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What Does Science Say About Chiropractic Care

10 Benefits of Chiropractic Care Backed By Research

Chiropractic care is defined as restoring function and supporting the nervous system through adjustments. The purpose of chiropractic care is to eliminate or significantly reduce the need for medicinal drugs and surgeries so you can reach health goals, heal the body, and improve your quality of life.

What Does a Chiropractor Do?

Chiropractors value their role of being natural healers. This means that as chiropractors, we do not mask your injuries, conditions, or illnesses. Instead, we treat and prevent them. Additional duties of a chiropractor are to detect, eliminate, and make adjustments to your body and the source of pain.

What do science and research say about the use of chiropractic care?

Researchers have conducted many studies proving that chiropractic care positively impacts a person’s body and way of life. According to Hertzman-Miller et al. (2002), American Journal of Public Health, “Chiropractic patients were more satisfied with their back providers after four weeks of treatment than were medical patients.” According to a poll conducted, 77% of individuals who saw a chiropractor stated the treatment was very effective. Besides physical therapy, chiropractic care is considered to be very safe and very effective. [1]

Here are 10 benefits that are backed by research studies that are the result of chiropractic care

Treatment for Headaches

Research studies have proven that spinal manipulation can be used to treat migraine or tension headaches. A trial study was conducted where 72 percent of migraine sufferers felt their condition improved after chiropractic treatment. It is said that 9 out of 10 individuals suffer from various types of headaches, which means that almost 7 out of 9 people who suffer from migraines benefit from chiropractic care. The majority of them are caused by tension in the neck. [2]

Pain Reduction

Research studies have shown that individuals suffering from neck pain, lower back pain, spinal stenosis, herniations, and other types of pain benefit from chiropractic care. A study was performed on individuals that were candidates for surgery, where some received spinal manipulation treatment and others received the necessary surgeries. The improvement in both sets of individuals was the same.

Improvement in Your Quality of Life

The spine is considered to be “the root of the nervous system.” Therefore, when it is stressed, you feel it through your entire body. These stresses can come from poor nutrition, environmental stress, and physical stress. This can affect our emotional and psychological well-being, which affects our quality of life. Spinal manipulation alleviates this.

Decrease in Medication

Most individuals that suffer from pain and are treated by a medical doctor receive some form of medication. These painkillers have proven to be habit-forming and deadly. By working with a chiropractor, the need for the medication decreases, as the pain is addressed rather than masked by using pills. (4)

Help With Pediatric Stressors

The International Pediatric Association has stated that chiropractic care can help children with the stress placed on their limbs from growing. Chiropractic care can help improve your child’s overall health, including sleep, behavior, and immune system function.

Improvement in Athletic Performance

Athletes have the highest risk of injuries, causing issues that affect their range of motion, flexibility, and other biomechanics that can affect their performance. Through chiropractic care, athletes are able to focus on these areas and prevent these problems. This improves their performance and prevents injuries so that they can perform their best all season.

Mental and Emotional Improvements

Mental and emotional stress can be affected when a person is in pain. When the pain is relieved, emotional and mental stress is alleviated. Also, chiropractic adjustments activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to relax the body.

Illness and Injury Prevention

Chiropractic care is not just prevention for athletes; it is prevention for anyone from pain due to pinched nerves, carpal tunnel, or auto accidents. For example, individuals that work at a computer all day and do not practice ergonomically correct ways of setting up their desks or sitting in their chairs run the risk of joint pains, herniations, and slipped discs. Through the use of chiropractic care, these risks are addressed and reduced.

Increased Energy and Reduced Stress

When a person is stressed or in pain, it can be felt throughout the body. This causes muscle tension, and they tend to feel more fatigued. Through chiropractic care, the tension is relieved throughout the body, which increases energy and reduces stress. According to the National Institutes of Health, spinal manipulation was proven to be “effective for acute and subacute pain in the neck and lower back.”

Pregnancy

The International Pediatric Association recommends that women use chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy to help with labor and delivery. Research by Dr. Joan Fallon, DC, showed pregnant women who received chiropractic care from the tenth week of pregnancy through delivery showed decreased labor times. It helps relieve tension that builds up in various joints of the body, such as the hips, lower back, and sciatica.

How Our Adjustment Style is Unique and Different

The typical method used for a chiropractic adjustment is far from gentle. A lot of force is applied to the body by twisting different areas and popping or cracking joints. The adjustment style that we use here at our clinic in Littleton, CO, is unique, gentle, and versatile.

The adjusting technique that we use is the Koren Specific Technique (KST), which is combined with an FDA-approved adjusting device known as the Arthrostim. This form of chiropractic care is unique and different because it is gentle- without pulling, bending, twisting, or cracking.

Our style, KST, consists of three steps. The body is analyzed, the areas are checked for proper alignment, and any areas that are not in the correct position are adjusted and corrected. This is not only unique and different but a highly effective technique used in chiropractic care.

Conclusion

There has been a lot of quality research done about the benefits of chiropractic. The type of chiropractor as well as the chiropractic technique used can make a big difference in outcome. As a chiropractor located in Littleton, CO, specializing in KST and Arthrostim, we implement this technique in the care that we provide to patients of all ages experiencing various conditions, injuries, or changes in their bodies. This includes pregnant women, injured athletes, and children experiencing issues with their growth and development.

This is why you should visit our clinic in Littleton, CO. We provide you with care that is gentle and safe, not to mention it is unique from other types of chiropractic care that you will experience. Give us a call at 303-794-1737 to see if we can help!

November 18, 2020
Common Memory Issues and Natural Remedies to Fix Them

Did you know that many common memory issues can be helped with natural remedies?

The human brain’s capacity to remember things is almost limitless. So it’s extra frustrating when we forget. Around 40% of over 65’s experience some form of memory loss or impairment. In the United States alone, that’s over 16 million people. So what are these memory issues, and how can you fix them naturally? Read more to find out precisely what natural remedies work to help memory.

Common Memory Problems

There are many memory problems, from perfectly normal absentmindedness to age-related deterioration such as dementia.

Memory problems don’t just affect those of us in our later years, either.

Transience

Transience is the inability to remember facts or events as time passes. A memory that isn’t recalled or used regularly is most likely to be forgotten. Often you will forget information soon after you learn it.

Absentmindedness

Absentmindedness can be as much about your attention as it can your memory. If your mind is elsewhere, you can easily forget where you put things, why you’ve gone into a room, or to do tasks at certain times.

Blocking

Sometimes our brains block us from retrieving information. Often a similar memory is recalled, and we can’t move past it to find the correct one. For example, has someone ever asked you a question that you know the answer to, but you can’t quite seem to think of it?

Misattribution

Misattribution is remembering something only partially correct. Or thinking that it is an original thought when you read or saw it somewhere before.

Suggestion

Our memory is vulnerable to suggestions. Suggestion means that someone important in your life makes you think a certain way about some event. The way they make you feel about the event could be right or wrong.

Bias

Personal bias also affects our memories. It can subconsciously change our memory to make our perceptions and experiences more favorable.

Persistence

Persistence has the opposite effect, whereby you have a memory that you can’t forget. You see this effect in cases of trauma or depression.

Neurological Disorders

Unfortunately, many neurological disorders can cause memory loss or affect our ability to remember things accurately. These include Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumors, or stroke.

Fix Your Memory Issues with These Natural Remedies

The list above may seem alarming, and you might wonder how to fix memory issues. Luckily there are many things we can do naturally to improve our memory. You can do them at any age, and it will be beneficial.

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback tracks your brain’s activity and shows you specific frequencies on a monitor. It’s like playing a game or training your brain to improve cognitive performance.

Studies have shown it helps to improve memory, and it is something we practice at Dody Chiropractic. We combine neurofeedback with gentle chiropractic adjustments and medicine-based nutrition.

We even offer a no-cost evaluation with one of our trained doctors.

Improved Diet

A healthy diet has endless benefits for the body and the mind. You can improve your memory with a better diet. Anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants. These reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in our bodies. Research shows the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation can lower the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Less Sugar, Carbs, and Alcohol

Eating less added sugar is well known to be linked to multiple health issues. It’s also proven to increase memory functions and total brain volumes.

Refined carbohydrates like cakes, cereal, and white bread can also have damaging effects on our memories. Incidentally, these things also contain a lot of added sugar.

Studies have shown that diets high in refined carbs are linked to dementia and cognitive decline, and reduced function.

Alcohol has neurotoxic effects on our brains. Excessive drinking hurts not only our livers, but it can also damage the hippocampus, a vital part of the brain for memory.

More Antioxidants and Supplements

Cocoa also contains lots of antioxidants. Consume it in things like dark chocolate so that you get the most antioxidants and the least sugar from your sweet treat.

Curcumin is found in turmeric root and is a potent antioxidant. The fantastic thing about curcumin is it can help reduce oxidative damage and inflammation. This magical compound found in turmeric can also reduce the damage to cell and tissue death from amyloid plaques. These plaques are directly related to memory loss.

Everyone needs sufficient levels of Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids in their body. Supplements like Vitamin D and fish oils rich in omega-3 have long been known for their health benefits. These health benefits range from reducing the risk of heart disease, relieving stress, and slowing mental decline.

Omega-3 is especially useful to older people in memory improvement.

Lifestyle Changes for Improved Memory

Alongside improving our diet, we can make a host of lifestyle changes improve our overall health and memory. Most of them are fun and straightforward to fit into our daily routines.

Healthy Weights

By incorporating exercise and a healthy diet outlined above, you can maintain a healthy body weight. Excess weight can cause changes in the brain, which affect our memory functionality.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Not only do meditation and mindfulness reduce our stress levels, but they are also proven to lower our risk of age-related memory issues. Incorporating techniques and time for mediation into your day can have a considerable impact on your overall wellbeing.

Sleep and Socialising

Much like most of what we’ve talked about, getting enough sleep has a massive impact on your everyday wellbeing and functionality. Sleep deprivation hugely impacts memory, so don’t stay up too late!

Making time for your friends and laughing can also improve wellbeing and memory. Studies show there are cognitive benefits from enjoying ourselves and staying social. It also reduces stress, which is another factor in memory problems and declining cognitive function.

Chiropractors

Chiropractic has been shown to help the brain function better. How can that be? Well, researchers have proven that movement in your spine directly relates to how your brain processes information.

In other words, if you stuck joints in your spine, which chiropractors deal with daily, your brain can’t work as efficiently. When your brain does process information efficiently, it can show up as a reduction in reaction times, how you see things, and make sense of your environment. Brain processing also affects memory loss.

Conclusion for Helping Memory Issues with Natural Remedies

There are many memory issues that people struggle with daily. Fortunately, there are many natural ways to help fix many of the memory issues discussed in this article. Natural remedies not only safe but are also very effective in helping out memory.

We’ve covered a lot about what causes memory problems and how to fix memory issues with natural remedies. We would love to help you or a loved one improve their memory. We have several resources on our website. You can schedule an appointment online to speak with us about your memory or any other concerns.

November 5, 2020
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Jaw Pain

Did you know that chiropractic care is very effective at treating jaw pain such as TMD or TMJ?

Most people often associate chiropractors with treating neck and lower back pain and other forms of pain, too, i.e., joints, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage pain. Chiropractors have also been known to treat temporomandibular disorders (TMDS) or jaw pain. Let’s find out more about how chirpractic care can help jaw pain.

What are TMDs?

TMDs are problems that develop when the upper and lower jaws are not aligned properly. The disorder often happens when the jaw muscles and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connect the lower jaw to the skull’s temporal bone, become misaligned.

TMD symptoms include discomfort, feeling pain while chewing, limited ability to open your mouth wide, feeling tired in the face area muscles, and swelling on the side of the face. The disorder is common between the ages of 20 to 40 years.

Causes of temporomandibular disorders

TMDs come about when:

* You dislocate the disc between the ball and socket in your jaw
* You grind or clench down on your teeth
* Your stress which may cause you to tighten your facial muscles
* You develop rheumatoid arthritis in your temporomandibular joints

How can TMDs be treated using the Koren Specific Technique?

At our Littleton, CO chiropractic clinic, the primary treatment for temporomandibular disorders is the Koren specific technique. Specialists using the Koren specific technique, or KST, use their hands to assess for adjustments. They then use a device known as the ArthroStim to make adjustments to the affected area.

The KST method works by “asking the body” what needs to be adjusted. If, in this case, you need your jaw fixed, then the specialist will use an ArtrhoStim to make the necessary adjustments to your jaw.

With KST, you need not be worried about manual adjustments and cracking of bones. The whole process is very simple and straightforward. The ArthroStim device is approved by the FDA and is used to accurately help re-align the misaligned segments to help restore proper functionality and relieve pain.

Can chiropractic care help TMJ?

Research conducted by Steven Pavia DC, Rebecca Fischer DC, and Richard Roy DC, Ph.D. on “Chiropractic Treatment of Temporomandibular Dysfunction”, concluded that patients suffering from this condition showed a reduction in their temporomandibular dysfunction when adding treatment to the jaw muscles.

What are the benefits of treating TMDs using the KST?

TMD treatments are very beneficial to your health since they offer relief from your chronic pain and discomfort, allowing you to do tasks that were hard for you to do before. Here are the benefits you’ll enjoy after treating your temporomandibular disorder using the Koren specific technique.

Alleviating your chronic discomfort

TMD affects a whole lot of other muscles apart from your jaw muscles. It can cause you to experience chronic headaches, neck and shoulder pain, upper back pain, and stiffness in your neck. The Koren specific technique helps alleviate chronic pain making your entire body to function better.

Reduce the risk of dental damages

Bruxism (chronic teeth grinding) is one of the primary factors that lead to TMD, while on the other hand, TMD could also cause bruxism. Bruxism can lead to dental erosion and cracked teeth. Treating one or both of these conditions can help you get a better smile and healthy teeth.

Get to enjoy your meals again

If you’re having a hard time enjoying your favorite meals because of chronic pain in your jaw, then you should try the KST treatment. TMD can significantly limit the types of food you eat, which could lead to malnutrition.

Treating this disorder is excellent for you since it can help you eat a full range of foods, keeping you healthy.

KST can help alleviate your tinnitus

Severe TMD cases can cause you to have tinnitus, a chronic ringing in your ears. Extreme cases of tinnitus can make it difficult for you to hear or sleep. Scientists haven’t found the link between TMD and tinnitus. However, results have shown that tinnitus can help alleviate your tinnitus.

Better moods and quality of life

TMD cases can take a massive toll on your life, your emotions, and your well-being. Constant chronic fatigue and pain can significantly affect your emotions and make you feel moody all the time. Treating your TMD disorder will help alleviate your pain and enable you to enjoy significant relief.

Conclusion of How Chiropractic Can Help TMJ

If you are looking for a chiropractor in Littleton CO that can help with your jaw pain, then you have found the right clinic. The Koren specific technique can be a great way to alleviate your chronic pain and let you live a great life. The KST procedure is non-invasive, which makes it a great option when compared to other treatment methods. To find out how KST chiropractic care can help your jaw pain, schedule an appointment today.

November 2, 2020
Littleton Chiropractor Talks About Sciatica
Sciatica is one of the most common types of pain- 40% of the entire population will experience it at least once in their lifetime! Factors like age, obesity, health conditions such as diabetes, and prolonged sitting can make the pain feel worse.

Suppose you have been dealing with sciatica for quite a long time. Maybe you don’t want to take painkillers or undergo surgery. In these cases, you should consider the non-invasive alternative of chiropractic in Littleton, CO. Gentle, specific chiropractic care can get to the underlying problem with sciatica.

Sciatica refers to the pain that goes along the sciatic nerve’s path and radiates from your lower back to your hips and buttocks and down your leg. It usually affects only one side of the body.

These symptoms may mean you have sciatica:
- If you have pain in your lower back
- The pain also shoots down one side of the back of your legs.
- The problem feels worse when you sit or stand, and improves when you are laying down.
- The characteristic of the pain is burning or tingling.
- You feel weakness in the affected leg or an electric shock down the leg.
Chiropractic Care For Sciatica in Littleton CO

Chiropractic care can help your body heal with non-invasive, drug-free treatment options, and provide some relief for Sciatica pain. Our gentle treatment will improve your symptoms while decreasing your reliance on painkillers and reducing the side effects. Here’s how our team can help you improve your quality of life.

Provide a Proper Diagnosis

Even if you have all the signs and symptoms of sciatica, you need to wait until a healthcare professional diagnoses your condition and determines its cause.

Our chiropractor will review your medical history and perform an exhaustive physical and neurological examination to create the diagnosis. We use state-of-the-art nervous system scans that help us pinpoint the underlying cause of the problem. Then, we will determine which treatment option is the best for you.

Our service is based on gentle chiropractic care, and these are some of the treatment options we offer:

Heat and Cold Therapy

Heat and cold therapy can help to promote the healing process. Ice works to decrease swelling and inflammation, while heat improves flexibility. When both are combined, they will relax your muscle and joints and reduce inflammation, which will produce better results in repairing damaged tissue. The chiropractor will decide whether to use heat or cold or both to provide the best results.

Red Light Therapy

It involves using a medical-grade red light therapy device that emits specific red light wavelengths to promote healing on a cellular level. It increases blood flow in the treated area, reduces pain and inflammation, and reduces the tissue’s healing time.

Massage Chairs

Our patients find relief using our specialized massage chairs. They are specifically designed to provide a relaxing stimulation in the deep tissue.

Since patients with sciatica deal with back and leg pain, standard massage chairs can not target a person’s legs. Our clinic uses an innovative model that will provide additional benefits to the traditional massage technique and give you a wonderful therapeutic experience.

The benefits you will experience by using the massage chair depends on the underlying cause of sciatica. Muscular pain conditions respond better than spinal conditions like spinal osteoarthritis.

Specific Exercises

The chiropractic doctor will recommend exercises that you can perform to relieve the pain and get rid of sciatica. Without proper training, the spinal structure and back muscles become deconditioned and worsen the problem. The chiropractor will help you perform the exercise to release the pressure that comes from tight muscles. Active movement is essential for the health of the spinal discs.

KST Adjustment

This technique is what makes us unique and different. It is an innovative chiropractic adjustment technique that uses an adjusting device called an ArthroStim. Using the ArthroStim, our chiropractor can provide a precise adjustment without twisting, cracking, or popping. This technique provides immediate results for the affected areas, stimulates your body’s healing power, and it works for patients of all ages.

Change of Habits

Care of sciatica has to be part of your daily life and not just something you do twice a week. The chiropractor will help you have a proper posture and minimize daily stress on your lower back. This instruction will include learning how to sit, stand, and lift appropriately without putting too much pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Gentle Chiropractic Care in Littleton CO

A long time patient came into our Littleton chiropractic clinic with severe sciatic pain. He was in so much pain we had to help him into the clinic from his car. After gingerly getting him into the office, he explained he had a major flair up after lifting a heavy object.

After just a few visits, he was able to walk normally, and his pain reduced significantly. We continued to treat him to make sure that the healing process was complete. He no longer has sciatic pain and is so grateful that he addressed the issue’s underlying cause.

At our clinic, we have treated many patients who have had trouble walking in the door due to extreme pain. Then, after treatment, they walk out with significant improvements. Chiropractic can be a powerful and effective treatment for sciatica. Don’t live with pain- find out how we can help and improve your quality of life!
October 26, 2020
How To Prevent Falls in Littleton CO

One of the scariest events that can happen to older adults is falling. As a chiropractor, I see people coming into my Littleton, CO chiropractic office after suffering injuries from falling. Knowing how to prevent falls as you age can save your life. Keep reading for some simple ways to keep yourself upright and healthy.

Did you know that more than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling? Hip fractures significantly increase your chance of death. Statistics show that 1 in 3 adults over the age of fifty dies within twelve months of a hip fracture.

This mortality rate is a scary statistic, especially when we know that nearly 30% of adults over the age of sixty-five fall every year. What can you do to keep yourself from falling as you age?

Six Ways to Prevent Falls

Physically Active-

We know that motion is life. Regular exercise is critical in keeping yourself healthy and balanced. Strong muscles keep you upright. Strength training keeps tendons, ligaments, and joints pliable.

Have Your Eyes and Hearing Tested-

Your sight and hearing play a significant role in balance and coordination. Ensuring that you are up to date on your eye and hearing exams will help these senses work optimally. Even small changes in eyesight or hearing may lead to falls.

Stand Up Slowly-

When you stand up too fast, it can cause reduced blood to your brain, causing you to feel light-headed. This feeling is due to a drop in blood pressure when standing quickly. Make sure to get your blood pressure checked, both standing and lying down.

Wear Shoes That Support Your Feet-

You want to wear shoes that have a good solid base and support around your foot. Your shoe’s soles can not be too thick or thin. Your shoes should give your feet support. Also, be very careful with slippers or other slip-on shoes with smooth soles; these types of shoes can be fall hazards. One more quick note, socks on stairs or hardwood floors are also hazardous.

Keep Your Bones Strong-

Making sure you have the building blocks to repair and grow strong bones is critical. You need to get enough calcium and vitamin D to keep your bones strong and healthy. Other ways that may decrease bone density is smoking or drinking too much alcohol. Limit the use of these substances will reduce the chance of bone loss and fractures.

Keep Your Spine Aligned-

Chiropractic care can not only help keep proper motion in your spine, but it will also keep your nervous system connected. Your nervous system controls your balance. Gentle, specific chiropractic adjustment help optimize your nerve system function. Keep your spine aligned, and you will feel fine, and it will keep you from falling.

Conclusion on how to prevent falls-

Falling can be deadly, especially as you get older. To prevent falls, exercise to stay strong, keep your eyes and ears healthy, don’t stand up too quickly, wear supportive footwear, eat well for bone density, and get adjusted. All of these ideas will help you stay upright and well.

October 22, 2020
Are You Choosing a Safe Multivitamin?

Are you choosing a safe multivitamin? We rely on multivitamins and other supplements to provide nutrients that we are not getting from our diets, so choosing the right multivitamin is incredibly important.

The overflowing supplement shelves in supermarkets and health food stores do not make this task any easier. These supplements are often generic vitamins that don’t offer much nutritional value and are not very high quality. This problem makes it even more important to choose a high-quality vitamin and know how it is processed.

How Does Your Multivitamin Stack Up?

Learning how to choose the right and safe multivitamin for you can involve some work and research. First, you should look at the ingredients in the vitamin you are considering…but do you know what to look for? By glancing at all the labels on the vitamins, many can look the same. However, the vitamins you find at the supermarket and health food stores often use cheap, synthetic ingredients that are not absorbed by the body very well and are usually stuffed with fillers that do nothing for your health. At best, these ingredients lack nutritional value and, at worst, are harmful to your health!

You may think picking up supplements at a pharmacy or bix-box store would get you a good quality supplement. Think again! These, too, are usually filled with cheap ingredients, fillers, and sometimes even artificial ingredients. These will not deliver high-quality, bioavailable vitamins to your body.

Quality Matters In Safe Multivitamins

Different vitamins have different formulations and are complex chemical compounds and minerals. High-quality vitamins are those that include micronutrients that are effective and bioavailable. Figuring out the quality of vitamins usually involves some research and maybe even some digging. It consists of looking at the raw ingredients, where the ingredients are sourced, and how they are processed. You should also learn a bit about the company that makes the vitamins and their standards. These things all make a big difference when it comes to finding a quality and safe multivitamin.

It can take a lot of time and effort to go through all this information, as usually, it is not easily found on the bottle or the company’s website. Let us help you with this! We have already done all the digging and vetting for the company we recommend, Xymogen. Xymogen’s ActivNutrients is their multivitamin that we recommend. We also include some of the things to look for, specifically when you choose a vitamin.

Vitamin B12

Avoid Cyanocobalamin: This is a synthetic form of Vitamin B12 and made from cyanide! Many manufacturers use it because it is cheap, but it is also poorly absorbed.

To read more about Vitamin B12 and Cyanocobalamin, check out Why Do Vitamin B12 Supplements Contain Cyanide?

Look For Methylcobalamin: This form is not made with cyanide and is better absorbed, especially if you have an MTHFR gene mutation.

Folate (Vitamin B9)

Avoid Folic Acid: This form is not absorbed well. In addition, many people have the MTHFR gene mutation, which prevents an enzyme from working. This enzyme is needed to break down this vitamin properly.

Look For Methylfolate (5-methyltetrahydrofolate): This is absorbed by the body well, even for those with the MTHFR gene mutation.

Magnesium

Avoid: Some multivitamins do contain magnesium; however, not enough. This is because magnesium is bulky, so adding the correct dosage to the vitamin would make it too big. For this reason, it is best to supplement with magnesium separately.

Look For Chelated Magnesium: This form is bioavailable. Magnesium has many, many benefits in the body, and most people are deficient.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Avoid: This should not be included in your multivitamin. It is best to take this separately. Many fish oils contain heavy metals and pesticides. Furthermore, some are hard to digest, giving you a “fishy” aftertaste/breath.

Look For: A high-quality fish oil with responsible and clean sourcing without the toxins the cheap brands have. Look for a product that is easily and fully absorbed. Omega MonoPure has been proven in tests to be 3x more absorbable and is a very well-sourced and clean product.

Conclusion of Choosing a Safe Multivitamin

These are some tips and tricks to help you find a safe multivitamin and generally the best supplements. Taking high-quality supplements that are well formulated makes a huge difference!

If you don’t want to go through all the time and trouble to vet the supplements yourself, don’t worry! We have already done a deep dive into Xymogen’s products and have found that they meet the highest standards. In addition, they have very synergistic formulas and patented formulas you won’t find anywhere else. All of their products are highly bioavailable and are processed carefully, preserving their potency. You can check out their products here.

If you have any questions or would like to find a personalized supplement program for you, please give us a call at 303-794-1737 or schedule an appointment here.

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October 21, 2020
Was The Lockdown Worth It

Was the lockdown worth it? Now that we are six months into Covid-19, what does the data say about how we handled this pandemic? If you remember way back in April when Governor Polis issued the statewide “Stay at Home” mandate.

What was the goal of this mandate? It was to flatten the curve and not overwhelm the medical system with cases.

Experts said flattening the curve would not change the number of deaths in the United States. It would just slow the severe cases enough not to overwhelm hospitals. That means that the area under the curve is the same no matter what we did to lockdown.

In July, our Governor decided to issue a statewide mask mandate even though the CDC reported that in a meta-analysis, the evidence was minimal at best that masks prevent the spread of a virus.

The only way I could objectively look at the lockdown and masking mandates’ effectiveness is to compare a country that didn’t do strict lockdown or have any mask mandates at all. In this article and video, we are comparing the United States to Sweden.

Before we jump into the comparison, we need to look at a few ideas that have been a part of epidemiology for a long time. In the 1800s, there was a prominent epidemiologist named William Farr. He proved that epidemic infections follow a standard bell curve distribution. This means that infections will spike, and then after some lag time, deaths from that infection will spike at a lesser level. This idea is known as Farr’s law and is well established in the field of epidemiology.

Dr. Farr also stated that the only data that is a fact is deaths. All other data is just inference. This means that we can only guess how infectious the virus is and how it will affect an individual. Even in our modern times, we don’t test every individual every time we have an epidemic. It is hard to know how virulent a specific germ is when you don’t know how many people have caught the bug but did not show any symptoms.

Another doctor who spent years looking into epidemic influenza was R.E. Hope-Simpson. He wrote a paper talking about flu seasonality, like the current coronavirus. He hypothesized in his article, “The role of season in the epidemiology of influenza” that flu viruses affect more people during fall/winter and less during summer months.

Understanding Farr’s Law and the flu seasonality will help explain what we see when comparing the US to Sweden. In the graphs, you will see how it follows Farr’s Law and Hope-Simpson’s diagrams.

At the time of the interview I did with Dr. Scott Hourigan, the US had 621 deaths per 1 million people. That number is increasing weekly. Sweden, on the other hand, had 581 deaths per 1 million people. Sweden’s number has been relatively steady, only increasing by 1 or 2 every few weeks.

Here is what you need to know, the US did significant lockdowns and mask mandates, and some states are still observing those mandates. The US shut down schools, events, and a lot of businesses.

Sweden, on the other hand, recommended social distancing and voluntary reduction of the capacity of businesses. They only sent home the high school and college-aged students. All younger students stayed in school and are currently still attending school. They had no mask mandates, and most Swedes did not wear masks.

With the significant difference in approaches, you can see that the deaths are about the same. However, the US sees more deaths at this point than Sweden is when averaged to population size.

And if we look at this logically, the essential workers in the United States, such as grocery stores, hardware stores, and healthcare workers, did not see spikes in deaths. How can a grocery store worker who works indoors and is exposed to hundreds, if not thousands of people, when they work not see a spike in severe cases or deaths from this virus? It just doesn’t make sense.

We know the US and worldwide lockdowns had a significant impact on economies and mental health of the citizens subjected to the lockdowns. In the US, the CDC reported a 41% increase in mental health issues. There was a rise in suicides, domestic violence, and health problems related to addiction and other mental health issues.

As far as the economy goes, there is a great website called Clever Maps that shows how this pandemic affected the economy. According to the World Bank, the US had a 17.6% economic loss compared to Sweden’s 8.3% loss. The whole world’s economy was affected by this pandemic, but as you can see, Sweden to much less of a hit than the US who mandated lockdowns.

So was it worth doing the lockdowns in the US? Some will argue that it prevented a lot of deaths. But as we stated earlier, even the experts said lockdowns wouldn’t reduce the area under the curve, meaning deaths. It will only flatten the curve. There were and are a lot of economic and mental health issues directly related to the lockdown.

Sweden handled things differently and didn’t have as severe consequences when looking at their economy and mental health issues. Maybe allowing this virus to run its natural course would have been a better option in the US as well.

I guess only time will tell. This much we do know human-made solutions will never stop a virus from spreading. It will only lengthen the time of its spread and have other unintended consequences.

October 20, 2020
A Guide on How to Decrease Anxiety in High Stress Times
In these abnormal times, the majority of people can’t help feeling a degree of anxiety. The conditions now require that we coop ourselves inside our homes most of the time, which takes a toll on our mental state. The future is uncertain, and folks don’t like it when they can’t clearly anticipate what’s in store for them and their family. But there are some activities and methods that you have control over, and you can immediately execute to help yourself in the middle of turbulence. Read more to find out how to decrease anxiety in high-stress times.

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR YOURSELF TO DECREASE ANXIETY?

We know that decreasing your anxiety especially in high-stress times is needed for your health. Set aside some “Me time” every day to transcend all the anxiety you have been feeling lately. Here are some ideas you can use today to help reduce stress and anxiety.

Box Breathing Method

Breathing is always a tried and true method, try the proven Box Breathing Method. You can do this in the comfort of your home.
1. While closing your eyes, breathe in through your nose and, at the same time, slowly count to 4. You can feel the air entering your lungs.
2. After counting to 4, hold your breath. Don’t clamp your nose or mouth shut. Hold your breath for 4 seconds.
3. Then slowly exhale for 4 seconds.
4. Again hold your breath after exhaling for 4 seconds.
5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 at least three times, and ideally, this breathing should be repeated for 4 minutes or until a feeling of calm envelopes you.
If you don’t have 4 minutes, even one round can help.

Media Break

You can also take a media break. It helps to reduce or even eliminate the buzz of news and social media. When you cut this type of media out of your life it helps. You will realize that they are triggers of your anxiety.

Another simple and easy way to reduce stress and anxiety is always to be hydrated. Hydration with water and no sugary drinks. Also, eat only healthy food. It is amazing how something as simple as drinking adequate amounts of water daily can help all body functions. Add in getting sufficient sleep, and you will be surprised at how much your anxiety and stress will diminish.

If you want to find out more about specific supplements that boost immune system function, check out this article- HOW TO KEEP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTHY DURING CHALLENGING TIMES

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU TO HELP ANXIETY?

The DIY methods above are things you can do to decrease anxiety in high-stress times. Please share this with your loved ones in these stressful times. But how about blending them in with proven effective scientific and medical procedures. These procedures can apply to you through physical, electronic, and physiological means. They can get you back on track to everyday life by alleviating your anxiety with tested methods:

CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS

We are thrilled when patients happily share with us that their anxiety level has significantly decreased after adjusting their spine. Reconnecting your nervous system helps greatly. Do you know that when your spinal column is functioning and moving at an optimal level, nerve impulses flow seamlessly and speedily through its communication paths? When your spinal vertebrae are misaligned, your spine cannot move through its full range of motion, causing overstimulation, which is when anxiety is triggered. Research shows that chiropractic adjustments can reduce muscle activity and relax a person. How good will you feel when your nervous system is functioning optimally due to periodic chiropractic adjustments? You will find our chiropractic techniques are distinctively different, unique, and very gentle.

NEUROFEEDBACK

It is also known as EEG (electroencephalogram) biofeedback. It is an electronic therapeutic intervention that gives you immediate data from computer software that evaluates a patient’s brainwave activity. We can read problems with brainwave irregularity. They are numerous, and they include anything within the anxiety and depression spectrum, behavior disorders, sleep disorders, attention deficiency, migraines and headaches, emotional disturbance, and PMS. We then use visual or sound signals to realign or reprogram these brain signals. This method has been effective in lowering anxiety levels dramatically in a lot of patients, especially during high-stress times.

FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION

We know what you put into your body affects what happens in your body. What happens includes your mental/emotional health. Functional nutrition is our personalized method of making you reach optimal health and fitness level based on your personal and historical genetics, laboratory results, lifestyle, and many more relevant data. We provide you with customized nutritional recommendations, according to lab work. The bloodwork assesses your nutrition needs and proposes changes that you need to alter in the way you live your life. However, to work, functional nutrition requires you to be a reliable partner who follows our recommendations so that your anxiety and worries will go away.

CONCLUSION TO DECREASE ANXIETY IN HIGH-STRESS TIMES

There are many things you can do to decrease your anxiety in high-stress times. Your anxiety is either based on reality or could a self-fulling prophecy. Either way, it disturbs your usual way of life and distracts you from proceeding day to day and being productive to your maximum potential.

We have discussed a potent blend of DIY methods that you can manage to do yourself in your home’s comfort. And the professional assistance that our chiropractic, neurofeedback, and functional nutrition services can do to alleviate and eventually eliminate your anxiety issues.

Give us a call, and we can work out a program that’s right for you. Take action. It might just be the most significant and wisest decision you have made in your life!
October 20, 2020
7 Things to Consider when Choosing a Family Chiropractor
Have you ever felt like you lack the energy or fitness to complete your day, even when it seems like your body is perfectly healthy? The problem might lie in your spine and nervous system. That is why it is so important to choose the right chiropractor for your family.

Remember that everything starts with the top, your mind, and the brain. Your brain has to send energy down your spinal cord and out the nerves to every tissue and organ in your body for you to be happy and healthy.

When restrictions are impeding this flow, it’s time to call a family chiropractor to get things aligned again.

What Is a Chiropractor?

Chiropractic care helps with your nervous system function along with the musculoskeletal system. This system includes our bones, tendons, cartilages, muscles, and joints. This includes your spine!

Your spine has two primary functions: 1. Protects your spinal cord, and 2. keeps you upright. We know that keeping you upright is your posture. Protecting your spinal cord helps protect the nerves that go to your organs and gives you mobility.

If you suffer from issues concerning this system, you may need chiropractic care. They can gently adjust your spine to help relieve pain. Most chiropractors focus on adjusting and realigning the spine and joints.

Many may also do deep tissue work, targeting the muscles and tendons. Chiropractic care is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment. It is one element that can help improve a patient’s overall health.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

With this form of physical care, you get a personalized treatment. Professionals assess a patient’s condition before recommending a plan to help their conditions. Because every patient is an individual, each patient receives different treatments with every visit.

Chiropractic care is also non-invasive. There is a lower risk of issues compared to more invasive treatments like surgery. Many studies show that chiropractic care is less likely to cause long-term side effects.

Finally, many patients feel immediate relief after an appointment. This form of care helps to lift pressure from muscles and nerves. It can help with chronic pain, mobility, and coordination.

Check the Credentials

Chiropractic care is a professional form of health care. Before booking an appointment, check your provider’s credentials. Proper licensure is an essential factor when choosing a family chiropractor.

A license is proof of professional training, skills, and experience. Check for the medical school, training hospitals, and certification. Ensure that your chiropractor has no history of malpractice or disciplinary actions.

Most providers have websites. Check their information to see if this is the right clinic for you. You may list down questions to ask for when you book your first appointment.

Ask For Referrals

Ask your doctor for a referral to a good clinic. You can also ask for recommendations from friends and family. Getting feedback from a trusted figure helps you assess your options.

Consider checking reviews online when looking for a good chiropractic clinic. You may find reviews and get insight into a clinic by searching it on Google. Make sure you choose a clinic that you can trust with your health and wellness.

Determine Their Experience

It’s crucial to determine a chiropractor’s experience before booking an appointment. A more skilled chiropractor can give you a better chiropractic experience. A good chiropractor can provide you with effective treatment.

A good chiropractor must have all the necessary skills in giving different treatment techniques. When choosing a chiropractor, they must also have good communication skills. Getting all the information enables them to understand the needs of a patient.

Each body has its own needs and approaches. A proper plan follows after good communication. A chiropractor must be able to provide the necessary information to their patient.

Find Out If They Offer Other Forms Of Therapy

Some clinics may offer other complementary treatments. These treatments may include nutrition, massage, and neurofeedback. Having all of these available in one spot can save you time and stress.

These therapies combined can help you achieve overall health. If your treatment plan includes additional therapy, your clinic can provide it for you. It may give you some peace of mind knowing that you have many options.

Check With Your Insurance

Your insurance coverage is a practical step in choosing the best family chiropractor. You may need to choose a chiropractor who can participate in your plan. This allows you to enjoy your insurance benefits and pay less.

Insurance coverage may vary per situation. Most plans only cover acute and short-term conditions. If you’re concerned with a long-term condition, consult your insurance provider.

Most insurance companies can provide initial payment for rehabilitation. But many providers do not support maintenance or wellness treatments.

Ask About Their Health Beliefs

Choose a chiropractor whose philosophy aligns with yours. Many clinics have their own technique and approach to their patients’ problems. Many parents prefer natural treatment over antibiotics for their children.

Your clinic may be results-driven. Looking at your body’s overall function means they want to see improvement over time instead of temporary relief. Other clinics take a more pain based approach.

Choose a clinic that can live up to your expectations and alignment. Having the same health beliefs will allow you to have more open communication with your provider.

Ask About Their Rates

Find out service fees before booking an appointment. Health insurance may give you a breakdown of your costs. If you prefer paying with cash, ask how much each visit will be.

Ask if your chiropractor works with an attorney on a lien basis. This ensures that you won’t be responsible for the bills. Your chiropractor may be able to help you come up with a plan suitable to your budget.

Here are some other things to consider when choosing a family chiropractor:
- - Are they friendly and courteous?
  - Do you feel comfortable talking with them?
  - Do they answer questions fully?
  - Do they give enough information about a patient’s condition and symptoms?
  - How long have they been practicing chiropractic?
  - How often must you come to the clinic?
Some practitioners have post-graduate programs in different specialties. Such include sports medicine, rehab, neurology, nutrition, and orthopedics.

Get the Best Family Chiropractor Today!

Now you know what to consider when choosing a family chiropractor. Don’t hesitate to follow this guide step-by-step when evaluating your options.

Are you looking for a good chiropractor near you?

Fortunately, you don’t have to look far and wide for a clinic that can satisfy all of these pillars. We’re here to help! Contact us today and book your first appointment with us!
October 20, 2020
Brain Health During Stressful Times
How Do You Care For Your Brain During Stressful Times?

Times are stressful. When the pandemic hit, many people started to look at the health of their lungs, heart, and immune system. The reality is that there is no better time to look at and improve your health than right now! However, most people have failed to think of their brain health during this time.

How does a pandemic affect our brains? How can we protect our minds against damage? What are some things we can do to protect our mental and cognitive health?

It has been known for a long time that one’s mental health suffers in times of high stress. Mental health issues are no surprise since the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a spike in anxiety and depression. Over 34% of Americans are now experiencing these symptoms, according to a survey from May 2020! There is already an epidemic of mental illness globally, and now the pandemic is causing it to spike even more.

We also know that when we are under stress, our thinking can be compromised. When we have high-stress levels over long periods, it can damage our brains and cause us to make bad choices.

But do not fret! The good news is that we can improve our brain health! If we take a few easy steps to improve our brain health, we may lower our risk of damage and reduce our chances of developing long-term health issues.

Why Have a Healthy Brain?

We ultimately want a healthy and resilient brain. Resiliency allows us to handle a variety of different stresses and challenges and still be strong. This helps us to make good choices under pressure and fight off symptoms of anxiety and depression. Food is one of the best ways to build a brain that can do this.

To create a healthy and resilient brain, we have to look at ways to increase our defenses against environmental challenges. Our brains are mostly made up of fats. Omega 3 fatty acids are an essential part of your brain because they may help fight oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is increased when we are under a lot of psychological strain like we are during the pandemic. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in foods such as mackerel, sardines, salmon, and anchovies. You can also use a high-quality supplement like this one.

Another great option is polyphenols. These are natural chemicals made by plants. Polyphenols are thought to help protect our brain against toxins. Foods that are high in polyphenols include berries, grapes, green tea, and dark chocolate. You can also supplement to make sure you are getting enough.

The last thing that makes a big difference is to reduce or eliminate processed foods. Anything with added sugars or refined carbohydrates degrades our brain.

Neurofeedback For Brain Health

Neurofeedback addresses problems with brain dysregulation, which happen to be numerous. If you think about it, the brain and central nervous system work together to control and coordinate EVERYTHING in our bodies. Neurofeedback works by balancing the brain into a more appropriate brain wave pattern.

As previously mentioned, during and after a pandemic, it is shown that levels of depression and anxiety skyrocket. These are unhealthy brainwave patterns. Luckily, neurofeedback helps balance unhealthy brainwave patterns into healthy habits, reducing or eliminating feelings of depression and anxiety. This is a great drug-free option for those who are suffering. Neurofeedback helps reduce stress in the brain and gives you a better sense of calm and focus.

If you or a loved one suffers from too much stress, anxiety, or depression, schedule a FREE consultation to see if neurofeedback could help!

Stress Reduction

A little stress is good, but high and chronic levels damage our health- physically and mentally. De-stressing is easier said than done, but here are a few things you can do to protect your body and brain against stress. These are great anytime, but especially during a pandemic.

First, take a look at your schedule and how you are spending your time. Cut out as many unnecessary times of stress as possible. Think about the activities you give your time to and how they make you feel. For many people, much of the psychological stress they experience comes from watching the news. While it is great to be informed, ask yourself if it is worth the stress your body goes through and the fear generated? Unfortunately, a lot of what is aired on television has been designed to create fear and anxiety in our brains. This fear causes a stress response within us, overflowing our bodies with cortisol and other chemicals that degrade our brain health. If you don’t feel like you can eliminate this, try to reduce your time watching the news or setting a time limit.

Another great tactic is to use ways that help decrease stress. Reducing stress might be different for each person, but some great things to try are meditation, mindfulness, or walking in nature. Moderate exercise also works well for some people. The best way to start is to pick a method and try it for a few days and pay attention to how you feel. Then, try another approach and compare and pay attention to how you feel. Try taking some deep breaths throughout the day.

Necessary Maintenance For A Healthy Brain

Our brains do a lot of work and, therefore, require a lot of energy. Because of all the work that the brain does, it has a lot of metabolic waste. It is essential to clear this waste out of the body, and there are a couple of good ways to do this, besides doing an actual detox.

Exercise

The first way to help the brain get rid of metabolic waste is to exercise. Everyone knows that exercise is good for general body health, but it is helpful for brain health. Blood flow and oxygen are increased in parts of the brain during intense physical activity. One area that appears to benefit is the prefrontal cortex. This brain area is critical to good decision-making and plays a central role in mental health.

BDNF or brain-derived neurotrophic factor, has been shown to increase during exercise. BDNF is a protein that helps the brain learn and adapt to different environments. As a goal, try to get a 30-minute workout of moderate intensity each day.

Sleep

Many people struggle with getting the right amount of sleep or high-quality sleep. This is very important for brain health. Poor sleep has been linked to many health issues, such as cardiovascular disease and poor immune function. Poor sleep also puts you at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease as well as mental health issues.

Getting the right amount of high-quality sleep is one of the easiest ways to improve your wellbeing. Rest is a time for your brain to detox and reset, help you make better decisions, improve mental health, and provide psychological strength to help with the stressors in life. It is not always easy to get good, high-quality sleep, but here are some tips to help you:
- Eliminate caffeine after 12 pm
- Reduce blue light exposure (especially screens) one hour before going to bed
- Take a hot bath or shower before bed
- Read something relaxing
- Keep your cell phone outside your bedroom
- Turn your room temperature to 65-70 degrees during the night
Keeping a healthy brain is an everyday challenge, and the challenge increases during a pandemic. However, you have many options that will help your brain’s health, including eating healthy, getting adequate sleep, neurofeedback, exercise, and stress reduction. If you are concerned about your brain’s health or someone you know, please give us a call at 303-794-1737.
September 11, 2020