In your quest for optimum health, it is important to check your health scoreboard and get an objective measure. Most of us use the numbers on the scale as a marker of health and measure of weight. However, this number doesn't tell us much.

We use BIA (Bio Impedance Analysis) in our office to test body composition. This test tells you exactly what your weight is made up of and how you are functioning on the inside. This measure is often more motivating than just the numbers on the scale, plus we can create a plan that will help you see the results you need!

In order to take advantage of this enlightening test, we would like to invite you to stop in for a BIA check. We will review your results with your and no consult is needed, unless you request one.

Just $25 for your BIA check

OR

BIA is FREE if you purchase $100 in products.

Offer ends 12-31-14.

Autophagy - A word every one should know!

The word is formed from the Greek auto - 'self' and phagein - ' to eat.'  This term literally means self eating.  Or, the breakdown and use of cellular garbage during fasting to maintain current energy levels.  

The human body was created in an amazing way!  Did you know, if you took a break from eating, or fast for a period of time, your body will use up your stored garbage for energy.  

This is a simple principle with profound health benefits.  You will fire up with clean fuel and shed a few extra pounds of garbage.  Make a goal today to at least start thinking this way!  Calorie restriction and reduction is good for the brain and the body.  Work on burning your internal garbage today!

Get the Most Benefit From Your Fish Oil

 

By now almost everyone has heard of the many health benefits fish oil, or an omega 3 supplement has to offer.  However, to get the most benefit there are a few things to consider.  

First, the quality of the product.  Quality in any nutritional supplement is extremely important.  Since the FDA does not regulate the supplement industry like the pharmaceutical industry it is much easier to package a product and sell it.  That being said, the quality of products on the market varies dramatically.  Fish oil in particular really varies.  You want to consider the source.  What type of fish?  Were they cold water fish? Were they farm raised? How were the toxins removed?  The best source is fish found in cold water like salmon, sardines, mackerel, and herring.  Next, you want to be sure these fish are not farm raised.

Second, you will want to consider the ratio of EPA to DHA.  Both are different types of omega 3 fatty acids and each offer a unique set of benefits.  EPA is great to prevent inflammation and helps control aches, pains, and swelling.  However DHA is ideal for brain health.  It has been shown to reduce brain degeneration and improve memory and brain function.  DHA is especially important for young children as their brain are developing.

As previously stated, fish oil is an omega 3 fatty acid.  Ideally, your ratio of omega 3 intake should equal that of the omega 6 intake.  However most Americans consume 20 times more omega 6 than they do omega 3.  Omega 6 containing foods include fried foods, partially hydrogenated fats and processed vegetable oils.  Instead, try to add healthy fats to your diet through foods like cold water fish, olive oil, avocados, and raw nuts and seeds.

All things considered, to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to fish oil, you want to use a premium source, make sure you have the correct ratio of EPA to DHA for your particular case, and reduce the amount of omega 6 containing foods that you consume! 

FDA Orders Label Changes: Epidural Corticosteroid Injection Warning

You may have noticed that it takes A LOT for the FDA to change the warning on a drug.  However, on April 23rd of this year the FDA did just that on the injections of corticosteroids into the epidural space of the spine. This has been a widespread practice for several decades; however, the effectiveness and safety of the drugs for this type of use have not been established, and FDA has not approved corticosteroids for such use.
These injections are typically given to treat neck and back pain that radiates into the extremities.  The warning the FDA posted suggested that these injections may result in rare, but serious adverse reactions including, loss of vision, paralysis, stoke, and death.
For now, the FDA has issued the warning on the use of these drugs when injected into the spine.  And in order to address this further, they have put together a panel of experts to help define how these techniques can be used and reduce preventable harm.  They will release these recommendations when they are finalized.
Until then, if this procedure is recommended for you, you may want to discuss all your treatment options thoroughly with your healthcare provider.
At Smith Family Chiropractic, we can help you sort through all of your pain management options as well.  We take a holistic approach and offer excellent chiropractic care that is very safe and effective.  And when that isn't enough, we will help you navigate all the other options available to you!

Check out the progress of one of our FirstLine Therapy (FLT) patients.  He came into us with real ill health.  With some direction from Dr. Ala through our FLT program, and a lot of personal dedication, he was able to make dramatic changes in his health!  Check out his incredible progress below:

Paul, 56 year old, Male

Primary complaints:

•         Stage 3 kidney failure
•          Pre Diabetic
•         High Blood Pressure
•          Overweight

First Visit: 2/13/2014

Complaints:

•         High blood pressure
•          Stage 3 kidney failure
•          Pre Diabetic
•          Overweight
•          Dependence on prescription meds

Goals:

•          Prevent diabetes
•          Regain kidney health
•          Reduce dependence on prescription meds
•          Lose weight
•          Consistent exercise
•          Reduce risk of disease
•          Maintain a longer, healthier life

Second visit: 3/25/2014 On FLT for 7 weeks

Follow up on Complaints:

• Hypertension: Blood pressure reduced from 136/74 to 105/71 consistently.  Started decreasing blood pressure medication.
•  Kidney health:  Labs show improvement.  Original labs showed Creatinine (kidney health marker) level of  1.72 mg/dL.  After first 7 weeks of FLT Creatinine was 1.61 mg/dL.
• Prevent diabetes: Initial fasting glucose was 110 mg/dL.  After 7 weeks of FLT fasting glucose was 83 mg/dL.
• Overweight: Initial weight was 186 lbs, after 7 weeks of FLT weight was down to 171. Weight loss total: 15 lbs.  Better than that, check out the quality of weight loss, listed below:
• Initial fat mass, 48.84 lbs, after FLT fat mass, 26.84 lbs, total of 22 lbs of fat loss.
• Initial muscle mass, 71.94, after FLT muscle mass of 78.54, total of 6.6 increase in lean tissue.
• Bonus: Paul changed his body composition dramatically, increasing lean tissue and decreasing fat tissue.  Although he lost 15 pounds, he actually shed 22 pounds of fat!
• Dependence on prescription meds.  Already decreasing high blood pressure medication.  Plus, diabetes is much less of a threat now, so future dependence on drugs has decreased significantly.  The improvement in kidney function also correlates with his goal of decreasing drug dependence.

Objective Data

Date	2/14/2014	3/26/2014
Weight (lbs)	186	171
BMI	28.7	26.4
Waist Circ. (cm/in)	103/40.5	97.15/38.25
Hip Circ. (cm/in)	102/40.1	100.33/39.5
WHR	1.009	0.968
Total body water (L)	44.9	47.2
TBW%	53.20%	60.80%
Ref. Ranges	57-61	57-61
Intracellular water(L)	23.4	25.5
ICW%	52.00%	54.00%
Ref. Ranges	50-60	50-60
Extracellular water (L)	21.6	21.7
ECW%	48.00%	46.00%
Ref. Ranges	40-50	40-50
Fat lbs	48.84	26.84
Fat%	26.20%	15.70%
ATM lbs	71.94	78.54
ATM% (Lean Tissue)	38.70%	45.90%
Fat free mass lbs	137.06	144.1
Fat free mass %	73.80%	84.30%

We all know we should be exercising consistently, but often times it stops at...'we know we should.'  Exercise is absolutely essential for so many functions: digestion, joint health, mental health (yes makes you think clearer and be happier) and efficient use of calories taken in.  And the euphoric feeling after completing a workout is one you won't want to miss out on!  But what type of exercise is best?

New research in exercise is showing more benefit from a shorter (20 minute) but very intense workout compared to a very long (1 hour) exercise of moderate intensity.  According to a 2011 study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, just 2 weeks of high-intensity intervals improves your aerobic capacity as much as 6 to 8 weeks of endurance training.

Another study compared a group that completed longer one hour endurance workouts 5 days per week and a second group that completed very short (14 minute TABATA workout), but very intense workouts 4 days per week.  After 6 weeks, the first group increased their aerobic (cardiovascular) strength, but showed little or no results on their anaerobic (muscle) system.  The second group in this study showed much more increase in their aerobic system AND an increase in their anaerobic system.  That means more of the 'red stuff' and less of the 'yellow stuff.' This is good news (and one less excuse) for all of you that claim you don't have enough time to workout!  If you choose this route however, you must be motivated to push yourself hard.  After all, any workout is only as good as the effort you put in!

For more information and examples of high intensity interval training, visit: http://www.mensfitness.com/training/cardio/8-amazing-fat-burning-intervals?page=2

What is the difference between a chiropractic and medical neurologist?

Posted MAR 14 2014 by RACHMAN CHUNG in NEWS with 0 COMMENTS

Just like medical neurologists, chiropractic neurologists are fully trained in the diagnosis and management of neurological conditions.  As chiropractors, we prefer to use natural and conservative methods to support the body’s ability to heal, and treatment strategies that can restore and optimize function in health and disease.  If patients require specific medications or surgical interventions, we refer them to the appropriate medical specialist to provide this portion of care.

The majority of neurological conditions are not surgical problems.  And the problem with most drugs used to suppress or enhance activity in the brain is that they have very poor ability to target specific receptors within localized regions of the brain and thus exhibit their effects upon the neurochemistry in both hemispheres globally.  The chemistry in the brain is very complex, and very little is truly understood about the wide range of effects that drugs have on it.  Drugs are necessary at times and can be life saving in many situations.  However, what happens too frequently is that drugs are prescribed to manage symptoms rather than to treat the underlying cause of the disease and without a functional understanding of what is actually happening in a person’s brain.  Most importantly, drugs cannot restore normal communication between neural networks.  This can only be achieved by activating the brain in a way that it was designed to engage the environment or by having the patient perform specific physical, sensory, or cognitive tasks.  Thus, the best treatment must be tailored to an individual’s brain.

Chiropractic neurology is an evidence-based model of care which utilizes diagnostic and treatment approaches that can measure and restore the functional relationships between neurological systems in health and disease.  This is achieved by performing a thorough neurological examination as well as diagnostic tests that can measure the function of neurological systems independently and as an integrated whole—tests such as computerized posturography, gait analysis, videonsytagmography, saccadometry.

With this information we are able to identify an individual’s strengths and weakness throughout his or her nervous system and to customize a rehabilitation plan that can restore appropriate function.  Our unique treatment strategies are able to target and restore functional connectivity with great specificity within the brain and nervous system—offering hope for many suffering with complex neurological conditions.  This approach differs from functional brain imaging or cognitive exercise by its ability to test and measure the performance of sensory-motor and cortical function in direct response to environmental stimuli.