Mission Viejo Chiropractor

7 Foods You Should Never, Ever Eat

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:03:07 -0500

If you’re reading this blog, there’s a really good chance you’ve made the choice to improve your health, or at the very least, you’re considering doing so. Congratulations and good for you! You’ve taken the first step towards being healthier and more beautiful. In The Beauty Detox Solution, I outline a dietary plan that will allow you to achieve your best health. Still, it’s easy to be tempted by all kinds of foods that promise convenience, health, or great taste. And it’s okay to indulge every once in a while, provided you don’t make it a habit. Still, certain foods rise above others in terms of negative health consequences.

Here are seven of the top offenders and why you should never eat them.

1. Agave

I talk a lot about agave, and it is one of the items I am most frequently asked about. Many people believe agave is a “healthy” sweetener because it is “natural” and marketed as being low-glycemic. In fact, agave is a highly processed sweetener. The chemical process for manufacturing agave nectar is nearly the same as the corn refiners using in making high-fructose corn syrup from corn starch. Using the agave glucose and inulin found in the plant’s roots, manufacturers subject it to a chemical enzymatic (using genetically modified enzymes) process that converts it into nearly pure fructose (70 percent or higher). Considering that HFCS contains only 55 percent fructose and it is currently wreaking havoc on Americans’ health, imagine what agave will do.

In the tiny amounts contained in fruit, fructose doesn’t cause much of a problem in the human body. In the large, concentrated amounts you find in agave, however, it can cause real health problems. That’s because the gastrointestinal tract doesn’t absorb fructose readily, so it goes straight to your liver. This places an overwhelming load on your liver, which can lead to scarring and development of triglycerides. It doesn’t stimulate the hormones that indicate satiety or fullness, so you can continue to eat it in large amounts. Fructose has also been strongly linked to obesity, fatty liver disease, and many other health issues.

Regardless of how “natural” and “organic” a label of agave nectar claims to be, don’t buy it. Fructose is found in fruit and honey, but it’s not found meant to be consumed in large, concentrated, syrup-like forms. While it is a low glycemic sweetener that won’t raise blood sugar, it’s toxic to your health in far more dangerous ways. Want more information? Here’s a link to a study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation about fructose.

Be sure to ask restaurants before deciding to eat there if they use agave- because if they do, there is a good change you’ll ingest it in dishes other than just desserts.

2. Corn-fed Beef

Most of the beef you find in a grocery store comes from corn-fed cattle. In fact, unless it is labeled as “grass-fed,” you can be pretty certain that the beef is, indeed, corn-fed.

Why is this a problem? Let’s start with the cattle. Cattle are ruminants. That is, they naturally survive on grasses, which their bodies are equipped to digest. Many ranchers have switched to feeding cattle corn and other grain-based diets because the feed is cheap and fattens the cattle quickly. Unfortunately, cattle cannot digest grains effectively, and feeding on corn makes them sick. Corn creates an acidic environment in the cows’ stomachs, and much like humans consuming acidic foods, this can cause all kinds of health problems for cattle, including the growth of E. coli 0157:H7, which can prove fatal to humans. Corn also makes the meat much fattier, containing higher levels of dangerous saturated fats than grass-fed beef, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Corn-fed cattle are fed a nutritionally inferior diet and they are thus, nutritionally inferior as food.

I personally avoid beef, but I know there are some people who do not want to give it up and I understand this. That’s why I recommend you develop a relationship with a small, local farmer that raises cattle naturally grazing them on pastures. The meat will be leaner, tastier, and healthier. Don’t know where to find grass-fed beef? Visit EatWild to find farmers in your area.

3. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

GMOs are now present in 75 to 80 percent of conventional processed food in the U.S., according to the Grocery Manufacturers Association. This information does not appear on food labels, so you never know if the foods eat are GMO unless you get them directly from the farmer and ask. Since our country has such a short history of eating GMOs, it amounts to a large public health experiment with you as the subject. Worst of all, President Bush (George Herbert Walker, not his son) signed an executive order stating that no safety studies are needed on GMOs because the food producer bears ultimate responsibility “for assuring safety.” Seriously?! In other words, the people making money from the GMOs are the ones responsible for determining its safety. No “approved” long-term studies have been done, and the industry is largely unregulated.

Independent rodent studies, on the other hand, show startling health effects in rats fed GMO foods including smaller organs, damaged immune systems, decreased immunity, liver atrophy, and many others.

4. Non-organic Corn

In the documentary movie, King Corn, two recent college graduates set out to farm an acre of corn, following it from planting all the way to market. What they discover is startling. Corn is the major ingredient in the processed Western diet. The two use genetically modified seeds and powerful herbicides. What they discovered is today’s mass-produced corn barely resembles the plant from which it came. It is nutritionally bankrupt, genetically modified (see above), tasteless, and chock full of pesticides. A little bit of organic corn is okay, but say no to non-organic corn in all of its forms.

5. Farmed Salmon

Often called Atlantic Salmon, farmed salmon may be contaminated with dangerous levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl). These harmful chemicals penetrate the fat of the farm raised salmon (which is especially fatty), and have many negative effects on human health including nervous and endocrine system disruption, increased risks of cancer, immunosuppression, and reproductive problems. Crowded farms can also attract parasites and lethal fish diseases.

Farming salmon presents a danger to the environment as well. Farmed salmon that have escaped the farms have become invasive species that compete with and diminish wild populations of fish and contaminate the gene pool. Farms can also release toxins into surrounding waters.

Instead, try Pacific wild salmon.

6. Shrimp

Shrimp from around the world is unhealthy and loaded with chemicals. Shrimp from outside the US may be high in antibiotics banned in the United States, such as chloramephnicol, which can cause aplastic anemia. Shrimp from the United States isn’t much better. It is very low quality and contains the highest levels of toxins in the world.

7. Cupcakes

The recent trend in baked goods is cupcakes. While they are definitely cute and look delicious, the typical store bought cupcake is filled with ingredients hazardous to your health. Polyunsaturated fats can cause inflammation and heart disease. Dairy is full of toxic hormones. Wheat is very likely genetically modified and contains gluten, which is very difficult to digest. Sugar has no nutritive value and raises blood glucose levels, stimulating the release of insulin as well as the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE’s) which can damage skin collagen and lead to wrinkles, among many other issues. There’s really not a thing that’s good for you about cupcakes, which may also contain trans fats, artificial colors, and salt. So yes, they are cute but they certainly won’t make YOU look cute!

Remember it’s not just what you eat, but what you don’t eat! Avoid these 7 foods and your body will thank you.

Related Articles:
What Your Liver Can Teach You About Burning Fat
How to Buy Eggs From The Grocery Store
Raw Organic White Corn
7 Healthier Food Alternatives for Your Kids
What You Ought To Know About Food Allergies

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via kimberlysnyder.net

Kimberly Snyder is a nutritionist who works on movie sets all over the world. She is hired for her dietary expertise and she is responsible for changing the way that I eat. Her nutritional theories are based in sound logical premises. She advocates attempting to remove animal protein (meat) from the diet as much as possible, and replacing meat with plant foods. I highly recommend ordering her book, which you can find on her web site.

Why Barefoot Running Is So Fascinating

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:55:28 -0500

Why run or walk barefoot?
Strengthen the muscles in your feet
Be injury free thanks to proper foot and body mechanics
Increased sensory perception (and running pleasure)
Run easier and faster and be injury-free for life
Check it out…
Look at the illustration below. When a runner strikes the ground wearing running shoes, the positive heel (all that foam/air/gel cushioning) causes him/her to heel strike, then ‘roll’ and push off. This is NOT how our body is designed to run. Look at the runner on the right. When you’re barefoot (or nearly barefoot) you will land gently and feel the ground below your feet. This is very important to be a healthy and injury-free runner. Now you try! Run 20 yards in your runners, then do the same barefoot. Have someone watch you just in case you fall over from glee!
Image courtesy of Terra Plana
A Few Common Questions
Q: What’s wrong with running shoes?
A: A lot. Running shoes “shield” your feet and body from the natural cushioning it’s designed for, actually causing more impact to your body, not less. Nearly all traditional running shoes have a thick midsole at the heel which causes heel strike, another major injury cause. Read more here…
Q: So, what are you saying?
A: Toss your shoes away and run barefoot! But wait, there’s more! There are things to consider first, that’s where this site comes in. Read on…
Q: I heard about barefoot running, doesn’t it hurt?
A: If you jump right into it, then in short, yes. You’ll use muscles you’ve never used before. As you transition to barefoot running, you should start slowly. Ease into your mileage and listen to you feet. Most runner’s require 3-4 weeks before achieving ~80% of their regular mileage sans shoes.
Q: OK, I’m onboard with this barefoot running, but can’t always run sans shoe, then what?
A: As many other runners, I had the same problem. There are many environmental and sometimes social reasons for wearing “running shoes”. For this and other reasons there ‘alternatives’ are slowly becoming available. My Skora project is progressing to launch late 2010. Meanwhile, take a look at our minimal shoe reviews.
A few medical quotes
“Running related Chronic injuries to bone and connective tissue in the legs are rare in developing countries, where most people are habitually barefooted.”
Michael Warbutton – Gateway Physiotherapist Australia. 2001
Barefoot training helps correct form and reduces foot, shin and muscle injuries.”
Dr. William A. Rossi, D.P.M. 1999.
“Where barefoot and shod populations exist, as in Haiti, injury rates of the lower extremity are substantially higher in the shoe wearing population.”
Robins SE and Hanna AM – Running related injury
“…natural gait is impossible for the shoe-wearing foot …and it is equally impossible for any orthotic to achieve “correct” foot and body balance …no matter how correct and precise the biomechanical design.”
Dr. William A. Rossi, D.P.M. “Why Shoes Make ‘Normal’ Gait Impossible.” Podiatry Management

via barefootrunner.com

As a chiropractor who specializes in soft tissue injuries, I see a lot of runners in my office. Many of these runners have developed what are called repetitive overuse injuries. They have developed painful conditions as a result of using a certain part of their bodies too much. The question is why these injuries or conditions usually occur on one side of the body and not the other. For example, we often see achilles tendinosis on the right foot but not the left and vice versa.

Because of this we must assume that the body has lost it’s proper balance. The right side is being used more than the left side and this is probably happening because the body is compensating for a weakness. The body’s efficiency has been lost somehow.

Barefoot running aims to bring the runners stride back to its roots. Humans have evolved over many millions of years, and a majority of those years we were without footwear. Therefore, the theory of barefoot running is based in common sense. Our bodies were designed to operate a certain way. Why put shoes on and violate the bodies design?

Power Protein Smoothie Recipe

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:15:53 -0500

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This is a super-filling smoothie that is great after a workout to help replenish amino acids, or as an afternoon snack. I think chia seeds are one of the best foods out there, and I eat them almost daily. They have replaced ground flaxseeds as my daily seed. Chia seeds supply protein, fiber, Omega 3 fats, minerals and long-burning fuel.

I don’t recommend soy or whey (diary) protein powders, but I love brown rice and raw hemp protein powders. This smoothie supplies 18+ grams (may be more, depending on what protein powder you use) of easily assimilated plant protein into your body.

If you don’t have access to acai packets, which would be in the refrigerated section of your health store, just omit it, and add a bit more vanilla and cinnamon, for a vanilla-flavored drink. Enjoy!

Ingredients (one 24-ounce serving):

2 cups unsweetened almond milk or water, or a 50/50 combination

1/4 cup hemp or brown rice protein powder

1-2 Tbs. chia seeds (go for the higher end if you are really active)

1/2 frozen acai smoothie packet

Liquid stevia to sweeten

½ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

Add the almond milk and/or water to the blender first, then the other ingredients. Blend until smooth.

Related Articles:
Rainforest Acai Smoothie Recipe
The Best Workout Food for You
How to Make Fresh Almond Milk
12 Desserts That Are Actually Good For You
How to Make the Power Protein Smoothie [Video]

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via kimberlysnyder.net

Kimberly Snyder is a great resource for those looking to lose weight and maintain their health using sustainable methods. She is not into fad diets or quick fixes. She will show you how to eat healthy and make it fun and delicious I recommend her book to everyone, but especially women.

At 74-years old...these are your legs on triathlon & these are your legs without triathlon

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:05:49 -0500

« Review: Is the 2012 Chevy Sonic a worthy small car for big triathlon hauling needs | Main | Bob Wendling was re-elected for a second term as USA Triathlon President »

01/19/2012

At 74-years old…these are your legs on triathlon & these are your legs without triathlon

40-year-old Triathlete

A new study called, “Chronic Exercise Preserves Lean Muscle Mass in Masters Athletes,” which you can read HERE graphically illustrates what happens to your muscles (with and without) the type of regular and beneficial exercise that the sport of triathlon provides.

The image above is a cross section of a 40-year-old triathlete’s legs and the associated muscle. But the two images below are the really interesting and telling ones.

74-year-old Sedentary Man

74-year-old Triathlete

As you can tell, the 74-year-old masters triathlete’s legs are not unlike that of the 40-year-old triathlete’s legs. The study’s authors go on to write:

“It is commonly believed that with aging comes an inevitable decline from vitality to frailty. This includes feeling weak and often the loss of independence. These declines may have more to do with lifestyle choices, including sedentary living and poor nutrition, than the absolute potential of musculoskeletal aging.

In this study, we sought to eliminate the confounding variables of sedentary living and muscle disuse, and answer the question of what really happens to our muscles as we age if we are chronically active. This study and those discussed here show that we are capable of preserving both muscle mass and strength with lifelong physical activity.”

They conclude by writing:

“The loss of lean muscle mass and the resulting subjective and objective weakness experienced with sedentary aging imposes significant but modifiable personal, societal, and economic burdens. As sports medicine clinicians, we must encourage people to become or remain active at all ages. This study, and those reviewed here, document the possibility to maintain muscle mass and strength across the ages via simple lifestyle changes.”

This story via LAVA via Not About Coffee.

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Posted on 01/19/2012 in Health, Nutrition & Wellness | Permalink

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Comments

MarvinK said…

How about a 40 year old sedentary man?

Reply 01/21/2012 at 09:49 AM

Retired Ron said…

remind me not to allow an autopsy.

Reply 01/21/2012 at 10:29 AM

roger doger said…

MRI not autopsy.

Reply 01/21/2012 at 11:15 AM

Dr. Canfield said…

This is beautiful! I will be printing and distributing this to my senior patients.

Do you have these for people in their 40s or 50s?

Reply 01/21/2012 at 03:47 PM

ohiojoe@gmail.com said…

Let’s not forget the study that established quite soundly that seniors simply being primed with words such as “frail”, “crossword puzzle”, “Geritol”, “Florida” while purportedly watching a video for unrelated aspects, walked significantly slower down the hall way to the 2nd stage of the “test” when compared to those who simply were not primed with such words.

In short, if you keep telling yourself you are getting old, you WILL get old.

Reply 01/21/2012 at 09:37 PM

mami said…

Hui nyt pitää menna pitkälle lenkille…;)

Reply 01/22/2012 at 02:28 AM

Trudie said…

Legs on triathlon? Geez…Great English

Reply 01/24/2012 at 02:21 AM

eggs said in reply to Trudie…

Lighten up Trudie. An allusion to the anti-drug ads, “this is your brain, …, this is your brain on drugs,” while showing an egg frying in a pan.

Reply 01/24/2012 at 01:32 PM

ironleslie@sbcglobal.net said…

Hoe exciting to see that aging doesn’t have to be the way of the second photo. Exercising gets me more than high….it allows me to have better relations with my husband and to require less sleep.

Reply 01/26/2012 at 06:14 AM

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via everymantri.com

Look at the difference between someone who exercises consistently throughout their lifetime and someone who doesn’t. It seems to be that the idea of muscles becoming inevitably weaker as a result of aging is a myth. It’s always easy to use excuses like I’m just getting old and that’s why my joints hurt. I’m getting old and that’s why I have headaches. I’m getting old and that’s why I’m so weak and feeble.

No more excuses. Get out there. Find an activity you are passionate about and do it all the time. There is something out there for you, it’s just a matter of you finding it.

You don't NEED meat and dairy!

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:14:05 -0500

via nytimes.com

There are so many fad diets that come with each new year. As people we innately know how we should be eating. I believe that we know we need to eat more plant foods and less animal products. The reason it’s so difficult to make the transition from a lot of meat to a lot of plants is because our society has been designed for meat eaters. It isn’t convenient to seek out vegetables and fruit for each meal.

If you want to lose weight, you must try to begin making this transition. if you can start eating food that is dense in nutrients like kale, spinach, chard, and other vegetables, your body will begin to crave less food. You will inevitably lose weight.

My favorite exercises for low back pain (video)

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:11:10 -0500

via youtube.com

The egoscue exercises developed by physical therapist Pete Egoscue are my favorite exercises for people who are experiencing chronic or acute lower back pain. The exercises are also great for people experiencing neck pain, mid back pain, shoulder pain, and even headaches.

The concept behind the exercise program is that the body has lost the ability to move properly because of sedentary lifestyle. For example, sitting in a chair all day at work causes the very strong hip flexors to become over-developed and tight, causing an imbalance in proper movement patterns of the hip and low back.

The exercises are extremely easy to do, take minimal effort, and are very effective. Visit Mission Viejo Chiropractor website for more great exercise recommendations.

Active Release Technique In The News.

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:05:56 -0500

via youtube.com

Active Release Techniques are used by most professional sports teams to treat and also prevent injuries.

In this video, we see how Active Release is much different than any other chiropractic technique out there. It is also similar to massage, but at the same time very different. In this technique we are using motion to isolate muscles and lengthen them while breaking down scar tissue.

Dairy - Best and Worst Foods for Digestion

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:05:45 -0500

Dairy

Worst
You need calcium in your diet, and an easy way to get it is from dairy products such as milk and cheese. But, for the lactose intolerant, these can cause diarrhea, gas, and abdominal bloating and cramps.
Lactose intolerance, a common problem, occurs when people don’t make enough lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose (the sugar found in milk). Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and chemotherapy can damage the intestines, which also can lead to lactose intolerance.
If you’re lactose intolerant, staying away from dairy is probably your best bet.

Next: Alcohol

Credit: Corbis

via health.com

This article from health.com misses a key concept when it comes to dairy and human consumption.

We have to remember that in nature, the reason cows make milk is so that their babies have the proper nutrition to grow. This also goes for human milk, goats milk, etc. It is the opinion of many well known certified nutritionists that dairy is not good for humans.

Why?

Because first of all dairy is not easily digestible by any human, not just lactose intolerant humans. Second, dairy causes the body to become acidic which leads to inflammation in tissues, immune system breakdown, and many other health issues.

The Power Of Intention

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:40:12 -0500

I came across a video on youtube a couple of days ago that illustrates a concept that chiropractor’s have been talking about for about a century. In this video a physicist talks about what is called the “double slit experiment”.

Watch the video:

As a chiropractor in Mission Viejo, I know that good clinical skills always come first. However, I believe in order to get the best possible results, I should focus on the result I want as I am treating. The reason is because, like we see in the video, our observation or our focus, has power. In the quantum world, it’s now believed that by just observing something, it’s molecular state changes.

As a human being this is a powerful concept to understand. Your intention has power. Your focus has power. We have more power over our physical world than we realize. It’s up to us to use it the correct way.

Chiropractor in Mission Viejo

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 23:47:00 -0500

Chiropractor in Mission Viejo:

Mission Viejo Chiropractor using the most modern and cutting edge chiropractic techniques in the universe. Also serving the surrounding cities of Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano, and Ladera Ranch.

Chiropractor Mission Viejo

Active Release Techniques Orange County