Probiotics, what are they good for? Maybe everything!

It is beginning to feel like probiotics are going to be the next big fad supplement. And, if you aren't aware what probiotics do then it is likely you will become more aware this year and beyond. The interesting thing about probiotics is that it could be a very poor fad... it might be significantly greater than a fad and become the first line of defense for many of the chronic disease processes we currently face in this country and around the world.

The current issue of the journal Nutrition contains an editorial that highlights many of the possibilities regarding probiotic supplement use. It also highlights that there is very little known and much more study to be done to determine whether or not and, if so, to what extent probiotics are useful for helping people with chronic disease or at risk for chronic disease. You can find the editorial HERE.

Based on the limited definitive scientific evidence supporting the use of probiotic supplements to fight chronic disease it is unlikely you will see probiotics listed on the prescription pad from your general medical doctor or specialist. However, probiotic supplements do not require a prescription. They also do not require you to have a diagnosed chronic disease to be beneficial. Probiotic supplements are a great way to improve your overall health and possibly prevent a chronic disease process from beginning.

Even though the medical investigation of probiotic use is still in its infancy, there is enough positive evidence and little or no negative evidence concerning regular supplementation. And, if supplements don't interest you, then simply increase foods in your diet that are high in probiotics. Either way, increased probiotics in your diet is generally very low risk and high reward, which makes for a simple decision.

Remember, Chiropractic is the world's largest drugless profession and we're focused on helping inform people about natural alternatives and methods for achieving and maintaining optimal health!

Flu Season- What's Your Best Shot?

What We're Selling

With flu season quickly approaching there will be an increased promotion encouraging you to get your shot. The point of this post is not to make a decision for you, but to explain a few simple truths.

1. There is increasing awareness that the flu shot is not as effective as advertised (and yes, we mean ADVERTISED, because that is what happens). If you have questions about that fact, please check out this blog from the NYTimes (HERE) that makes the point better than I can.
2. If you are drawn to promotions that offer a discount to McDonalds or Wendys or free ice cream, please step back for one moment and ask yourself if the message is consistent with promoting health. HINT- it is not!
3. There is risk associated with ALL medications and secondary side effects that, while possibly rare, are still real. The risk profile for the flu vaccine is reported as relatively good, meaning your risk for side effects is low, but it is entirely possible that your absolute risk for complications from the flu itself are as good (low) or better (lower). 
4. You have options.

Your Best Shot- Healthy Habits

There are a few simple habits that you can develop to help you reduce your risk of contracting the flu and spreading it to other if you or a family member contracts it.

Be healthy and stay healthy. Maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle is a great way to reduce your risk. Diet, exercise, stress reduction and adequate hygiene are essential. If you aren't ready to overhaul your lifestyle to avoid the flu, then start with washing your hands more frequently. Hand washing has been shown to effectively reduce your risks- if you are interested read more HERE. Of course we encourage you to improve your health by staying well-adjusted. If you already have mild aches and pains that you have been ignoring, it is likely there are other underlying issues you are unaware of and your immune system is not fully prepared to fight off an onslaught from the flu.

Are your kids safe in the car?

Car-Seat Safety for Kids

In case you didn't already know, chiropractic care for kids is one of the our specialties at Performance Chiropractic. And, sorry grown-ups, but kids are definitely our favorite patients. Because we want all kids, including our own, to be safe in the car it seemed important to us to share some information with you after a recent public health study was published about kids safety while traveling by car.

What We Don't Know

The report suggests that too many people don't know the best ways to keep kids safe in the car. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for kids age 1-17 so this is definitely important. The good news is that deaths of kids age 1-3 has dropped by 50% during the past 3 decades- did I say good, I mean great... that is GREAT NEWS! However, we still have work to do to keep our older kids safe in the car. According to the research review, "Forty-six percent of child fatalities occur among children younger than age 5 who are unrestrained in a vehicle." 

 

What To Do- TODAY!

The safest place to secure kids in a safety seat is rear-facing in the center seat (helps protect against side impact collisions). Your kids that have outgrown the safety-seat should use a booster seat until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. 

 

12 Days of Wellness- Day 12

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12 Days of Wellness- Day 1

“12 Days of Health and Wellness”

Holidays Bring Stress, Pains to Many; Performance Chiropractic offers American Chiropractic Association’s “12 Days of Health and Wellness” for a Healthy, Happy Season

The upcoming holiday season is full of reasons for good cheer, but the added demands of the season can also stress the capacities of our bodies.

Research shows that stress and unhealthy behaviors contribute to some of our country’s biggest health problems such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. This stress can also build up inside the body and manifest as back pain, neck pain or headaches...making matters even worse.

Doctors of chiropractic are experts in spinal adjustment and other manual therapies that can relieve the aches and pains caused by holiday stress. They also provide nutrition counseling, exercise recommendations, ergonomic tips and other advice to promote good health year-round.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), in an effort to promote health and wellness this holiday season, offers “12 Days of Health and Wellness,” a campaign designed to give consumers tips on ways to manage the holidays more healthfully. Each day focuses on a different topic such as choosing nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and stretching after tree-trimming or gift wrapping to help ease back pain.

“The holidays are synonymous with frenzied activities, parties, shopping and stress, so it is imperative that people take steps to address these issues in healthier ways,” said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “It’s the perfect time to use ACA’s tips to take control of your health and to discover chiropractic’s natural approach to wellness. A doctor of chiropractic can customize a wellness program that’s right for you.”

Drugs cause death- Grapefruit does not

While it may seem obvious, the provocative titles that are commonplace in mainstream media deserve attention. One recent headline caught my attention HERE, "Grapefruit juice's deadly side effects." Well, of course that is NOT true. It isn't even close to being true. There is likely no documented case in history where grapefruit juice is listed as the cause of death following someone's untimely passing.

What does cause death?

Drugs. Drugs cause death. Negative side effects from properly prescribed drugs are the listed cause of death for hundreds of thousands of people each year. That means drug side effects from properly prescribed drugs alone, are a top 5 cause of death! Not including abuse or misuse, but side effects from properly prescribed medication. For some reason the recent review published in Canadian Medical Association Journal brings to light a drug-interaction with deadly consequences from something seeming innocuous- grapefruit juice.

How does this happen?

Well, in case you have gotten this far and did not read the article from Yahoo Health, the study author states that most of the necessary information that would prevent these interactions is listed in the packet insert that comes with the drug, but most patients and doctors don't read it! Why would someone just pop pills like they are candy and then suggest grapefruit juice is a problem when people die unexpectedly? We are a culture created by advanced marketing and advertising to believe drugs are health providing miracle workers- they are not.

What you need to know

Drugs with the potential to interact with grapefruit include the following:

• statins (Zocor, Lipitor)
• calcium channel blockers (Procardia, Nimotop, Sular)

And certain medications for the following conditions:

• anxiety (BuSpar)
• heart arrhythmias (Cordarone)
• depression (Zoloft)
• seizures (Tegretol, Carbatrol)
• malaria (quinine)
• insomnia (Halcion).

Now what?

If you take prescription or other drugs, go find the package insert and READ IT! If you are given a prescription from your medical doctor, ask him/her to go over the package insert with you and answer your questions. If he/she does so, then you have a good doctor. If not, find a new doctor- your life may depend on it! Drugs can be life-saving, but they must be treated with respect- for the positive effects, but especially for possible negative effects. Don't let common headlines create a complacent attitude in you or your family about drugs. Take them seriously and READ THE PACKAGE INSERT!

What The Lisfranc Is Going On In The NFL?

You may not spend your Sundays (or Mondays or even Thursdays) watching NFL games, but with the growing popularity of things like Fantasy Football and sports betting it is likely you have heard about players in the NFL and their injuries. Or maybe you have focused more attention to football due to the increased attention being paid to concussions. Either way, we all know injuries happen in football. But if you have been paying attention you have probably been hearing a term recently that makes little sense: Lisfranc (Lizz-Frank). Just in case you haven't heard:

• Maurice Jones-Drew - Jacksonville Jaguars
• Cedric Benson - Green Bay Packers
• Santonio Holmes - New York Jets
• Darren McFadden - Oakland Raiders (2011)
• Ryan Kalil - Carolina Panthers
• Matt Schaub - Houston Texans (2011)
• Dwight Freeney - Indianapolis Colts (2007)

Lisfranc?

The lisfranc injury describes an injury process of the foot that is named for Dr. Lisfranc. Dr. Lisfranc is credited with first describing the anatomy of the foot as he treated soldiers in Napolean's army. Yes, that Napolean. And by "treated" I mean amputated... ouch! See, Dr. Lisfranc learned a lot about the anatomy of the foot as he amputated the frost-bitten feet of Napolean's soldiers after they marched to disaster in Russian winter. But now-a-days we aren't amputating the feet of NFL players, so what does a lisfranc injury actually mean.
A lisfranc injury describes the region being injured; in this case, the midfoot (think arch). Specifically, the bones that provide the structure for the arch. Under extreme conditions, such as high forces of impact experienced in the NFL, the bones of the arch can become sprained and, in some cases, fractured. There is swelling. It is painful. And, more importantly, treating the injury is not well understood.

Misalignment? What Would YOU Do?

The great news (and mostly overlooked) is there is something that can be done to help- Chiropractic Adjustment. Now, there are cases when the injury is a fracture and therefore, an adjustment is not indicated. But, when there is simply a sprain (don't take it lightly, a sprain can be SEVERE) to the area- a misalignment, then re-aligning the bones to restore normal joint integrity should ALWAYS be the first step. Then the more commonly adopted techniques for joint injuries should begin (Protect. Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation.Soft-tissue Treatment.).

Knowing Is Half The Battle

It is unlikely you will personally suffer a lisfranc injury as severe as your favorite fantasy football running back, but foot injuries are common and can be improved with chiropractic care. If you didn't know that before, well, now you know- chiropractic care is WAY more than just "back pain." If nothing else, next time you are talking about football you'll impress your friends with your new profound knowledge; or you will simply be able to explain what a lisfranc injury is- "Um, I think he hurt his foot." Yes. Yes he did. "He should see his chiropractor." Yes. Yes he should!

Learn from the past don't simply forget- Lance Armstrong

In case you have been living under a rock or are simply numb to the constant noise from media, American cyclist Lance Armstrong cheated by using banned performance enhancing substances during his career and has recently been stripped of his titles, shunned by his corporate sponsors and forced to step down from the high profile position he has held with his cancer foundation, Livestrong.

Be Careful About Forgetting

Part of the statement released by cycling's international governing body, UCI, (it covers the basics by condemning Armstrong and his actions) moves beyond discrediting his career by suggesting he should be forgotten. Given the recent fall from grace, I wonder if Armstrong has learned anything? I wonder if he feels regret? I wonder if he regrets being part of the most sophisticated cheating scandal in modern sports- a scheme that was known within his own sport and largely ignored by the governing bodies. I wonder if he would like to forget his cycling career. Even if he wants to and others want the rest of us to, my suggestion is quite the opposite: don't EVER forget!

Remember Your Failures... and LEARN

Just as we should not forget about Lance Armstrong as a cyclist, we should not be so quick to forget our own failings when it comes to health. We all struggle with living a healthy lifestyle. It is easier to make poor choices and spend time doing other things than putting in the time and energy it takes to consistently eat right, exercise, and take care of our own overall health.

Some people have more success with living a healthy lifestyle than others, but there is always time to begin your own journey in the right direction.

Pick ONE Thing

What is ONE thing you can do NOW to help you live healthier? If you can find that one thing and stick to it for 3 weeks (that's right, just 21 days) you can create a new habit. And not just any habit, but a good habit! Sure, you may have tried diets before or joined the gym January 1st 3 of the last 5 years and are still trying to lose the same 10 pounds, but don't let those failures discourage you- learn from those bad experiences as you create better experiences. Get started today. And don't be ashamed, because as bad as think those failings might be, I'm sure it's not as bad as being publicly humiliated and ostracized like Lance Armstrong.

Side Effects- Death! Tragedy of Recent Meningitis Outbreak

Low Back Pain- It's a pain in the backside!

As chiropractors we treat people suffering from low back pain everyday. According to most accepted statistics, 80% of the US will suffer from low back pain. Unfortunately, we are not always able to help people fully recover from their low back pain, but what is great is that most of the time we can and even if we don't the negative side effects associated with chiropractic care are often mild and rare.

The Scary Reality

Unfortunately, not everyone visits a chiropractor before or after they have low back pain. Too often people find limited medical treatment that includes muscle relaxants and pain relieving medication. The negative side effects associated with this approach have lead to a federal task force to overcome the abuse of prescription pain-relievers and the most recent news- Back pain treatments causing lethal meningitis. The recent outbreak of meningitis, which is reportedly responsible for 5 deaths already and has hundreds of others at risk, is linked to fungus-tainted injections given to people seeking treatment for back pain. (The AP story is HERE)

Death- ALWAYS a side-effect

This recent example is why medication will always have the side effect of death- it is a REAL risk. Medications are man-made and can become contaminated. Medications will also ALWAYS have negative side effects. Don't become complacent with the risk associated with things that have become "common" in our society. Common does not equate to a reduced risk. There is ALWAYS risk. It is sad that so many families have been affected by this recent medication side effect. Hopefully public health officials can help those whom are sick and prevent others from suffering the same tragic outcomes.