, as the effects can be stored in your nervous system for years before you become aware of symptoms.

http://uppercervicalsubluxation.sharepoint.com/Pages/2012_1226_cfs.aspx

Avoid Sitting When Exercising

Sitting forces your spine to be unnaturally passive, which is a main reason why sitting is bad for your health and well-being.  Our spines are designed to be mobile, dynamic, flexible, and resilient.  With the increasing prevalence of vehicles, computers, and TV's, many people spend most of their days sitting.  Unfortunately, many people also exercise while sitting or lying down, which simply does not help, since your spine thrives on motion.  By exercising while standing, your nerve receptors, spinal joints, and the hundreds of surrounding ligaments and muscles are activated to support you and thereby strengthen your back.  And apparently, you also burn 3 times more energy when you're standing, in comparison to sitting.  If you enjoy cycling, make sure the rest of your exercise routine does not involve sitting or lying.  So stay on you feet and give your spine and legs what they yearn for.  As your spinal column strengthens, your whole body will feel the benefits.

For more information:
http://news.discovery.com/human/is-sitting-the-new-smoking-120301.html
http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/how-sitting-too-much-could-shorten-your-life
http://healthland.time.com/2012/07/10/get-up-sitting-less-can-add-years-to-your-life/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/22400-standing-exercises/