Ultimate Chiropractor

Why Can’t the Chicken Cross the Road?

author — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:32:20 +0000

Why Can’t the Chicken Cross the Road?

via Integrative Nutrition Blog by Integrative Nutrition on 8/16/10

Crack! The egg bursts onto the pan and shines like the sunrise. A familiar visual for many, eggs are an integral part of the American diet, but many of us don’t think twice about what kind of hens those eggs come from. In a recent New York Times article, and across the media, the discussion of caged hens has become an important debate.

Farmers with large egg farms (farms that house 4 million hens, yielding 3 million eggs per day) believe that caged chickens are just as functional as hens kept outside of cages. However, “extreme caging methods” are being banned in California and are up for review in Ohio, calling into question the factory farming methods that are used.

Many animal rights advocates believe that the lives of these caged chickens are subpar. They can hardly move, let alone roam free as they would in their natural habitat.

The debate is contentious, especially because eggs create a large portion of school lunches and 90% of eggs consumed by the American population come from these large farms. Is there a way to feed our population while still respecting the animals that provide for us? What do you think?

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Could One Conversation Change What You Eat?

author — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:20:25 +0000

Could One Conversation Change What You Eat?

via Integrative Nutrition Blog by Integrative Nutrition on 8/10/10

Many people shop labels. Whether its high fashion or expensive cars, a label costs more; it means something to the consumer. Food is no different. People who care about the quality of the food they put in their body read labels. If a label reads “high fructose corn syrup” or “trans fat” an informed consumer will bypass this product. Whether a food has an organic label or not is also important information for today’s foodies. If a product has the seal “USDA Organic” the consumer knows that the food was grown or prepared using organic practices and ingredients; however, the producer has paid a fee to the government to obtain that certification.

Many small farmers cannot afford the high cost of the government’s organic label. According to the Organic Trade Association, referenced in this article on Change.org, 92 percent of organic food sold in this country is sold by mass markets, like Wal-Mart, Costco, or grocery store chains. By comparison, only 8 percent comes from farmers markets, co-ops, or CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture).

Quite often the small farmers have organic growing practices; they just don’t pay for the expensive label. How do you get this important information? It’s easy; simply start a conversation with the person you are buying your food from. When you visit the farmers market and you see they do not have an organic label, ask why? Ask them about their growing practices. Do they use pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals? You won’t know until you ask.

Do you only shop for products with the “USDA Organic” label? Do local farmers in your area provide an opportunity to talk about their growing practices? What are your conversations like?

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Repeated Concussions a Big Risk for Student-Athletes

author — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:06:09 +0000

As a chiropractor I believe in exercise, whether it’s aerobics, bike riding, or team sports. Keeping the body active keeps the body healthy and strong. However, when it comes to sports activies, it seems that sports injuries are inevitable among young and old alike. And, though many sports injuries can be very serious, I was especially happy to see that there is a current focus on concussions among young athletes who participate in school sports. The question people are asking is: Are schools doing enough to protect their student-athletes? Do you, as a parent, feel that your child is safe when participating in sports at school? Many parents worry that their young athletes are at risk for serious sports injuries, especially concussions. In fact, the latest C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health found that nearly two-thirds of parents of young athletes between the ages 12 – 17 worry that their children will get a concussion while playing school sports.

To make matters worse, researchers have found that youth athletes are more likely to sustain concussions and to take longer to recover from concussions than adults. Furthermore, if a second concussion occurs before a child’s brain recovers from the first, there is a possibility of long-term neurologic conditions.

When surveyed, most parents indicated that they would strongly support school requirements, such as:

* If a student-athlete sustained a concussion, he or she would need to be evaluated and cleared by a doctor before returning to sports – 84 percent

* Coaches should to receive education about the risks of concussions

* After a concussion there should be a mandatory period of non-participation in sports

* A certified trainer should be on-site for practices and games

High school athletic organizations, injury prevention groups and professional sports leagues have become increasingly active in promoting policies to minimize the risks of repeat concussions among young athletes. But, let’s face it, parents are in a unique position to recognize concussion signs and symptoms that occur outside of school, and to work with coaches, trainers, and other health care personnel to ensure that their child is appropriately monitored throughout his or her recovery and return to play.

Source: University of Michigan Health System

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Obesity: A National Epidemic That Needs to be Eradicated

author — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:09:12 +0000

As a chiropractor and healthcare provider, I cannot say enough about the crucial issue of excess weight and how it adversely affects every system of the human body. I “preach” to my overweight patients and hammer away on the subject in my blogs because in addition to the cardio-vascular diseases caused by obesity, much of the back pain, hip pain, and knee pain that people experience is influenced by the undue stress excess weight puts on the joints of the body. And, though it may not surprise you, an expert panel in a report out just today said that people in this country must slash their calories and increase physical activity because the obesity epidemic is “the single greatest threat to public health in this century.”

We all know that dieting isn’t easy, but the advisory committee for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans gave this clear-cut advice: “People in this country need to cut the calories they consume from added sugars and solid fats (butter, marbled meats) and start eating a more nutrient-rich, plant-based diet.”

The report called for many changes in the food environment. To read more, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-06-15-

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Chiropractic Internet Marketing Strategy: Do it Yourself or Outsource?

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 23:33:02 +0000

Here’s an interesting question for you to consider: Do you want to keep your chiropractic internet marketing in-house or do you want to hire a professional? There are pros and cons to both, and the answer lies in your particular situation. Let’s check out the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Advantages of in-house chiropractic internet marketing

There is a lower monthly cost involved in using someone already employed by you.
The staff knows your practice intimately. Your staff has a good understanding of your clinic’s particular services and, therefore, is able to describe your specialties easier than those who don’t know the specifics of your particular practice.
You can communicate anytime. Being in-house it is easier to set up times to have meetings or just to chat about situations on the fly.

Disadvantages of in-house chiropractic website marketing

The staff may not be fully aware of what SEO (search engine optimization) is, let alone how to accomplish it. In that case, a lot of education and training will be needed to make sure SEO gets done right.
The staff may be overworked. Sometimes the time it takes to do SEO can be underestimated. It is an ongoing process that can actually be a full-time job. If a marketing manager has been told to do SEO as well as his or her full time job, obviously that person will be overworked and feel overwhelmed.
Attention needs to be paid to detail. This goes together with Point #2. If the staff is overworked, they have no time to check out search engine news and keep up-to-date on how the search engines have changed the game each week and what needs to be done to implement those changes to keep your clinic internet presence up in the rankings.

Advantages of using an outside professional

Chiropractic marketing companies are specialists in the field. They have experience in working on numerous clinics and their websites and optimizing them for SEO. They know, first hand, what works effectively and what doesn’t.
There is a dedicated team at the company who will be working on your site and can give it the attention it requires.
The company has a specific plan and won’t be just jumping around, going from short term tactic to short term tactic with no organized strategy and no clear way to reach your desired goals. In other words, they have an “integrated” internet marketing strategy.

Disadvantages of a chiropractic internet marketing company

Let’s face it, it can get expensive, but costs vary widely from company to company. Some companies out there are charging $600-$700 a month for their services. It is definitely worth your while to shop around and research before you buy.
There is usually a commitment. Most chiropractic internet marketing companies will want you to sign up for at least six months to a year.
Account management can be a problem. With high turnover rates at many companies, especially the big ones, there may be a chance that you’ll get handed from account manager to account manager just when you were building a relationship of trust. You may have to start over again, maybe even have to redesign and reiterate your strategy with the new manager.

Now that you’ve taken a moment to look at the pros and cons of both keeping your internet marketing in-house or hiring a professional, the solution to SEO and your internet marketing strategy will depend on the size of your practice, the time and staffing you can devote to it, and your overall long-term goals.

Now, of course, we are a chiropractic internet marketing company that specializes in helping chiropractors with their internet presence. So, I will admit that I am a bit biased on the side of your hiring an expert to do it right. If you are thinking of hiring a company to develop and implement your internet marketing strategy, it is tremendously important for you to hire one that specializes in chiropractic clinics. Why? Because we understand the chiropractic profession intimately. Therefore, in the long run it will save you both time and money not having to explain what chiropractic is about to some general SEO company. There are several of us out there.

If you are going to go with an outside company, be sure to read the fine print. Look at the bottom of their page for a disclaimer. If they have one, read about their “typical” results. You don’t want to be fooled by outrageous claims even though such hype can be enticing. Remember, your internet marketing strategy is just one stream of new patient leads. Even though chiropractic internet marketing is fast becoming a great source for new patient leads, and even though internet marketing gets more important with every passing day, and even though it is a crucial area in which to generate new patient leads, it is still not the only source of marketing you will need to succeed in your practice.

Whether you choose to keep your internet marketing in-house or to hire a professional, you want to be sure that the time and money you spend on SEO gets you where you want to go. A member of your staff that does your internet marketing for “free,” while squeezing those efforts in-between other tasks, may “cost” you in the long run. A professional whose sole focus is internet marketing, won’t lose sight of your goals. Internet marketing is essential to your practice, so choose your chiropractic internet path wisely.

Technorati Tags: chiropractic internet marketing, chiropractic marketing, SEO

Your Santa Barbara Chiropractor Can Help Ease Your Age-Related Back Pain

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:19:07 +0000

Santa Barbara Chiropractor

I’ve always been fond of the old saying, When you consider the alternative, getting old isn’t so bad.” However, it’s nothing to joke about if the aging process is causing you pain! As a chiropractor in Santa Barbara, when it comes to musculoskeletal problems, I see too many age-related breakdowns that probably would not have taken place if the original cause had been addressed earlier. Pain in the back, neck, hips, knees, and even the feet are commonly the result of unnecessary stresses due to poor posture, improper gait, and repetitive overuse. But, as another saying goes, “Hindsight is 20-20.” If we only knew back then how our aging body would feel now!

As you can see from the list of complaints above, there are quite a few musculoskeletal challenges that can, and often do, take place as we get older, but painful back problems are one of the most prevalent. Back pain that is age-related is most commonly produced by spine osteoarthritis, or Spondylosis, a degenerative disorder.

Spinal osteoarthritis is caused by increased erosion and weight-bearing force on the spine that, over time, does harm to the discs, joints, and surrounding ligaments. The location and degree of the degenerative process of spondylosis is individual, varying from person to person. The regions likely to be affected are the cervical (neck), thoriacic (mid-back), or lumbar (low back). Spondylosisi symptoms very from person to person and depend on the severity of the degeneration, and can extend from low-amplitude pain and numbness to extreme sensory loss and muscular atrophy.

Repetitive stresses adversely affect the cartilage surrounding the joints and can encourage calcium to deposit in the tissues surrounding the vertebrae. These calcific deposits, known as bone spurs, can constrict adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue. This particular of compression is at the root of Spondylosis.

Regular chiropractic care and overall chiropractic management is beneficial in significantly slowing the aging process of the spine whether or not you are suffering from spondylosis. No, “you can’t un-ring a bell” or “turn back the hands of time,” but it isn’t too late to give your spine the consideration it deserves. When it comes to treating the spine, chiropractors are experts! See your chiropractor in Santa Barbara today, for the health of your spine.

Technorati Tags: age-related back pain, age-related neck pain, chiropractic, chiropractor, spine osteoarthritis, Spondylosis

The Importance of Good Posture

author — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:50:51 +0000

It’s a great time to be alive, isn’t it? Science and technology have literally put the world at our fingertips. And, in addition to the unlimited access we all have to information and communication, there are computer games, video games, and round-the-clock TV shows. Unfortunately, the “pros” of most things arrive hand-in-hand with the “cons.” Now, there are plenty of “cons” to be addressed here, but as a chiropractor, I’m going to focus on the adverse effect that our bad posture is having on our musculoskeletal system, not only while we’re engaging in these activities, but even after the work and play is done. All you need to do is to take a look at the majority of teenagers to see that posture, in general, is in a slump.

Why is posture so important? Poor posture causes headaches, neck pain, and back pain, just for openers. And, since the back bone is (eventually) connected to the hip bones and knee bones, bad posture can create a lot of painful movement from your head to your toes.

Joe Donofrio, dean of clinical services at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, offers some great posture tips. Check them out at goupstate.com

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Technorati Tags: back pain, headaches, posture

New Exercise Facility for Wounded Warriors

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 23:29:39 +0000

A ribbon cutting just today marked the opening of a wounded warrior exercise facility here in Ventura County, and as an Oxnard chiropractor whose clinic is just across the street from the Naval Base, I couldn’t be more excited. I am a passionate advocate of health and fitness, and nothing could be more important for our injured military men and women than to have a state-of-the-art, “military-only” facility where they can rehab among their peers.

This facility was built as part of a national program called the Wounded Warrior Project. The Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme is one of the first bases to have a special place for injured military personnel to work out. It is encouraging, especially after the horrible medical treatment of the recent past, that the health and welfare of the men and women serving our country has become a priority throughout out country.

And, I am especially happy that Ventura County is among the first to have such a facility. I see our courageous Navy men and women every day at the market or jogging on the beach. Their camaraderie is almost palpable. I believe that those injured will heal more quickly if they are able to rehabilitate among their peers. The exercise facility will also have personal trainers on hand to help.

Physical fitness is vital for all human beings and it is exemplary that the Navy is creating a culture of fitness for all Navy personnel, including our wounded warriors.

For more information, log onto www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Technorati Tags: injured miliary, Navy, Wounded Woarrior Project

“Re-Inventing” Activity

author — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:18:41 +0000

If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know that as a chiropractor I am very concerned about excess weight and obesity when it comes to people’s health in general, and my patients’ health in particular, especially since I observe first hand every day the damaging effects to the musculoskeletal system that take place when a person carries around unneeded, and therefore unhealthy, poundage. The damage begins early and affects young and growing bones structures as well as those that are on the other end of the spectrum and aging. So, I was very happy, indeed, when I read today on nationalpost.com that U.S. schools and childcare programs could be required (by law!) to include daily exercise as part of the new National Physical Activity Plan released on Monday.

It is no secret, though still shocking, that two-thirds of adult Americans and one-third of children are either overweight or obese. Obviously, along with a poor diet, inactivity is taking its toll on the U.S. population. Most research shows that both adults and children absolutely need at least one hour of moderate physical activity a day to stay healthy and to keep from gaining weight. And, in addition, regular exercise helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and other cardio-vascular diseases. (Plus, regular exercise stimulates the brain and promotes learning!) The NPAP plan, along with changing medical school curricula and adding guidelines for doctors on counseling patients, local regulations will “encourage” the construction of sidewalks, playgrounds, and parks, and (hurray!) a return of organized exercise in schools.

Nancy Brown, Heart Association CEO, stated: “Unfortunately, nearly a quarter of the U.S. population does not participate in any physical activities.” It is vital to get our country back on track moving the human body as it was designed to move. And, it is important to start early by encouraging our children to be active once again, as children used to be before video games, computers, and 24-hour TV programs. Putting PE back into our children’s daily school activities will not only help them to get and stay healthy, it will help them to get and stay smarter, too!

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A Family That Plays Together…

author — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:03:38 +0000

As a chiropractor I am always interested in new studies that emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight and getting regular exercise. In addition to regular chiropractic care, I recommend a nutritious diet and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle whether my patients are children, adults, and seniors. There are enormous health benefits to staying active through the years and we, humans, can neither start too early nor quit too late. In fact, in my years as a chiropractor I have witnessed the positive results on the musculoskeletal system of my older patients who’ve stayed active and don’t carry around excess weight. Not only are they generally more healthy, but they seldom develop the arthritic changes that often accompanyboth a sedentary lifestyle and wear and tear on the joints from extra poundage.

Many organic diseases, in fact, might well be avoided through early exercise and weight maintenance. As a case in point, Cancer Researchers in the UK estimated that more than 19,000 cases of cancer could be prevented each year in the UK, alone, if everyone maintained a healthy body weight. And, they found that the amount of exercise children get is mainly influenced by their environment, especially their immediate family influences, but also their neighborhood and school environments. The researchers discovered that even though some children may inherit certain genes that make them naturally more likely to enjoy sports and exercise, environment is the most powerful factor in determining how active they actually are.

So, really, it all boils down to this: A family that plays together and weighs together, stays healthier together!

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