Friday, March 25, 2011

Low Back Pain and Weight

Have you ever been told (or at least heard it said): if you could just drop a few pounds, your low back pain would improve? It’s pretty well accepted that excess weight contributes to low back pain. So, if that’s the case, which dietary approach is “…the best?”

Even though weight loss is very important, it can be very challenging for patients because it takes commitment to achieve long term success. Sure, we can lose weight with the Adkins Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, the South Beach Diet, through Weight Watchers and a host of other approaches. But, why do we seem to gain it right back once we discontinue the diet plan? There must be a way to take the weight off and then keep it off.

We have a very similar genetic makeup to our Paleolithic (cave man era) ancestors. Since this is a fact, we can look at the type of food that the cave man consumed and logically draw the conclusion that the “Paleodiet” or “caveman diet” would be a great alternative to our current diet. Thankfully, this does not mean that we change our wardrobe and lifestyle to the point that we go back and live in caves and throw spears to hunt and gather!

What it does mean, however, is we consume similar foods: grass fed animal meat (the more lean the better) and food that grows off the land – that is, fruits and vegetables. These foods are easily broken down and assimilated without alerting our body’s defense system (the autoimmune system) that some foreign particle is inside of us resulting in an army of antibodies showing up to ward off these enemy particles. By avoiding this autoimmune response, at the same time, we are reducing or avoiding all together the inflammatory process, which is a common denominator to all illnesses including musculoskeletal conditions.

So, what do we eat too much of now that the cave man didn’t eat? The answer is gluten! Most flour based products (bread, pasta, cookies, cake, and many more) contain gluten and are “pro-inflammatory” or, cause systemic inflammation. Over time, this can lead to weight gain, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, stroke, as well as a host of many other conditions. The reason glutens are bad is that our bodies are not genetically able to handle the breakdown of these large “macromolecules.” When glutens are detected, we produce antibodies to attack these particles that are resting on the intestinal wall, which, in turn, is damaged in the process, resulting in a “leaky gut” allowing absorption of the large particles. This in turn, results in yet further autoimmune responses as these large (normally not absorbed) macromolecules are detected in our blood stream furthering the inflammatory process. This damage leads to further malabsorption syndromes (“leaky gut”) and a vicious cycle is created. So, what can we do to prevent this from happening and, how can we reduce the inflammation through our diet?

Easy! Just stop eating glutens! Go to the grocery store’s “gluten-free section” and buy products that are gluten-free. Over time, your weight will drop, your energy levels will increase, and the mental fog lifts – you’ll feel 10 years younger and, you’ll be able to enjoy life more completely. Sound too good to be true? Try it – prove me wrong - I dare you!

If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR LOW BACK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 952-758-8760

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Join Us At The Baby Fair!

Dr. Heather will be available to answer any questions you have about why chiropractic is not only important for children but essential for growth and development.

The event is directed towards expectant parents and parents of babies newborn to 11 months old.

Saturday, April 16th from 9am-12pm
Early Childhood Center in New Prague
Call 952-758-1670 to register!

Special Guest Speakers:
Stacy Stats, PT - "The Importance of Tummy Time for Babies"
Mary Taylor, Registered Dietician - "Your Kids are What You Feed Them"

There will also be a professional photographer available for free, gift bags, food and prizes!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

2,000 Year Old Story Helps Dr. Heather’s Patients Relieve Pain

Dear Patients and Friends,

If you would like to know how a 2,000 year old story is helping patients relieve their pain – you will love this.

Here is why…

I’m sure you’ve heard of Aesop’s fables. But, here’s something interesting you might not know. Aesop was a Greek citizen who lived approximately 2,000 years ago and wrote, considered by some experts, among the first printed works in the vernacular European language. Probably the most amazing thing is that his fables hold true today just as much as they did 2,000 years ago. For example… check out this great fable entitled: “The Lion and The Eagle.”

“AN EAGLE stayed his flight and entreated a Lion to make an alliance with him

to their mutual advantage. The Lion replied, ‘I have no objection, but you must

excuse me for requiring you to find surety for your good faith, for how can I trust

anyone as a friend who is able to fly away from his bargain whenever he

pleases?’”

And, of course, every Aesop’s fable comes with a moral. And the moral to this fable is: Try before you trust.

So, what does this have to do with us? Well, our entire practice is based on the principle of, “try before you trust.” That means, everyone should be able to check out our practice before committing to anything. This has worked out great because so many patients have started care and referred family members because they know they will not be pushed into any long-term treatment plan they may not want. In other words, patients love telling others because they know whoever they send will be treated like they are a family member.

So, we would like to thank you for trying us before you trusted. And also thank you for telling others about our practice. Helping someone get out of pain is one of the best things you can ever do for them – and they will remember you for the rest of their lives.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all businesses allowed you to try before you trust?

And if there is anything we can do to help, just give us a call at 952-758-8760.

Sincerely,

Dr. Heather Giesen

P.S. We are always looking for ways to make our practice better and serve our patients more. If you have any suggestions, please give us a call and tell us what’s on your mind. We love hearing from patients – after all it’s “your” practice too. J

In Good Hands

A Free Monthly Newsletter For The Friends and Patients of:

Giesen Family Chiropractic

www.giesenfamilychiropractic.blogspot.com

"We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us." ~ Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Scientists Warn: Television Watching and Computer Game Playing “Damages The Heart

Research Reveals: How Many Hours It Takes To DOUBLE Your Risk Of Major Cardiac Problems…

No Matter How Much Exercise You Do!!! All that, plus:

How coffee protects against diabetes!

What’s the best time of day to work out? Should you work out on an empty stomach or eat first? New research has answers…

The dangers lurking in your iPad - and a simple way to protect yourself.

Not sleeping? This may be the simple solution.

The secrets of 100 people who never get sick!

Heroic Stories… In this issue, we pay tribute to the average everyday person who risks everything to save the life of another.


N

ew Prague- Are you sitting down? If you aren't, please find a seat because when you read this, you might get a little weak in the knees. According to The Telegraph, a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found, "The risk of heart disease and premature death from any cause doubled for those spending more than four hours a day glued to a screen, it was claimed. Metabolic factors and inflammation may be partly to blame, the report said.

"Research revealed those who devote more than four hours watching television, surfing the web, or playing computer games are more than twice as likely to have major cardiac problems."

Here’s The Really Shocking Part

The study found there was a 48% increased risk of all-cause mortality and an approximate 125% increase in the risk of cardiovascular events in those spending more than four hours in front of a screen.

“The risks were irrespective of factors such as smoking, hypertension, BMI, social class, and even exercise.”

In other words, from the results of this study, the negative effect of watching television and being on a computer may not be lessened by exercise.

Like most health issues, more research is always needed for definitive answers… but limiting television and computer time may not only make you more productive… it might save your life.

Another Important Heart Related Topic…

A new study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association is the first to look at added sugar and heart disease risk in adolescents.

According to Ivanhoe Newswire, “Jean Welsh, M.P.H., Ph.D., R.N., study author and post-doctoral fellow at Emory University in Atlanta, was quoted as saying. ‘The higher consumers of added sugar have more unfavorable cholesterol levels. The concern is long-term exposure would place them at risk for heart disease later in adulthood.’”

What Is “Added Sugar?”

Added sugars are any sugars that are added to food (or drinks) during processing and preparation.

Ready for some good news?

How To Maximize

Your Results From Working Out

According to a Study published in the Journal of Physiology on November 1, 2010, “A fat-rich energy-dense diet is an important cause of insulin resistance.”

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas and it helps the cells of the body absorb glucose. When people are insulin resistant, their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin. As a result, their bodies need more insulin to help glucose enter cells. The pancreas produces more and more insulin until it basically gets worn out and starts to fail. This can lead to diabetes.

How is this all linked to exercise? According to the study’s author, This study, for the first time, shows that fasted training is more potent than fed training to facilitate adaptations in muscle and to improve whole-body glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity during hyper-caloric fat-rich diets.”

In other words, the best time to work out seems to be on an empty stomach, which is usually first thing in the morning.

One more thing about diabetes…

Researchers Discover How

Coffee Helps Prevent Diabetes

According to redorbit.com, “Researchers at UCLA have discovered a possible molecular mechanism behind coffee's protective effect. A protein called sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) regulates the biological activity of the body's sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen, which have long been thought to play a role in the development of Type 2 diabetes. And coffee consumption, it turns out, increases plasma levels of SHBG.” The article also said that decaffeinated coffee was not associated with the benefits.

Scientist Finds Music Releases Same

Chemical As Food, Drugs And Sex

Music is universal. It can both motivate and relax. Some even say it can “tame the savage beast.” It’s probably safe to say that everyone loves music – in one form or another. But, why does it have such a deep impact on so many lives?

Science may finally

have found the answer…

According to a new study from The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, “Scientists have found that the pleasurable experience of listening to music releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain important for more tangible pleasures associated with rewards such as food, drugs, and sex.”

This study, published in the journal, Nature Neuroscience, also found that just the anticipation of pleasurable music is enough to trigger the release of dopamine.

According to The Neuro at McGill University: “These findings provide neurochemical evidence that intense emotional responses to music involve ancient reward circuitry in the brain,” says Dr. Robert Zatorre, Neuroscientist at The Neuro. “To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that an abstract reward such as music can lead to dopamine release. Abstract rewards are largely cognitive in nature, a

nd this study paves the way for future work to examine non-tangible rewards that humans consider rewarding for complex reasons.”

…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 your lifelong good health.





Research: The Dangers Of Second-Hand Smoke

In Cars With Children

According to Science Daily January 10, 2011, “While the evidence is incomplete, there is enough available to support legislation against letting people smoke in cars with children,” states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

The article goes on to say that even though second-hand smoke was not shown to be 23 times more dangerous as some had claimed – “It can still be very harmful to children.”

Furthermore, “The authors conclude that there is enough evidence to make a valid decision to legislate against smoking in cars with children.”

Inspirational Story Of The Month

(Names And Details Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)

The Hero Next Door

A Tribute To The “Average” Men And Women
Who Turn Into Superheroes When The Opportunity Arises


“Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one.” ~ Baltasar Gracian, 1601-1658
Every day, we see and read nothing more than hype and sensationalism. Words like, “awesome,” “unbelievable,” “genius,” flow like wine at a Imperial Roman feast.
They have become so common, they have lost their meaning.
Everyday, people do more and more sensational things in an effort to get noticed.
The drive for recognition and to become a “celebrity” is so great that many are willing to do just about anything for it.
Reality TV instantly comes to mind.
But the good news is not all people are self-serving. Because these people aspire to be a hero instead of just appearing to be one, they usually go completely unnoticed.
For example, there is a hero by the name of Mike Jones.
Chances are you have never heard the name Mike Jones. But, he was on the news not too long ago.
Here’s Mike’s amazing story:
On December 14, 2010 a gunman in Panama City Florida took hostages at a local school board meeting and started shooting them.
Mike Jones was the security chief at that school board meeting and Mike risked his life in a dramatic shootout with the crazed gunman.
Mike saved several lives that day while risking his own.
For that act, Mike can easily be considered a hero. But, that’s not the REAL reason Mike is a hero.
Mike Has Consistently Been A Hero… Over And Over… For 27 Years
Jones is a retired police officer. While working as a police officer, Jones came in contact with numerous families who were too poor to afford Christmas gifts. So, he started “Salvage Santa” and spent his free time restoring bicycles.
For 27 years, Jones has restored bicycles, raised money and collected toys to give to needy children.
He partnered with Early Education and Care, Inc. so the families who needed toys were able to get them just before Christmas.
But, it only gets better and more “heroic”… According to a news article written about Jones, "Every year, on Christmas Day, Jones got a phone call from some parent, somewhere, who was down on their luck and needed a toy for their child."
When he should have been spending time celebrating with his family or just resting after a long year, Jones always found “one more present to give to those children,” friends said.
“Mike’s a real special and unique person,” said Luther Stanford, the senior pastor at Jones’ church, Northside Baptist. “He is a servant through and through. Each and everyday, Mike is doing something for somebody else. Whether it is for Salvage Santa or the school system… I don’t know that I have ever seen him when he didn’t have a smile on his face.”
You see, Jones is a “silent hero.” He’s not an actor who plays a hero. He’s not a publicity seeker who runs a scam to make himself look like a hero. He is a hero who lives each and everyday doing things a hero would do.
The next time someone says altruism doesn’t exist, tell them about Mike Jones.
This newsletter would also like to pay tribute to the “silent heroes” from the recent Arizona shooting. They deserve more praise than this newsletter can give.
A special “silent hero” thanks to: Bill Badger, Patricia Maisch, Roger Salzgeber and Joseph Zamudio. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by that tragedy.
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.

Did You Know?... A few little tidbits… 1. If you are right-handed, you will tend to chew your food on the right side of your mouth. If you are left-handed, you will tend to chew your food on the left side of your mouth. 2. If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water because, when a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off. 3. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying. 4. Your tongue is germ free only if it is pink. If it is white, there is a thin film of bacteria on it. 5. The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 percent when a person looks at something pleasing. 6. The average person who stops smoking requires one hour less sleep at night. 7. Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day. 8. The roar we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in our ear. 9. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart. 10. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red. 11. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples. 12. The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in oxygen directly from the air.
Tip Of The Month – The Danger Lurking In Your iPad?
Plus: The Secrets Of 100 People Who Never Get Sick.

Here’s a very interesting story reported by CNN. A man named J.D. Moyer from Oakland, California had a problem sleeping. So, he decided to do a little experiment. As soon as the sun set, he turned off all the lights in his house. This included every single source of light including laptop computers and the inside of his refrigerator. J.D. did this for an entire month and the results were remarkable. After just 30 days, JD, who used to struggle to fall asleep at midnight was conking out easily at 9pm (and waking up the next day well-rested and refreshed). According to the CNN article, he felt so well-rested during the test, he said that friends remarked on his unexpected morning perkiness. “A number of times I had the experience of just feeling kind of unreasonably happy for no reason. And it was the sleep… Sure, you can get by with six or seven hours, but sleeping eight or nine hours – it’s a different state of mind.” J.D. Is Not The First To Discover This. There are a growing number of experts who believe artificial lights are fooling the brain to think it’s daytime. In other words, using electronic gadgets like a laptop computer or iPad late at night may be directly contributing to not sleeping well and even insomnia. According to Phyliss Zee, a Neuroscience Professor at Northwestern University and Director of the school's Center for Sleep & Circadian Biology. “Potentially, yes, if you're using [the iPad or a laptop] close to bedtime ... that light can be sufficiently stimulating to the brain to make it more awake and delay your ability to sleep.” It should be noted that laptops and iPads shine light in the eye from a close distance and can have a greater effect than a television that is across the room. So What’s The Simple Solution To Sleeping Better? "I wish people would just take a boring book -- an old-fashioned book -- and [read] by a lamp. Make sure that it's not too bright -- just so you can read," said Alon Avidan, Associate Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at UCLA. "And if they do that, I think they'll feel a lot better and they'll be able to relax." Now it’s time for…The Secrets Of 100 People Who Never Get Sick. Have you ever known someone who never seems to get sick? When everyone else is miserable with the flu or a cold, he or she always seems to escape without as much as a sniffle! Well, have you ever wondered WHY they never get sick? There must be a reason. Sure, it’s easy to just chalk it up to great genes. But as we know, genes are only part of the human puzzle. Now, there may be an answer. Here is why: Gene Stone is a very interesting man who set out to find the answer by interviewing 100 people who never get sick and his results may shock you. What he found was more philosophical than scientific. You see, the most important factor to people not getting sick was their positive mental attitude and, whatever they believed, they did it every day. In other words, what they did was not as important as their belief and consistency in doing it. According to Gene, “People believe in health as a daily habit. I think that's a large part of why they stay healthy."
Remember, we’re always here, to help your body heal and maintain the health 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 call our office at 952-758-8760