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Posts Tagged ‘san diego’

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Six Secrets to a Healthy, Pain-Free Body

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

I have spent my entire adult life studying methods, little known treatments, and proven ways to end the most common adult health problems.
I specialize in Orthopedics and Pediatrics. I perform spinal adjustments, do a lot of nutritional counseling (for strengthening of the immune system), exercise instruction, non-invasive sinus and ear drainage, and accu-pressure trigger point therapy (for headaches and intense muscle spasms).Everything that I do is 100% natural.
I offer result oriented chiropractic care in an office that genuinely cares about improving the health and well being of our patients. I am fully dedicated to educating our parents and children about the harmful effects of drugs, while at the same time, explaining the incredible benefits of chiropractic care, nutrition, exercise, and a positive mental attitude. Our ultimate goal is to show parents and children with health problems how to live a normal life – without needless drugs, potions, procedures.
I have focused my efforts in practice on only the best techniques that correct health problems - at the root cause and that have been proven without a shadow of a doubt to work safely, quickly and painlessly (No painful, useless needles here).
Here’s what this means for you: Within days you can usually notice a change in the way you feel…less pain, more range of motion, more energy, more flexibility.
Here’s why:
SECRET #1:
Your nervous system controls the function of every cell, tissue, organ, and system in your body…especially your Immune System. Can you guess what happens if anything disrupts this all-important nervous system?
A poorly functioning body and immune system results.
Ron Pero, head of cancer research at the University of Lund, in Lund, Sweden and Chief of Cancer Research at New York Preventive Research Center says that restoration and correction of the spine can increase the strength of your immune system by 200% - 400%!!
So, what does this mean for your child? And why does it apply to you?
Your spinal cord “links” your brain to the rest of your body, and makes everything work as a ‘System’. Why should you care?
“Health is a condition of wholeness in which all of the organs of the body are functioning 100% all of the time.” Webster’s Dictionary
Well, what if something disrupts this “vital link”? Do you think you’d have some problems? Maybe some pain? Maybe a headache? Maybe tingling and/or numbness?
Consider this - The “guardians” of your spinal cord are THE VERTEBRAE!
Your vertebrae protect your spine from damage or harm and also allow you to twist, turn, bend, and move around without much restriction.
But, sometimes these “guardians” get knocked out of place. For example: The birthing process…falling while learning how to walk…poor posture…lifting…twisting, playing contact sports, driving for long periods of time, etc.
Let’s talk specifics.
Your spinal column has 24 vertebrae (guardians). Twenty-four moving bones that make up your spinal column, and protect your spinal cord.
Like any other set of joints in your body, if these vertebrae aren’t perfectly aligned, they don’t function properly. You can have pain, decreased range of motion, muscle imbalance, scoliosis, headaches, organ or gland dysfunction, and more (we’ll talk about more specifics later).
Many everyday activities, like standing up all day long, can cause these bones to get out of their “normal” position. Think about how your child sleeps, or sits at his desk in school, or watches television. (You get the picture.)
Do you know what happens when these bones get even a little “stuck” out of place?
They press on and interfere with the vital link – your spinal cord – and this causes your nervous system to “dysfunction”. What that really means is, ultimately, these misalignments interfere with the way your body functions.
“90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by movement of the spine” Dr. Roger Sperry, Noble Prize recipient for brain research.
Can you imagine how your body would function if you had only a few “stuck” vertebrae out of place…your brain certainly wouldn’t be able to get all of the vital information it needed to function properly.
And, consider this -
I’ll bet you that at least one (but probably more) of these vital bones is out of alignment, and you never even knew it. Has anyone ever checked to see if all of your vertebrae are in perfect alignment? (The truth is, only Chiropractors are trained to feel whether vertebrae are in perfect alignment.) These misaligned vertebrae (called SUBLUXATIONS ) may be causing your problem – NOT the lack of muscles relaxes or pain killers in your body!
And you certainly wouldn’t ignore a fire alarm in your house if it were to go “off”, would you? But, when people are in pain, many actually ignore their own body’s fire alarm (the pain and symptoms) and simply wait for it to go away. Health problems just don’t go away. There’s a better way.
SECRET #2:
The first step to eliminating your pain is a
Thorough examination by someone who really knows what to look for!
The first thing we do is find out ALL ABOUT YOU. What we call a complete “case history.” This is the first step. I want to know things like what falls you suffered as a child, what sports you may have played, what you do for a living, and so on. This “vital information” will usually give me the secret clues and answers to some of your health problems.
The next thing is, of course, an orthopedic examination. But this is unlike any “traditional” examination. This is a very specific Chiropractic examination.
First of all, there isn’t a lot of cold, painful, “probing”. I look carefully at your posture (I do a scoliosis check)…I check your and muscle strength…and other totally painless neurological tests.
What am I looking for? You guessed it:
A DYSFUNCTIONAL NERVOUS SYSTEM! - AND I CAN FIND OUT EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW INSIDE OF JUST 10 – 15 MINUTES!
What about Sciatica? I can tell within 5 minutes if there is pressure on that nerve. What about tingling and numbness in the arms? If the nerves that control the arms are being interfered with - I can tell within 2 minutes.
(An important side-note: I will even agree to “buy” your first consultation with me – a real $135.00 value (x-rays included if necessary). See enclosed special gift certificate. But make sure you call me before the date stamped on the certificate!)
Consider this: “The weight of a dime on a nerve negatively alters nerve impulses by 60%. When a subluxation (misaligned vertebrae) occurs, a vertebrae this is misaligned forces weight onto the nerve. This weight then alters the impulse of that nerve, thus blocking information being sent from the brain. Studies show that organs supplied by pinched nerves tend to deviate from a healthy condition.”
Dr. Su, University of Colorado
I’ll tell you if I find any subluxations (misaligned vertebrae) and how it’s affecting your overall health and well being! (It’s quite amazing. Your body will show me visible signs of why you’ve been in pain or sick. The BIG, important issue is:
MAKING SURE YOU USE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO READ YOUR SPINE!

SECRET #3:
The secret of Nutrition: Everything you learned in school was true - “you are what you eat”. In today’s world the quantity of food required to feed the masses has altered the soil. The once mineral rich, vitamin rich soil has been depleted. Just
Eating the right foods is not that easy for a lot of people. Today everyone has a busy schedule, and putting together a balanced diet is very difficult. So, special attention is paid to the diet. This is a very important piece of the puzzle. I have been studying herbs, vitamins and minerals for almost 10 years and if you’re interested, I’ll tell you about
Special vitamins, minerals and herbs that should be included in your diet to give you maximum energy, decreased stress, and a stronger immune system

SECRET #4:
Once I find the “problem” I’ll tell you HOW TO FIX IT!
Once we find out what’s wrong, we can correct it. Often times permanently.
Once I find out which vertebrae are of place (A subluxation) I can correct them and gently restore them to normal alignment.
In fact, I do all of the work! It’s painless.
And that leads us to our next secret…

SECRET #5:
The power of the “ADJUSTMENT”! Remember we talked about ALIGNMENT? Remember how we said that if you’re not properly aligned, your immune system, your brain - your entire body functions at less than 100%?
Well, the magic of putting the vertebrae back into alignment so we can reconnect 100% of the normal exchange of information from the brain to the rest of the body so you don’t have any pain is called an ADJUSTMENT.
This little-known (and virtually ignored) treatment flat out WORKS better than anything else I’ve ever studied. And I’ve seen it work on thousands of people with all types of pain.
In fact:
IF MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD OR KNEW ABOUT THIS AWESOME
“TOOL”, WE’D PUT TYLENOL, BAYER, AND NYQUIL
OUT OF BUSINESS!
Here is some information you may not have known about Sports and Chiropractic:
A study in the March/April 2002 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics finds that more and more professional sports teams are utilizing chiropractic care for their team members.
This survey study targeted the head athletic trainers of the 36 National Football League (NFL) teams. The trainers each had at least 17 years of experience and at least one year of experience as a head trainer.
Questionnaires the trainers answered revealed that:
• 45% of the trainers themselves had been to a chiropractor.
• 71% of the trainers had worked professionally with a chiropractor.
• 77% of the trainers have referred players to a chiropractor.
• 31% of NFL teams use an official team chiropractor.
• 100% of the trainers revealed that some players use a chiropractor without being referred by the team doctor.
• 81% of the trainers agree that there is a role for chiropractors in the NFL.
• While 31% of the teams have a chiropractor officially on staff, an additional 12% of teams that do not have chiropractors on staff refer players to chiropractors.
So, let’s get back to our discussion.
I use techniques - all PROVEN to work and all 100% “natural” that help return vertebrae back to where they belong. And, the most amazing part is:
THIS WHOLE PROCESS DOESN’T HURT ONE BIT!
There is actually no pain during the process – just a little pressure.
See, there are hundreds of ways of using carefully directed – controlled and focused “pressure” to restore normal position to these misaligned vertebrae.
The amazing part is, the pressure that I use feels like a deep muscle massage - only it does a lot more than relax the muscles! It actually “re-aligns” the entire spine – and restores all of the normal electrical flow from the brain to the body. Remember, if your brain can’t communicate to a specific organ, muscle, or gland, it can’t function at 100% - This is what leads to pain so much of the time.

SECRET #6:
Consistency is the key!
The sixth ‘secret’ is consistency. Do you know that most people I know get their car’s oil changed every three months? I mean, they wouldn’t DARE let it go more than one full “season” without changing it.
What happens if you NEVER change your car’s oil?
YOUR ENGINE LASTS ABOUT 2 YEARS BEFORE YOU
START TO HAVE BIG PROBLEMS!
Well, if you’ll spend just about the same (or even less) than the price of an oil change to come in, and get your spine adjusted , your BODY will be given a chance to function as close to 100% as possible – without pain. The effects are too numerous to mention.
Just be CONSISTENT.
If, however, you try to short-cut, or look for the “quick-fix”, the same vicious cycle will kick in over and over and over again. How many times have you ignored your pain and symptoms? Or allowed your pain to get covered up with drugs? If medicine was able to get us healthy, nobody would ever get sick!
Fact: “80% of the children in this country will receive their first course of antibiotics by the age of 6 months.” American Academy of Otolaryngology
What are we teaching our children about medication?…and this is the reason why most people run to the medicine cabinet when they have a health problem – this is what we are taught from the time we are a baby! Covering up symptoms with drugs cannot be the best way to get and keep ourselves healthy!
This is why in 1998 the Washington Post reported that medicine was the fourth (incorrectly prescribed) and sixth (correctly prescribed) leading cause of death in the United States.
Just think about that.
Remember this secret of CONSISTENCY: It works!
TAKE ACTION NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!
What separates the people who get free from pain, from those poor unlucky people who spend their whole lives needlessly sick or in pain and on countless doses of different prescription drugs… IS:
ACTION!
Serious1y. Think about it.
If you value your health as much as I KNOW you do (if you didn’t, you wouldn’t have read this far), then the price of my care is, by comparison, peanuts. What is your health and happiness worth to you?
DON’T JUMP OVER DOLLAR BILLS TO CHASE PENNIES.
Take a look to see what could change if you stopped experiencing as much pain:
• You can work and play harder
• You can wake up everyday and not have to worry about the pain.
• You can start enjoying your hobbies again.
• You can feel much better about your life and health.
You get the picture. Just think about it.
You will find two things when you come to my office:
#1: I am a VERY good listener… and I won’t let you or “be in the dark” about anything.
#2: I explain EVERYTHING in exact detail, so you understand what’s going on at all times.
Keep in mind that my approach is 100% “natural”. And that means I DO NOT use:
• drugs
• needles
• surgery
Most everything I do feels like a deep muscle massage, or like an athletic stretch. Some of what I do is quite relaxing. Other things I do feel a bit different.
But there’s almost nothing I do that causes pain. Remember what chiropractic is all about:
GETTING RID OF THE CAUSE OF YOUR PAIN AND HEALTH PROBLEMS…
NOT CAUSING MORE OF THEM!
I see a surprisingly wide variety of health problems. See if any of the following applies to you:
• Headaches
• Pain, tingling, and weakness
• Neck Pain
• Burning into the extremities
• Mid Back Pain
• Arthritic problems
• Low Back Pain
• Athletic problems
• Sciatica

Do you experience any of these symptoms, even occasionally? If so, you can and should consider coming in for the free exam. What have you got to lose?
Even if you suffer only occasionally, if help is available, why not take it?

And even if “suffer” is too strong of a word to describe your situation, even if you aren’t experiencing health problems right now… it still makes sense to make sure they are properly “aligned”.
I hope you’ve learned a lot about how to keep yourself healthy - and STAY out of pain.

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Harvard University Researchers: Deficiency Of This Nutrient Is Responsible For 72,000-96,000 Preventable Deaths Per Year

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

If a simple and inexpensive way to make you live longer existed, would you use it?
What’s that? Easy question, you say? Well, let’s tackle an even easier one first and see if your answer is still the same. Here’s the easier question: What if there was a way for you to eliminate the #1 cause of preventable death in the United States and save money at the same time? Would you do that? Of course you would… who wouldn’t? Evidently, a whole heck of a lot of people would NOT!
Here’s the scoop: Harvard researchers just published the results of a study, “The
Preventable Causes of Death in the United States: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Risk Factors.” They listed the top causes of preventable death and how many people they estimate die each year from each risk factor.
The number one is tobacco smoking, killing 436,000-500,000 each year. Simply not smoking would eliminate the leading cause of preventable death from your life – AND save you quite a bit of money. Yet millions still smoke.
The study also found an Omega-3 deficiency causes between 72,000-96,000 deaths every year. This is very similar to the deaths caused by high trans fat intake (between 63,000-97,000). One researcher mentioned it is hard to nail down a more exact number of deaths because, “chronic diseases and associated deaths are multi-factorial. As far as diet goes, is it the lack of fruits and veggies or the excess animal and processed foods that is the culprit? It’s hard to say.” It was also noted that more research is needed to fully understand why Omega- 3 is so effective in establishing a dietary reference intake (DRI). Researchers added that until requirements are established, “Americans are likely to continue to fall short of their Omego-3 intake.” At least, according to this study, sounds like both increasing Omega-3 and decreasing trans fat intake may be a good idea.
So what were some of the other results of the study? Here they are…
1. Smoking Tobacco: 436,000 to 500,000 deaths
2. High blood Pressure: 372,000 to 414,000 deaths
3. Obesity: 188,000 to 237,000 deaths
4. Physical Inactivity: 164,000 to 222,000 deaths
5. High Blood Glucose: 163,000 to 217,000 deaths
6. High LDL Cholesterol: 94,000 to 124,000 deaths
7. High Salt Intake: 97,000 to 107,000 deaths
Other risk factors included: alcohol use, low polyunsaturated fatty acids, and low intake of fruits and vegetables.
So, what are you probably eating that could be contributing to the SECOND cause of preventable death which is high blood pressure? According to that study, high blood pressure kills between 372,000-414,000 every year. And listen to this… On September 23, 2009, according to Reuters, a recently released study found a diet high in a form of sugar found in sweetened soft drinks and junk food raises blood pressure among men. Reuters reports, the study “provided the first evidence that fructose helps raise blood pressure.” The study “suggested that people who consume sweetened soft drinks at night could gain weight faster than those who don’t.” From Reuters: “These results suggest that excessive fructose intake may have a role in the worldwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes,” said Dr. Richard Johnson of the University of Colorado-Denver, who studied the link between blood pressure and men.
Fructose is about 50% of the make-up of table sugar and the high fructose corn syrup popular in many foods. The American Heart Association currently says women should eat no more than 100 calories of added processed sugar per day, or six teaspoons (25 grams), while most men should keep it to just 150 calories or nine teaspoons (37.5 grams). On average, Americans consume 22 teaspoons (90 grams) or 355 calories of added sugar each day. Maybe it’s time Americans started seriously cutting back just a little… don’t you think?

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San Diego Chiropractor Offers New Twist On Chiropractic Care

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Chiropractic care isn’t just for back pain anymore. Many people are using chiropractic care to help boost their immune system during the flu season. The flu season begins in November and is at its height between December and March. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 1 out of every 5 Americans will get the flu this year. Are you prepared for the flu season?

Chiropractic care may be your answer to a clean bill of health this season. Dr. Michael Pritsker, D.C. can give your immune system a boost with a spinal adjustment at his office, University Chiropractic. A study shown in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research in 1997 showed chiropractic care to be effective in treating the flu. Over 2,800 individuals received regular chiropractic care and the result was an average 15% decrease in the incidence of colds and the flu.

“Regular chiropractic care is beneficial to many individuals. It has been proven time and time again to help the body function properly. Preventing the flu is just one of the benefits that my patients have seen.

If you would like to discover new ways to prevent the flu, stay health, or discover new technologies in eliminating back pain, visit www.BackCareCentral.com or request a free health video by calling the toll free 24 hour recorded message at 1-888-867-4951.

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Prescription Medication And Grapefruit - A Potentially Deadly Combination

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Here’s why: In this story, a retiree spends his summers up north and winters in the south. What natives call a “snowbird.” Two months after arriving in sunny Florida, this retiree was dead. The cause? Doctors believe it was a deadly interaction between the 2-3 glasses of fresh grapefruit juice he drank everyday and his medication. Drinking grapefruit juice can be deadly for people who take certain medications, according to a recent paper. In this particular case, the fatal interaction is believed to be between the grapefruit and Lipitor.

The victim had high cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease. For this, doctors put him on Lipitor and he began a diet and exercise program. Two weeks after going to Florida for the winter, he went to the emergency room complaining of muscle pains, fatigue and fever. That’s where he went into kidney failure and died.

Although experts know the problem exists, most laymen and health care professionals are still in the dark about the deadly risks, even though the FDA requires all prospective new drugs to be tested for interactions with grapefruit juice, and a warning about grapefruit juice is included in the “food-drug interactions” that come with dozens of medications.

Since grapefruit juice is metabolized by the same enzyme in the liver that breaks down many drugs… it is one of the foods most likely to cause problems with drugs. When the system is overloaded, scientists said the grapefruit juice can “swamp” the system, keeping the liver from doing its complete job and blocking it from breaking down drugs and other substances.

The most severe effects, scientists say, are likely with some statins. While the liver devotes its resources to grapefruit juice, the medication can build up to dangerous levels, causing a breakdown of the body’s muscles and even kidney failure.

So, the first tip of the month is: If you are taking ANY prescription medication (especially statin drugs), ask your doctor about the possible interactions with grapefruit juice. You should also read the warnings that come with your medication. I know there may be a lot of fine print, but it could be life or death.

Which leads us to the second tip of the month: Why do you think there is so much fine print in the first place? Because all drugs have toxic side effects. That is not to say they don’t save lives and are not needed in certain situations. Clearly they do and are. But, the goal of REAL health should be to have your body function properly without drugs… or… at least… with as little drugs as humanly possible.
How? Through proper diet, exercise, stress management and Chiropractic care.
I recently read a quote from a famous NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson. He said something like this: There are more things that can go bad with a passing play, than a running play. That’s why, when in doubt, if at all possible, run the ball.

I have the same philosophy with health. If at all possible, do it naturally.

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Did You Know?…

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Tidbits of news and info to make your life easier and more fun, so you’re healthy all the time
1. Today, there are more than 2 700 different languages spoken in the world, with more than 7 000 dialects. In Indonesia alone, 365 different languages are spoken. More than 1,000 different languages are spoken in Africa. The most difficult language to learn is Basque, which is spoken in north-western Spain and south-western France. It is not related to any other language in the world. Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world, followed by English. But as home language, Spanish is the second most spoken in the world.

2. If a soup or stew is too salty, add raw cut potatoes. Discard them after they have cooked - they will have absorbed the salt. If a soup or stew is too sweet, add salt. If a main dish or vegetable is too sweet, add a teaspoon of cider vinegar. Here are some more food tips…
• To avoid ‘onion eyes’ peel under cold water or refrigerate (or freeze) before chopping.
• To perk up soggy lettuce, add lemon juice to a bowl of cold water and soak lettuce for an hour in the refrigerator.
• When cooking carrots, peas, beets or corn, add a small amount of sugar to the water to keep the flavor.
• To keep sweet corn yellow, add one teaspoon of lemon juice to the cooking water just about a minute before taking off the stove.
• Never salt the water you cook corn in. It will only toughen the corn. Store celery and lettuce in paper bags, not plastic. And leave the outside leaves and stalks alone until ready to use.
• Sunlight doesn’t ripen tomatoes, warmth does. Store tomatoes with stems pointed down and they will stay fresher, longer.
• To soften rock-hard brown sugar, simply add a slice of soft bread to the package and close the bag tightly. In a few hours the sugar will be soft again.

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Why Does My Back Ache?

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 100 million
work days per year are lost due to low back pain!
Carrying the kids on your shoulders, cleaning the floors, lifting groceries out of the car, or a little extra up front (that’s the pendulous abdominal syndrome). Lifting, bending, and twisting, or worse yet, sitting all day at work. Add to this a slip and fall or a previous car accident and it’s not difficult to understand why studies show that approximately 80% of Americans will suffer from lower back pain at some time in their life. Many times back pain begins after just
bending over to pick up a pencil. Now, it’s not the pencil causing your back
pain, but rather your lower back’s structure (meaning muscles, joints, discs,
and vertebrae) has lost it’s normal functioning, and therefore could not
provide the necessary support of your spine. Our office specializes in finding
the cause of your back pain. Combining spinal adjustments with proper
exercises and stretches, a well balanced diet, and state of the art spinal
ABS therapy are the keys to reducing or eliminating your lower back pain.
If you know someone that is suffering from low back pain, do him or her a favor
and let them know that relief is just around the corner. You and your loved
shouldn’t have to live in pain. Visit www.titantherapy.com for more info.

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Researchers Create Monkeys With “Glowing” Hands! Will This Cure Inherited Diseases Like Parkinson’s, MS And More?

Friday, August 7th, 2009

The question is a difficult one. There are many differing opinions and opposing viewpoints…but who has the right answer? Is there even a right answer?
What is the question? Allow me to explain. Steve Connor, a science editor for The
Independent, recently penned an article about how scientists have developed a technique to genetically modify monkeys so that future monkeys would retain the same genetic modification. The premise being: if they can cure certain genetic diseases in monkeys, then scientists will be able to use the same or similar treatments to cure the same diseases in humans. If this is possible, the scientists mentioned in the article believe they may be able to cure inherited (genetic) diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis, MS and more.
In a study published in the journal Nature, a team of scientists led by Erika Sasaki of the Central Institute of Experimental Animals in Kawasaki used Marmoset monkeys to perform their tests, mainly because humans and other primates are genetically similar.
The researchers introduced a jellyfish gene into the monkey’s embryos. Why a jellyfish gene?
The purpose of the experiment was not to “cure” anything. It was simply to see if they could pass on new genes to the monkey’s offspring. In other words, they wanted to see if they could change the genetic code for not only that monkey, but for all of that monkey’s descendents.
The jellyfish gene was used because it makes the Monkey’s Hands Glow Green Under Fluorescent Light! This made it easy for the scientists to know if they succeeded since all they had to do was shine a fluorescent light on the monkey’s hands.
Previously, scientists performed similar work and created a “transgenic” monkey with jellyfish genes in 2001. The monkey’s name was Andi. They encountered a problem: even though Andi’s hands glowed green under fluorescent light, her offspring’s hands did not. This meant that any genetic diseases the scientists were trying to alter with this technique would not be changed for future generations.
But this experiment proved different. Not only did the monkey’s hands glow, so did its offspring’s. The genetic trait scientists had inserted into one monkey was passed on to future generations.
Why is this so important? It’s important to the scientists because they can encode monkeys with human genes that cause diseases (such as Parkinson’s) that can be used for testing in hopes of finding a cure for humans with the same diseases. On one hand, isn’t modern science amazing? Who would have thought 25 years ago that scientists would be creating genetically altered monkeys with the hopes of curing “incurable” diseases?
On The Other Hand, Is The Big Question: What are the repercussions of all of this? Is it ethical or cruel to create colonies of genetically altered monkeys with terrible diseases strictly for testing experimental treatments? What are the long-term effects of permanently altering genes that are passed down from generation to generation to generation? Could the “cure” end up worse than the disease? This type of genetic tampering could easily positively or negatively affect the entire human race.
At this point, these are questions no one has answers to. It is very clear from the comments left on the Internet after Steve Connor wrote the article that there are strong opinions on both sides of this issue. One hopes we as a species choose the right path.

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You Are What Your Mother Ate!

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

What’s more important: nature or nurture? The argument has been raging on for decades. In other words, are you strictly the end result of your upbringing and actions? Or are you simply a product of your genes?
A safe bet is that we are a combination of both. Our genes give us a blueprint with both positives and negatives and our actions either maximize or minimize the hand we’ve been dealt.
But, a new science has… Thickened The Plot! How? The new science is called “Epigenetics” and it attempts to explain how the environment can modify your genes. That’s a unique twist to this debate – wouldn’t you say?
So, what does all this have to do with you?
Here’s what: On April 14th, 2009 Science Daily reported on an epigenetic report published in the FASEB Journal that found: “You are what your mother ate during pregnancy.” In the report, scientists from the University of Utah showed rats that received poor nutrition in the womb genetically altered themselves to be born into a nutritionally deficient environment.
What’s that mean? The rat fetuses’ genes actually changed to prepare them for the environment they were going to be born into. Since there was poor nutrition in the womb, the rats were likely to grow to smaller sizes when compared to others born to “normal” nutrition levels.
Being smaller was not the only negative. The rats also had a higher risk for many health problems throughout their lives such as: diabetes, growth retardation, cardiovascular disease, obesity and neuro developmental delays… just to name a few.
But These Are Rats! How Are Humans Affected?
According to Science Daily, “Although the study involved rats, the genes and cellular mechanisms involved are the same as those in humans.” Also according to Science Daily: “The new ‘epigenetics’ has taught us how nature is changed by nurture,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. “The jury’s in and, yes, expectant moms really are eating for two. This study shows not only that we need to address problems such as preeclampsia during pregnancy, but also that prenatal care is far more important than anyone could have imagined a decade ago.”
After reading this interesting new information a few questions come to mind: If a fetus can alter its genes to adapt to the environment they are being born into – can a person alter their genes to adapt to their environment AFTER they are born? And since I treat patients with chiropractic care, what effect does Chiropractic treatment during pregnancy have on the potential of a child? If the environment is altered for the better – it makes sense the fetus would adapt genetically in a positive way.
But, until proper research is done, who knows for sure? But one thing makes sense: During pregnancy, everything should be done to ensure the developing fetus has the best possible environment. Proper exercise, balanced diet, and a healthy spine with chiropractic care are all key elements in growing a healthy baby.
To learn more about how to keep healthy, visit Dr. Pritsker DC’s blog at www.BackCareCentral.com or to receive a free video on how to keep your spine healthy call the toll free 24 hour recorded message at 1-888-867-4951.

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how to check your child’s spine for scoliosis.

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Scoliosos

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Does This “Stinking Rose” Possess The Secret To Health?

Monday, June 1st, 2009

You may or may not know this, but in some circles, garlic is known as the “stinking rose.” Why? Because, garlic is one of nature’s most impressive foods!
Its medicinal properties have been valued for centuries. There are reports of Greek and Roman soldiers eating garlic before going into battle. Legend has it that Egyptians ate garlic to increase their strength and stamina while building the pyramids. (If that legend only revealed how they actually built the pyramids – now that would be something!)
Anyway, the point is – garlic has been eaten for a long time with the belief it enhanced health. That’s the “rose” part of the name. And if you have ever been around garlic, you know where the “stinking” part came from.
But, as it turns out, what makes garlic stink might be responsible for its wonderful health benefits. Here is why…
According to a January 31, 2009 article in Science Daily, “Researchers have widely believed that the organic compound, allicin – which gives garlic its aroma and flavour – acts as the world’s most powerful antioxidant.”
In this study, the authors believe they know why. They found allicin decomposes rapidly and produces an acid: sulfenic acid. This acid reacts with free radicals in your body. In other words, it becomes a very powerful antioxidant.
And check this out: According to the researchers, “The reaction between the sulfenic acid and radicals is as fast as it can get, limited only by the time it takes for the two molecules to come into contact. No one has ever seen compounds, natural or synthetic, react this quickly as antioxidants.”
Garlic’s Triple Power
Garlic is quite incredible because it helps you in three ways: antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola’s health blog, “Studies have even found it is effective at killing antibiotic-resistance bacteria, including MRSA, and for reducing fungal infections, such as yeast infections, and fighting viruses and parasites.
“But that’s only the beginning. Garlic is great for your heart, as it helps to induce the relaxation and enlargement of blood vessels, which improves blood flow throughout the body. This can help to prevent a potentially deadly form of high blood pressure, as well as heart attack and stroke.” It is also believed that garlic helps prevent heart disease by inhibiting the formation of plaque on arteries.
Can Garlic Prevent Cancer?
Maybe so. At least, that’s what a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (November
2006; 84(5): 1027-1032) suggests. The researchers used data from a network of Italian and Swiss case-controlled studies. Comparing patients to controls, they found those with the highest intake of onions and garlic had the most protection from an assortment of cancers including:
Esophageal cancer • Colon cancer • Breast cancer • Ovarian cancer • Prostate cancer
What About Garlic And Weight Loss?
Can garlic help you lose weight too? The American Journal of Hypertension, reported on a study in which 2 groups of rats were purposely fed a diet to make them fat and hypertensive. Then one group of rats was given allicin. The group that received allicin not only stopped gaining weight!
What’s more, a third group was fed allicin from the start and gained very little weight over the course of the experiment.
What’s Better: Supplements Or Raw Garlic?
In many cases, eating the whole food is better than supplementation. Garlic is no different. The beneficial reaction in garlic starts taking place a few minutes after it is cut into or smashed open. But, the strength will quickly diminish and be gone in about an hour. So it is best to chop or press garlic, wait a few minutes, and then eat it. This may not be the best tasting approach, but it is probably the most effective. If you start to stink like ripe garlic cloves – simply cut back on the amount you eat. You should be able to find an amount your body can tolerate, without smelling.

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