These Five Types of Food Are Good for Your Eyes!

15 Oct

Two of the most important and delicate organs in the body are the eyes. Because a lot of the natural degenerative processes in relation to the eyes are irreversible, it’s better to take steps now to prevent eye-related problems from happening in the first place. And one of the best places to start is by eating more of these kinds of foods…

  • Fish –Cold-water fish such as tuna, salmon, sardines, and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These can help protect against dry eyes, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
  • Leafy greens – Spinach, collard greens, broccoli, kale, and other leafy greens are packed with zeaxanthin and lutein that can help stem the development of macular degeneration.  For best results and preservation of nutrients, try eating these greens raw (like in a salad, for example).
  • Whole grains – The vitamin E, zinc, and niacin found in whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, whole oats, and whole wheat bread promote overall eye health.
  • Citrus Fruits and Berries – Fresh fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and berries are great sources of vitamin C, which can reduce the risk for cataracts and macular degeneration.
  • Apricots and Blueberries – The eye requires vitamin A to repair damaged tissues and cells. Apricots and blueberries are rich in the lycopene and beta-carotene that the body uses to create vitamin A.

The Rude Comment that Led to a Life-Changing Event!

13 Oct

The world has changed.  Things aren’t what they used to be.  No one respects or gives a darn about anyone besides themselves.  These words are commonly spoken today, especially by those missing and reminiscing about the “good ol’ days.”

In the opinion of many, society has basically gone down the drain.

There are many reasons for having this attitude.  One does not have to watch more than five minutes of the nightly news to feel this way.  Clearly, the dark part of society… and all its horrific acts… sells more on TV than feel-good news.

But there are exceptions to all this that tell a different story.  These exceptions might be more common than you think.

The story you are about to read is one such exception that might have you praising the good “current” days.  Here’s the story…

Leonard Bullock was a forklift driver.  He always put in an honest day’s work.  He never got rich, but that was never his goal.  He just wanted a happy life.      Bullock retired in 1995 and married Dorothy in 2000.  The two had met at a church in Walla Walla, Washington.

Bullock has a small monthly retirement that just pays the bills and does not allow him and his wife to do any work on their house.  Over the years, the lack of repairs finally caught up with them.

That’s when Josh Cyganik heard a brutal comment.

You see, Bullock had been sitting on his porch every day for years, and Josh had been waving to him every day for quite a while.  One day, Josh heard two passing teenagers passing say the house was is such bad shape that it should be burned down.

Josh said the look on Bullock’s face was terrible.  He could see the pain the older man felt and didn’t think the elderly should ever be talked to that way and feel that embarrassment.

So instead of just ignoring it, Josh took action.  A couple days later, Josh told some of his friends (one owned a lumber store) the story and asked them for help.  The owner of the lumber store donated paint and several friends said they would help.

But here’s where it gets really good… Josh posted on Facebook asking for help.  His plea instantly went viral and was shared over 6,000 times.  He said that even though his Facebook is private, “the post blew up like wildfire.”

When Josh told Bullock what was going on and asked if they could paint his house, Bullock was ecstatic.  Neither of them expected what would happen that day…

Josh arrived at 8:00 am, and 20 volunteers had already shown up.  Throughout the day, more and more kept coming to help.  It was estimated more than 100 complete strangers showed up to help paint Leonard Bullock’s house.  “It was just a good vibe!  Everybody was happy and excited,” Josh said.  “We received a lot of additional donations from people who didn’t come but wanted to help.  People were dropping off food and drinks all day long. Starbucks even donated six gallons of water and iced tea.”

Now, Bullock’s home looks awesome and he and his wife sit on the porch and smile every day.  Maybe the good ol’ days are still here…

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!

Want a Quick, Easy, and Cheap Way to Decrease Your Risk for Heart Attack and Stroke?

12 Oct

Do you want the healthiest heart possible?  You probably do.  Unfortunately, most people do very little to improve their heart health until it is already too late.

That is mainly because, even though heart disease is the #1 killer in the United States, the first OBVIOUS symptom of heart disease for most people is usually a heart attack!

Well, if there was something very simple, easy, and inexpensive you could do that could probably decrease your risk for having a heart attack, would you want to know about it?

And if it was really so easy, would you start doing it immediately?  If so, then you are going to love this.  Here is why…

 
The “Heart Healthy” Diet

Healthcare professionals who are up on the current research know that the Mediterranean diet is “heart healthy” and has been shown to reduce an individual’s risk for heart attack and stroke.

According to The Mayo Clinic, “Research has shown that the traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart disease. In fact, an analysis of more than 1.5 million healthy adults after following a Mediterranean diet were associated with a reduced risk of death from heart disease and cancer, as well as a reduced incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.”

Here are the basics of the Mediterranean diet:

  • Eat primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.
  • Replace butter with healthy fats, such as olive oil.
  • Use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods.
  • Limit eating red meat to no more than a few times a month.
  • Eat fish and poultry at least twice a week.
  • Drink red wine in moderation (optional).

A major component of the Mediterranean diet is polyphenol-rich olive oil, but you have to be careful when you go to the store.  This is NOT the olive oil you are probably buying from your local supermarket – the type of olive oil with a light taste found in many American kitchens.  The type of olive oil you want is the green kind that has a lot of flavor.  This “good” olive oil is artisanal, fresh pressed extra virgin from orchards in Greece, Spain, Italy, Southern France, and Portugal.

You see, the type of fats found in this type of olive oil are mono-unsaturated, and it is believed that mono-unsaturated fats are the source of olive oil’s heart-healthy benefits.

In a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, 25 healthy (not at risk for cardiovascular disease) European men aged 20-39 consumed doses of olive oil that were either low or high in polyphenols.

In other words, the doses were either the green, strong tasting, unrefined type (high in polyphenols) of olive oil or highly refined (low in polyphenols) kind.  The researchers then checked the participants’ low-density lipoprotein (LDL or the “bad” cholesterol) levels for markers of atherogenicity. Atherogenicity is used to determine how likely your LDL is to cause cardiovascular disease.

 

Results

Those who consumed olive oil high in polyphenol experienced a 12% reduction in LDL concentrations.  Those who took the low polyphenol oil olive had a 5% decrease in LDL concentrations.  That is a pretty big difference, but it gets even better…

When researchers looked at a specific marker for atherogenisity called apolipoprotein b (apo b), they found there was a greater reduction in apolipoprotein b in the group that consumed the high polyphenol olive oil.

They also measured Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene expression. Lipoprotein lipase is an enzyme that breaks down cholesterol and fat cells and reduces cardiovascular risk.  LPL gene expression did NOT change in the group consuming the low polyphenol olive oil; however, the researchers found that the LPL gene expression increased 27% in the high polyphenol olive oil group!

 

Conclusion

Consumption of high polyphenol olive oil decreases LDL concentrations and also reduced the atherogenisity of the LDL in healthy, young men.  This may be a big part of why the Mediterranean diet is so healthy.

One of the biggest take-home messages here is to be careful when selecting olive oil.  Make sure you are buying and consuming olive oil that is artisanal, fresh pressed, and extra virgin so it is high in polyphenols.  This olive oil will also be more green and flavorful and often has a little sediment at the bottom.

You may be used to the much less flavorful olive oil and high polyphenol olive oil may take a little getting used to, but the health benefits seem to be potentially quite large.

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.

Soft Drink Company Expects You to Believe Lack of Exercise – Not Diet – Is the Cause of Obesity…

8 Oct

In politics, there is a well-known saying:  Follow the money.

In other words, if you want to know what’s really going on… and why… find out who is financially backing a candidate or elected official and you may see why politicians vote the way they do.

While many of us like to think that science is above politics, sometimes scientists can be persuaded – either directly or indirectly – to produce the results the people funding their research want to see.

That is why this is so suspect…

According to a recent New York Times article: “… the world’s largest producer of sugary beverages, is backing a new ‘science-based’ solution to the obesity crisis:  To maintain a healthy weight, get more exercise and worry less about cutting calories.

“The beverage giant has teamed up with influential scientists who are advancing this message in medical journals, at conferences, and through social media.  To help the scientists get the word out, the company in question has provided financial and logistical support to a new nonprofit organization… which promotes the argument that weight-conscious Americans are overly fixated on how much they eat and drink while not paying enough attention to exercise.”

In fact, a scientist working on behalf of this leading soft drink company said that there is virtually no compelling evidence that fast food, sugary drinks, and eating too many calories have contributed to the obesity epidemic.

Can you believe that?

While it would be nice to think you could eat whatever you want and melt off excess weight simply by running more, the truth is that in order to lose weight in a healthy manner, you need to be active (exercise) and eat right (more real foods, less processed foods). There are no magic pills and when someone tries to sell you one, take a look at what’s motivating them, even if they claim to be an expert.

Sincerely,

Dr. Binder

Live Longer and Better!

7 Oct

Longevity is important, but longevity with a high quality of life is MORE IMPORTANT! So what can you do to live both longer and better? This month, let’s look at heart disease.

According to the Mayo Clinic, heart disease can be prevented A LOT EASIER than treating it once it’s present! Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in many developed nations, what KEY heart disease prevention steps can we take to reduce our likelihood of heart problems? Here are six heart disease prevention strategies that we have FULL CONTROL over:

1) SMOKING CESSATION: This is one of the most significant risk factors for heart disease prevention. It has been clearly shown that chemicals in tobacco damage the heart and blood vessels and can lead to narrowing of the arteries (“atherosclerosis”), which can result in a heart attack. The GOOD NEWS is that once you quit smoking, your risk of developing heart disease drops almost to that of a nonsmoker in about five years!

2) EXERCISE: Exercise with moderate physical intensity (a brisk walk, for example) for 30 minutes, five to seven days a week. You can even break the 30 minutes into three ten-minute session to get similar health benefits. Gardening, housekeeping, going up and down flights of stairs, and walking the dog are other easy options!

3) DIET: A heart-healthy diet can reduce your risk as well! The Mayo Clinic recommends the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and the Mediterranean diet as two great options. Simply emphasize fruits, vegetables, and lean meats (especially fish and poultry) and stay away from fast/processed foods (saturated and trans fats are the “bad-guys”).

4) WEIGHT: A Body-Mass-Index (BMI – use a height/weight calculator) of 19-25 is ideal, as a BMI over 25 is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Maintaining a healthy weight improves quality of life SIGNIFICANTLY and reduces blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, and reduces the risk of developing diabetes and some cancers.

5) GET QUALITY SLEEP: Sleep deprivation increases an individual’s risk for obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, and depression. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Feeling “refreshed” is the goal! Set a schedule and stick to it by getting to bed each night and rising in the morning at similar times.

6) PREVENTION SCREENING: High blood pressure (BP) and poor cholesterol levels can damage your heart and blood vessels, and regular screening can tell you whether you need to take action. Most guidelines recommend screening once every two years if your BP is over 120/80 mmHg. Those with risk factors like obesity and hypertension should get their cholestrol levels checked every five years starting at age 20; otherwise, healthy men should get their cholesterol levels checked every five years starting at age 35 and women at age 45. If you have a family history for any particular diseases or disorders, check with your doctor if screening is available and/or recommended at your current age.

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care, we would be honored to render our services.

  

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE!

FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 717-697-1888

How Can I Get Hurt in a Low-Speed Crash?

6 Oct

Whiplash – or perhaps most accurately, “whiplash associated disorders” (WAD) – is a term that is applied to the MANY different types of injuries that can occur at the time of an automobile collision.

The cervical spine includes bony structures, ligaments (that hold bones tightly together), tendons (that attach muscles to bones), nerves (that allow us to feel and provides muscle strength), disks (that serve as shock absorbers between our vertebra), and other connective tissues that can be injured depending on MANY factors! The brain can also be injured (i.e., concussion) in a crash WITHOUT the head hitting anything! Individuals in car accidents can also experience seat belt-related injuries to the shoulder, chest, abdomen, mid-back, and/or low-back, as well as the extremities.

There are many factors that can increase your risk of injury including the size of the two vehicles (worse when a large vehicles strikes a smaller vehicle), the direction of the collision, the position of the head upon impact (worse if rotated), the size of the neck (females are at greater risk), the angle and springiness of the seat back, the position of the head rest (too low is common), and the amount of vehicular damage (or lack thereof).

The latter is the surprising part! You may have noticed when a racecar crashes, it’s made to literally break apart until the only remaining piece is the cage that holds the driver. The reason for this is when a crash occurs, the energy of the impact (or “G-force”) is absorbed by crushing metal or breaking away parts. If the vehicle is ‘built like a tank’ and no metal crushes or parts break off, the energy is transferred to the contents inside the vehicle – namely the driver and occupants!

Hence, the concept of “no vehicular damage means no injury” is actually quite the opposite! When low-speed collisions occur, there is no energy absorption by the crushing of metal or breaking away of parts. Hence, there’s a greater chance of injury at low speeds when little-to-no damage occurs to the target vehicle!

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care for Whiplash, we would be honored to render our services.

 

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR WHIPLASH! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 717-697-1888

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