What is Green-Gene Nutrition?

It is an evidence-based approach to food, nutrition, diet, and eating, based on foods that contain the optimal and natural balance of nutrients that can restore our genes’ youthful responsiveness and flexibility, and in turn, lead to health and healing.
Ten Green-Gene Food Guidelines

1. Eat fresh whole food in its natural state as often as possible.

2. Eat a wide variety of foods.

3. Select organic, grass-fed, free-range, local and sustainable foods whenever possible.

4. Consume quality food with the proportion of protein, carbohydrates, and fats our genes adapted to over the millennia.

5.  Choose only minimally processed oils and fats that have retained their naturally occurring proportion of nutrients.

6. Choose plant and animal foods that have been grown or raised on sustainable and nutrient-rich soil.

7. Choose wild-caught fish from the least-polluted waters.

8. Select, store, and prepare food in ways that preserve its nutrients.

9. Drink clean water.

10. Give regard to every aspect of the meal.

Each time you eat or participate in any food-related activity, remember that all ten guidelines count and that optimal nourishment includes both the familiar nutrients in food, as well as the organic, grass-fed, free-range, and “enlightened eating” nutrients missing from the food charts.  We created the elements of the Green-Gene Guidelines to make it easy for you to practice them daily.

Be patient with yourself:  making such sweeping changes in what you eat is a process.  In other words, changing your relationship to food isn’t likely to happen overnight: success takes ongoing nurturing, care, and regard…for yourself.

This was an excerpt from Biotics Northwest Research, Inc. Newsletter.

Save Money with Chiropractic Care

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) found detectible traces of pesticides in 95% of more than 5ooo Americans tested in a 2009 study.  This was done using blood and urine samples through their national biomonitoring program. But there are things we can do to help ourselves.

You can significantly reduce your exposure by avoiding or buying organic fruits and veggies, especially the following since they are the most exposed:  Apples, Celery, Strawberries, Peaches, Grapes and Bell Peppers.   The least exposed include: Onions, Broccoli, Eggplant, Banana and Cabbage.

This following link highlights what the recent literature is saying about pesticides and their relationship to our health.

Nine Orders Linked to Pesticides

Everyone should read this article to learn why we need cholesterol and the ways our bodies use it; such as producing Vit. D, Vit K and the majority of our androgens (testosterone, estrogen etc.) just to give a few examples.  Click the link below to read about the other benefits of Eggs.

News About Eggs

Vitamin D is one of the most crucial vitamins for our bodies.  It helps to control levels of phosphate and calcium in the body.  If we become deficient in these minerals, the body starts extracting the minerals from the bones, thus leading to softening or weakening of the bones.  At least 1,000 human genes are direct targets of vitamin D.  Depending on which genes are being regulated, it can play a role in prevention of kidney disease, cancer, depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, cardiovascular problems, and several other diseases.  Vitamin D is also one of the main controllers of the influenza epidemic, it acts as an anti biotic vitamin.

It is easy for our bodies to become deficient in Vitamin D.  Disorders that reduce the digestion of fat and/or milk products make the vitamin less soluble.  Rickets is a metabolic condition caused by Vitamin D deficiency.  Very few Americans have adequate levels of Vitamin D, especially those who live in colder climates.

We can get proper levels of Vitamin D into our systems by exposure to sunlight, diet, and/or supplementation.  This vitamin is produced by our bodies when the skin is exposed to sunlight.  To get the body to produce sufficient levels of Vitamin D, you should get at least 15 minutes of sun exposure at a frequency of 3 times a week.  You can also get this vitamin from certain foods such as mushrooms, cereals, egg yolks, milk, and bread.

Supplementation of Vitamin D is another way to get sufficient levels.  The following are guidelines for supplementation:

• Pregnant = 5, 000 units vitamin D per day
• Vitamin d3 or cholecalciferol
• Adults = 5, 000 units per day unless you will be out in the sun
• Children = 1,000 units per 25 pounds body weight

(i.e.  a 80 pound child would take 3,000 units per day)

Recent research proves the following:

• Vitamin D is critical component of decreasing likelihood of having osteonecrosis or osteoporosis.
• Women with highest levels of Vit D much less likely to get ovarian cancer
• Vitamin D levels were measured in patients who were diagnosed with colon cancer.  Patients who were given Vitamin D at the time of their diagnosis had improved longevity.
• When 1100 units of Vitamin D were given to 10 year old to help prevent the flu, it was found that it reduced risk of influenza compared to placebo

Everyone should be checked for Vitamin D deficiency.  Almost 90% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D!  So, get your Vitamin D checked!  You can go see your MD or order an in-home test that you can send in.  Go to Vitamin D council.org for information on ordering in-home kits.

The doctors at Spinal & Sports Care Clinic have the experience to help you overcome  this injury if you find yourself suffering from any of these symptoms.  Click the link below to learn some simple things you can do to help prevent this injury.

Illiotibial Band Syndrome

One of cornerstones of healthcare in the United States is the use of pharmaceuticals.  In 2009, over 3.6 billion prescription drugs were filled in the United States generating sales topping $300 billion.

In a 2006 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), it is estimated that 1.5 million Americans are either injured or killed from medication errors every year.

What is a prescription drug?  It is a chemical substance that is used to treat the symptoms of our ailments.  For example, when you have pain, the oxycodone or Tylenol takes it away.  The drug does not correct the cause of the pain but merely dulls your ability to feel it.  If you notice, the pain typically returns when the drug wears off.  However, over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs usually have side effects.  For example, a 2010 study charted the use of acetaminophen (active ingredient in Tylenol) in 13-14 year olds and found that it raised the risk of asthma 151%, eczema 87%, and allergies 118% if only taken one time per month or more!!!

Hundreds of thousands of people end up in the hospital annually—not because of an illness, but due to the problems created by the drugs that were used to treat the illness!

Obviously some medications are necessary.  Type one diabetics needs insulin to survive.  Antibiotics can do wonders for infection.  But realize that medicines can hurt as well as help you.

Chiropractic treats the cause of many neuromusculoskeletal pains and symptoms.  It works naturally with the body, often without or greatly reducing the need of potentially harmful prescription and OTC drugs.  Chiropractic care is one of the safest forms of healthcare in existence.

If you have symptoms such as headaches, neck/back pain, arm/leg pain or numbness, I invite you to do two things:  first—ask yourself why you have to continually pop those pain pills only to have the symptoms return and second—consider seeing a chiropractor to help you get rid of your aches and pains naturally and safely.

Click the link below for the full story!

Coconut Oil

Click below to read the full article!

Why You Shouldn’t Sleep with the TV On

It is common this time of year to get questions on which is more appropriate after an injury, heat or ice. With the cold weather, nearly everyone will reach for the heating pad first after slipping on the ice or shoveling snow. While heat may often feel better at the moment, it usually isn’t nearly as affective as using ice. With an acute injury, there is usually some degree of inflammation involved and ice is a natural anti-inflammatory and pain killer. It is just not as fun as using a hot pack and it is difficult to consider using ice on your body when it is 4 deg. outside!
The general rule is “when in doubt, use ice.” The recommendation for how long varies all over the place but generally icing 15-20 minutes every hour for the first 2-3 hours is a good rule. Also, never put ice or an ice pack directly on your skin. I have seen several people give themselves frost-bite from doing so!
On the other hand, heat is a natural muscle relaxer and for mild muscle injuries can be quite beneficial. Several studies have shown that heat patches, which you can wear for hours at a time, can be of great benefit. Heat can, however, irritate an inflamed muscle or joint and make it worse.
So, how do you know which is best then? My rule of thumb is: “If you have sharp or burning pain or pain that is greater than 5/10 on the pain scale, USE ICE. If you have
mild to moderate pain that is achy, USE HEAT.” Also, never sleep with a hot pad all night.
Another common question I get is, “How soon should I come in for treatment after I hurt myself.” This is particularly concerning if you have a severe amount of pain. Our research with whiplash here in the clinic has repeatedly shown that those who seek treatment the soonest have a faster recovery time. What many patients don’t realize is that we have many treatment tools at our disposal and will typically use gentle procedures during the early acute phase of injury. Mobilization, stretching and gentle traction are usually much more effective than manual adjustments at this point in recovery.
Clinical research on acute back pain supports the idea that an early return to normal activities speeds up recovery. However, if it hurts too much to do any activity then early treatment to reduce the initial pain is essential. Otherwise, you get more “stoved up” because you are avoiding movement or moving too fast. This further irritates your nerves resulting in even more muscle spasm.
So the next time you hurt yourself, reach for the ice pack first – you can always switch to heat if it doesn’t seem to help. Secondly, if you really dinged yourself up, don’t wait so long to come in. It is easier to fix right away and usually go away faster with early treatment. An old chiropractic teacher used to say the five most dangerous words he heard in practice were,” Maybe it will just go away!” There is good wisdom, don’t you think!