Dr Beecher’s June 25 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter

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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE

Week of Monday, June 25th, 2012

Mental Attitude: Impressionable Youth. Alcohol is responsible for 4,700 deaths per year among young people under the age of 21. At least 14 studies have found that the more young people are exposed to alcohol advertising and marketing, the more likely they are to drink, or if they are already drinking, to drink more. Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, May 2012

 

Health Alert: Oxygen and Cancer. A new study suggests the primary cause of uncontrollable tumor growth in some cancers may be hypoxia (low oxygen levels in cells) and not genetic mutations, as is widely believed. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, May 2012

 

Diet: Be Careful What You Watch. Researchers digitally removed the names of fast food chains from their commercials, showed them to young people ages 15-23, and asked them to identify which restaurant chain each commercial represented. Even after controlling for the total amount of time spent watching TV, young people whom correctly identified more than 50% of the restaurants were twice as likely to be obese compared to those whom did not. American Academy of Pediatrics, April 2012

 

Exercise: Not Enough! On average, Americans spend only about 2 hours each week participating in sports and fitness activities. The CDC recommends adults aged 18-64 get about four hours of physical activity each week by exercising moderately (ex: brisk walk) for 2.5 hours per week and engaging in a vigorous activity, such as running and muscle strengthening, for 1.5 hours per week. American Time Use Study, May 2012

 

Chiropractic: Did It Move? If there is no “popping” sound accompanying an adjustment, did the joint move? Try this: “Pop” one of your knuckles and notice how far the joint moves. Try again, and even though the joint moves just as far, there is no sound. So, whether a joint “pops” or not does not correlate with if it moved or not. Of course, it is possible that the surrounding muscles are so tight, the joint cannot be moved enough to “pop” that joint.

 

Wellness/Prevention: Rolling Down The Highway.  Heart attack death rates are 27% higher for people living within 100 meters of a major roadway, compared to those who live at least 1,000 meters away. Living close to a highway is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in those with underlying cardiac disease. Besides air pollution, exposure to noise could be a possible mechanism underlying this association.

Circulation, May 2012

 

Quote: “Perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem.” ~ Albert Einstein

 

This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.

 

Dr Beecher’s June 18 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter

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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE

Week of Monday, June 18th, 2012

 

Mental Attitude: Sleep Tight? Children with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), despite little indication of short sleep from traditional measurements, were more likely to experience problems with learning, attention/hyperactivity and conduct than children without EDS. Obesity, symptoms of inattention, depression, anxiety, and asthma have been found to contribute to EDS. Penn State, May 2012

 

Health Alert: Obesity Projections! At current projections, 42% of the US population will be obese by 2030, with 11% categorized as severely obese. Severe obesity is defined as a body mass index over 40 or roughly 100 pounds overweight. $550 billion could be saved in the next 20 years just by keeping obesity rates at the current level! American Journal of Preventive Medicine, May 2012

 

Diet: Protein and Diabetes. Diabetes risk increases with higher intake of total protein and animal protein. For every 5% of calories consumed from protein instead of carbohydrate or fat, the risk of developing diabetes increased 30%. Increased animal protein intake coincided with increased intakes of saturated fat, cholesterol,

and heme iron, and with increased body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Vegetable protein intake was not associated with diabetes risk. Diabetes Care, May 2012

 

Exercise: Cancer and Exercise. Physical activity is linked to lower rates of breast and colon cancer deaths. Exercise helps moderate insulin levels, reduce inflammation and possibly improve the immune response. Even though direct effects of physical activity on cancer are not definitely proven, given that physical activity is generally safe, improves quality of life for cancer patients, and has numerous other health benefits, adequate physical activity should be a standard part of cancer care. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, May 2012

 

Chiropractic: Interesting Anatomy. Every organ, tissue and cell in your body requires a two-way information connection with your brain, via the nervous system. How important is your nervous system? It is the only system/organ encased in solid bone, as your skull houses your brain and your vertebra encapsulate your spinal cord. Gray’s Anatomy

 

Wellness/Prevention: Commutes Risk Health. Individuals with the longest commutes are least likely to report frequently engaging in moderate to vigorous exercise, and most likely to show risk factors for poorer cardiovascular and metabolic health. Commuting more than 10 miles to work is linked with high blood

pressure. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, June 2012

 

Quote: “Inaction, save as a measure of recuperation between bursts of activity, is painful and dangerous to the healthy organism. Only the dying can be really idle.” ~ H. L. Mencken

This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.

 

Dr Beecher’s June 11 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter

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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE

Week of Monday, June 11th, 2012

 

Mental Attitude: No Emails? Being cut off from work email significantly reduces stress and improves focus. Heart rate monitors were attached to computer users in an office setting, while software sensors detected how often they switched windows. People who read email changed screens twice as often and were in a steady “high alert” state. Those removed from email for five days reported feeling better able to do their jobs and stay on task, with fewer stressful and time-wasting interruptions. UC Irvine and US Army, May 2012

 

Health Alert: Misusing Prescription Drugs At A Young Age! The peak risk for misusing prescription pain relievers occurs in mid-adolescence, specifically about 16 years old and earlier. Clinicians and public health professionals are prescribing more pain relievers, and research suggests an increased misuse of these drugs and increased rates of overdose deaths. Each year, 1 in 60 young people (between 12-21 years old) begin using prescription pain relievers outside the boundaries of what their doctor intended.

Journal of the American Medical Association, May 2012

 

Diet: How Much Protein Do I Need? For healthy adults, an estimator used for daily protein intake is 0.36 grams per 1 pound of body weight. Formula = 0.36 grams/pound of body weight. For example, if you weigh

155 lbs, you should consume 56 grams of protein per day (155lbs x .36g/lbs = 56g). Institute of Medicine, 2002

 

Exercise: Jogging For Life. Jogging 1-2.5 hr/week increases the life expectancy of men by 6.2 years and women by 5.6 years. Jogging improves oxygen uptake, increases insulin sensitivity, improves lipid profiles (raising HDL and lowering triglycerides), lowers blood pressure, reduces platelet aggregation, increases fibrinolytic activity, improves cardiac function, bone density, immune function, reduces inflammation markers, prevents obesity, and improves psychological function. EuroPRevent2012 Meeting, May 2012

 

Chiropractic: Get A Grip! Nationally ranked Judo competitors experienced up to a 16% increase in grip strength after receiving a cervical spinal adjustment.

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, January 2012

 

Wellness/Prevention: Zinc About It! People regularly taking oral zinc may experience shorter common cold symptoms than those who do not. Higher doses appeared to have a better effect, but taking zinc for just 2-3 days seemed to have no impact at all. Common adverse events associated with zinc supplements are nausea and a

bad taste. Canadian Medical Association Journal, May 2012

 

Quote: “Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.” ~ Thomas A. Edison

 

This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.

 

Dr Beecher’s June 4 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter

To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!

WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE

Week of Monday, June 4th, 2012

Mental Attitude: Facebook Addiction? According to Dr. Cecilie Schou Andreassen, some users of Facebook have developed a dependency to the social networking site. “Facebook Addiction” is more common among young people who are anxious and socially insecure, probably because those who are anxious find it easier to communicate via social media than face-to-face. Psychological Reports, May 2012

 

Health Alert: Infection and Cancer. Each year, 16.1% of the 12.7 million total new cancer cases in the world are due to infections that are largely preventable or treatable. Most of these cancer-causing infections were of the gut, liver, cervix and uterus. The Lancet Oncology, May 2012

 

Diet: Black Pepper and Fat. Black pepper has been used for centuries in traditional Eastern medicine to treat gastrointestinal distress, pain, inflammation and other disorders. A new study found that Piperin, the pungent- tasting substance that gives black pepper its characteristic taste, can block the formation of new fat cells. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, May 2012

 

Exercise: Strong Bones! Osteoporosis affects more than 200 million people worldwide, yet many are unaware they are at risk. The disease has been called the silent epidemic because bone loss occurs without symptoms and the disease is often first diagnosed after a fracture. Osteoporosis is more common in women, but men also develop it, usually after age 65. Young men who play volleyball, basketball or other load-bearing sports for 4 hours a week or more may gain protection from developing osteoporosis later in life. Men who increased their load-bearing activity from age 19-24 not only developed more bone, but also had larger bones compared to men who were sedentary during the same period. Bigger bones with more mass are thought to offer a shield against osteoporosis. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, May 2012

 

Chiropractic: A Ringing Endorsement! “I came to the point where I wanted an adjustment every day. I

believe in Chiropractic.” ~ Evander Holyfield, 4x World Heavyweight Boxing Champion

 

Wellness/Prevention: Ancient Remedy Slows Prostate Problems. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, or CAPE, is a compound isolated from honeybee hive propolis, the resin used by bees to patch up holes in hives. If you feed CAPE to mice with prostate tumors, their tumors will stop growing. After several weeks, if you stop the treatment, the tumors will begin to grow again at their original pace. Cancer Prevention Research, May 2012

 

Quote: “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” ~ Gandhi

 

This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.

 

Dr Beecher’s June 2012 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter

To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” ~ E. E. Cummings

 

THE SHOCKING SNACK FOOD!!!

Popcorn Has More Antioxidants Than

Fruits and Vegetables?

More great stuff:

  • Don’t throw out those old fruits and vegetables! Find out why…
  • What’s the best method to cook vegetables without lowering their antioxidant levels?
  • Sitting and a higher risk of death… what you should know.

 

14 Days To Live – I Don’t Think So!  How Sean Swarner was diagnosed with 2 types of cancer, beat them and then climbed Mt. Everest. That’s just the beginning… 

 

Houston – Imagine someone told you the following: “Popcorn may be the perfect snack food. It’s the only snack that is 100 percent unprocessed whole grain. All other grains are processed and diluted with other ingredients, and although cereals are called ‘whole grain,’ this simply means that over 51 percent of the weight of the product is whole grain. One serving of popcorn will provide more than 70 percent of your daily intake of whole grain. The average person only gets about half a serving of whole grains a day, and popcorn could fill that gap in a very pleasant way.”

Well, according to ScienceDaily, that’s exactly what Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a pioneer in analyzing healthful components in chocolate, nuts and other common foods, had to say.

While speaking at the 243rd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Vinson also explained why he thinks this is the case. He said that “polyphenols” are more concentrated in popcorn.  He believes this is due to water content.  Popcorn averages about 4% water but polyphenols in fruits and vegetables are diluted in 90% water.

It is believed that antioxidants are substances that are capable of counteracting the damaging, but normal, effects of the physiological process of oxidation in animal tissue. Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals), as well as enzymes (proteins in your body that assist in chemical reactions). They are believed to play a role in preventing the development of such chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis and cataracts.

Many products are marketed for their antioxidant properties and possible anti-aging and/or possible positive health effects.

Back To Popcorn

Here’s something a little surprising about the popcorn research…

Researchers discovered that the hull of the popcorn had the highest concentration of polyphenols and fiber.

The hull is the hard seed-like thing on the inside of the popped popcorn — the part that gets stuck in your teeth or scratches your throat.  I bet you hated the hull… until now!

“Those hulls deserve more respect,” said Vinson, who is with the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. “They are nutritional gold nuggets.”

But, Vinson also gave a warning…

He said you can quickly ruin the positive effects of popcorn by cooking it in oil and putting butter or fake butter and salt all over it.

That’s the best way to turn a healthy snack into a health disaster.

This is true for all healthy food and it is where most people go wrong when trying to eat healthy.

Most people take great, healthy food and turn it into near junk food in an attempt to make it “taste good.”

The one word that will drop a lot of inches off your waistline and help make you healthier is PLAIN.

Sure, there are ways to prepare healthy foods to give them flavor that are also healthy.  But, when in doubt, go plain.

Here is some advice from ScienceDaily if you are going to eat popcorn…

“Air-popped popcorn has the lowest number of calories, of course,” Vinson said. “Microwave popcorn has twice as many calories as air-popped…  About 43 percent of microwave popcorn is fat, compared to 28 percent if you pop the corn in oil yourself.”

The article also suggests you don’t replace fruit and vegetable servings in your diet with popcorn.  There are many nutrients in fruits and vegetables that you are not going to get with popcorn. The best bet is to use properly cooked popcorn as a snack.

On the topic of cooking, what is the best method to cook vegetables so you lose the least amount of antioxidants? 

According to a recent study in the Journal of Food Science, cooking on a flat metal surface with no oil (griddling) maintained the highest antioxidant levels.  Pressure cooking and boiling led to the greatest loss of antioxidants.  Results also depended on the type of vegetable.

One interesting finding from the study was that artichokes were the only vegetable that kept its high antioxidant level during all cooking methods.  The cooking methods tested included boiling, pressure-cooking, baking, microwaving, griddling, and frying.

Wait!  Don’t Throw Out Those

Old Fruits And Vegetables…

Scientists have discovered that antioxidant levels of fruit and vegetables do not decrease as they age, even as they show signs of spoiling, such as “bruising.”  In fact, in some cases, the antioxidant levels actually increased.

In the study, researchers measured the antioxidant level of several kinds of fruits and vegetables.  The fruits and vegetables were stored at 39 degrees and antioxidant levels were routinely checked until visual signs of spoilage were observed.

According to ScienceDaily: “The results showed that, in the days following purchase, fruits and vegetables did not lose any phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid or flavonols — a trio of chemical classes associated with antioxidant content… In some cases, an increase on the antioxidant capacity was observed in the days following their purchase, accompanied by an increase in phenolic compounds.”

But, even if the antioxidant levels are still high, who wants to eat spoiled produce?

And don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.

Inspirational Story Of The Month

(Names And Details Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)

They Called Him “Cancer Boy”

Doctors gave him 14 days to live.  Seth Swarner’s response

was to beat cancer and climb Mt. Everest. It gets better… 

 

Some are born to move the world

To live their fantasies

But most of us just dream about the things we’d like to be

Sadder still to watch it die than never to have known it

For you, the blind who once could see the bell tolls for thee…

 

These are the words of songwriter Neil Peart. For most people, they ring true.  Most people live lives of quiet desperation, dreaming but never achieving or even trying in the first place.

But, then there are those who dream BIG things and achieve even BIGGER things, even when the odds are severely stacked against them.  Or, perhaps BECAUSE the odds were stacked against them.

Sean Swarner is an example of someone who achieved great things after life threw him a serious curve ball.  In fact, Seth only started really living and doing great things AFTER his doctors gave him a death sentence.

Sean was diagnosed with two completely different types of cancer; one at the age of 13 and again at the age of 16, when he was given 14 days to live and read his last rights. He astounded the medical community when he survived both these brutal diseases and also a medical-induced coma.

This gave Sean a different outlook on life.  After college, he wanted to do something BIG.  So, he moved to Colorado and started training to climb mountains.  Eight months later, he was in Nepal at the base camp of Mount Everest, the tallest peak in the world, with a flag inscribed with the names of people touched by cancer tucked in a pocket near his heart (he later planted the flag at the summit).

“When I got to the top, I collapsed to my knees and cried like a baby. It was a culmination of everything I’d done,” Swarner said. “I was crying for everyone touched by cancer. When I got down, I wanted to reach around the world and share my story in hospitals. It’s a purpose, to spread hope. When I was sick, I had nobody to look up to. I had no future.”

Since then, Swarner has climbed to the top of Mount Elbrus in Russia, Mount Vinson in Antarctica and Mount McKinley in Alaska.  Swarner also travels across the country visiting cancer patients.

“Visiting the hospitals, everybody has a story to tell,” he said. “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. Everybody has a story and you can learn something from anybody. Just [sit] on a plane next to somebody and saying hello.”

The bell has yet to toll for Seth Swarner.

We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and getting them feeling better!  We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!  Don’t be a stranger.  You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!

 


Did You Know?…

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

 

Laughter is one of the most powerful ways to ward off disease and illness known to man. Most of us probably don’t think about how often we laugh, but rest assured, our body is keeping count. Children seem to understand that laughter is the best medicine, as they laugh, on average, up to 400 times a day. Adults average only 17 times per day. Is it any wonder children seem to enjoy life more than their parents?

The benefits of laughter are far reaching. Laughter brings joy to your life and to those around you; makes your cheeks red and your face glow, making you more approachable and even more loveable; alleviates pain in the body and provides you with a sense of well-being by releasing endorphins and serotonin, which have been proven to help reduce pain and can even enhance treatments of many illnesses and diseases; reduces the negative stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine; allows us to connect with others more readily and to share a common bond with them; and also helps supply your body with oxygen, helping you feel full of energy and life.

Your body treats laughter just like exercise, as it makes the blood vessels work more efficiently, increases blood flow to the heart, and helps to increase lung capacity.  A good belly laugh can boost your immune system’s ability to ward off disease for up to three days. Imagine the benefit of laughing multiple times daily!

Laughter is a great distraction from the stresses and rigors of life. Any time you can change your focus from the negative emotions of your day, even for just a few moments, the better off you are. Laughter also enhances your ability to have a good night’s sleep.

The bottom line is that laughing is one of the best natural health remedies. So, if your stress levels are mounting, if you are feeling unhealthy, if you are feeling rundown and depressed, or you just want some relief, then LAUGH! The more you laugh, the better you feel, and the better those around you will feel too.

 

Tip Of The Month

Are You Sitting Yourself To Death?

 

Do you sit all day or during a good portion of your day?  If you do, you are really going to want to read every word of this article.  It may be a matter of life and death.  Literally.  Here is why… According to cancer.org: “A new study from the American Cancer Society researchers [found] it’s not just how much physical activity you get, but how much time you spend sitting that can affect your risk of death. Researchers say time spent sitting was independently associated with total mortality, regardless of physical activity level. They conclude that public health messages should promote both being physically active and reducing time spent sitting.”

This is important because this study suggests it is not only about the physical activity you do, it is also about the time you spend sitting.  Going to the gym or for a run at night does not seem to make up for sitting all day at work. According to the study, the researchers “found that more leisure time spent sitting was associated with higher risks of mortality, particularly in women. Women who reported more than six hours per day of sitting were 37 percent more likely to die during the time period studied than those who sat fewer than 3 hours a day. Men who sat more than 6 hours a day were 18 percent more likely to die than those who sat fewer than 3 hours per day. The association remained virtually unchanged after adjusting for physical activity level. Associations were stronger for cardiovascular disease mortality than for cancer mortality.  When combined with a lack of physical activity, the association was even stronger. Women and men who both sat more and were less physically active were 94% and 48% more likely, respectively, to die compared with those who reported sitting the least and being most active.”

If the results of this study are accurate, people should not only get the proper amounts of exercise, but they should decrease the hours a day they spend sitting.

 

Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal

and maintain the pain free body you deserve.

 

This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice.  Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know by calling 281-286-1300 or on the web at BeecherChiropractic.com.