Healthy Life Newsletter January 2020

From Orthomolecular Medical News Service 
By Andrew W. Saul

Vitamins didn't kill anyone!

(OMNS December 16, 2019) The 36th annual report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers shows zero deaths from any vitamin. Supporting data is in Table 22B, p 1412-1413, at the very end of the report published in Clinical Toxicology. [1] It is interesting that it is so quietly placed way back there where nary a news reporter is likely to see it.
 

But wait, there's more:

  • The AAPCC report shows no deaths from any dietary mineral supplement.
  • There were no fatalities from amino acids, creatine, blue-green algae, glucosamine, or chondroitin.
  • There were no deaths from herbs. This means no deaths at all from blue cohosh, echinacea, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, kava kava, St. John's wort, valerian, yohimbe, ma huang/ephedra, guarana, kola nut, or yerba mate. And, there were no deaths from energy drinks. While the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service considers a number of these items to be improperly classified as dietary supplements, they are nonetheless specified by AAPCC as causing zero fatalities.
  • There were no deaths from any homeopathic remedy, Asian medicine, Hispanic medicine, or Ayurvedic medicine. None.

On page 1407, a single death is attributed to an "Unknown Cultural MedicinHHe" and five fatalities are alleged to have been caused by some "Unknown Dietary Supplements or Homeopathic Agents." The obvious uncertainly of such listings diminishes any claim of validity. Something caused those six deaths, but investigators simply have no idea what it was. So they blame a supplement or natural remedy. It is a bit like a homicide detective telling a judge that murders were committed by either a man, or a woman, or an animal, using perhaps a knife, gun or claws. Few magistrates would issue warrants accordingly.

 

Throughout the entire year, coast to coast across the entire USA, there was not one single death from a vitamin, mineral or any other nutritional supplement. If supplements are allegedly so "dangerous," as the FDA, the news media, and even some physicians still claim, then where are the bodies?

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https://handsdownbetter.org/what-research-shows-about-chiropractic/


 What Research Shows About Chiropractic

 

A growing list of research studies and reviews demonstrate that the services provided by chiropractors are clinically effective, safe and cost-effective.  Following are excerpts and summaries from a few of those studies. The evidence supports the natural, whole-body, non-drug approach of chiropractic for a variety of conditions.

 
To find more evidence supporting chiropractic services, visit the World Federation of Chiropractic’s Reading List and the Clinical Compass for both guidelines and research.

 
Featured Research

 
Patients who saw a chiropractor as their initial provider for low back pain (LBP) had 90% decreased odds of both early and long-term opioid use. Learn more

 
Kazis et al. (2019), BMJ Open

 
For Acute and Chronic Pain

 
“Given that most patients with acute or subacute low back pain improve over time regardless of treatment, clinicians and patients should select nonpharmacologic treatment with superficial heat (moderate-quality evidence), massage, acupuncture, or spinal manipulation (low-quality evidence). If pharmacologic treatment is desired, clinicians and patients should select nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or skeletal muscle relaxants (moderate-quality evidence).”

 
          American College of Physicians (2017)

 
“For patients with chronic low back pain, clinicians and patients should initially select nonpharmacologic treatment with exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction (moderate-quality evidence), tai chi, yoga, motor control exercise, progressive relaxation, electromyography biofeedback, low-level laser therapy, operant therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or spinal manipulation (low-quality evidence).”

 
          American College of Physicians (2017)

 
“Many treatments are available for low back pain. Often exercises and physical therapy can help. Some people benefit from chiropractic therapy or acupuncture.”

 
          Goodman et al. (2013), Journal of the American Medical Association 

 
“[Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy] in conjunction with [standard medical care] offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning when compared with only standard care, for men and women between 18 and 35 years of age with acute low back pain.”

 
          Goertz et al. (2013), Spine

 
In a Randomized controlled trial, 183 patients with neck pain were randomly allocated to manual therapy (spinal mobilization), physiotherapy (mainly exercise) or general practitioner care (counseling, education and drugs) in a 52-week study. The clinical outcomes measures showed that manual therapy resulted in faster recovery than physiotherapy and general practitioner care. Moreover, total costs of the manual therapy-treated patients were about one-third of the costs of physiotherapy or general practitioner care.

 
          Korthals-de Bos et al. (2003), British Medical Journal

 
 

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https://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=2711

Never Move Too Far From Your Chiropractor
 
Your spine is designed to handle a great deal of life's daily stresses, but over time, it all adds up. As we age, the discs that cushion the spinal vertebrae begin to shrink and wear down; while the spinal column can narrow, pinching the spinal cord and spinal nerves.

 
The result in many cases: pain, stiffness, and a decline in overall function and mobility.

 
Bad news at any time, but as we get up in years, those are exactly the things we want to avoid. After all, isn't living a relatively pain-free, fully functional life what everyone envisions enjoying in their Golden Years? That's where your chiropractor comes in, and not just from a health perspective.

 
Researchers studying Medicare patients with spine conditions who relocated at least once during a five-year period made a fascinating discovery: Older adults who moved to an area with higher chiropractic accessibility (in other words, easier access to the services of a chiropractor) spent less on spine care than seniors who moved to an area with lower chiropractic accessibility (more difficult access to chiropractic services).

 
Easier access to a chiropractor presumably meant an easier time managing their spine condition with chiropractic, rather than medical care. In fact, researchers noted that costs for medical evaluation and management, and diagnostic imaging and testing, were impacted (higher or lower) when access to chiropractic was higher or lower, respectively. Findings appeared in the American Journal of Managed Care.

 
Americans spend more on health care than any other nation in the world, and evidence suggests much of that spending comes by way of Medicare and other federal health systems. Could better access to chiropractic be the solution? When it comes to spinal care, the numbers don't lie. And of course, we haven't even talked about the benefits of chiropractic for lifelong spinal health – but your chiropractor certainly can. Just ask.

 

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https://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=2709
 

Is Eating at Night Bad for Your Heart?
 
Can't seem to stop yourself from nightly trips to the fridge and/or pantry? It's not just your waistline and sleep routine that you're putting at risk. Eating more calories in the evening is associated with poorer cardiovascular health, according to new research involving more than 100 women.
In the study, researchers examined heart health at baseline and one year later based on seven modifiable risk factors established by the American Heart Association: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, physical activity, diet, weight and smoking. Women averaged 33 years of age at the start of the study and completed one-week food diaries at both time points.

 
heart - Copyright – Stock Photo / Register MarkWomen who consumed more calories after 6 p.m. were more likely to have poorer cardiovascular health compared with women who at less calories at or after that time of day. Each 1 percent increase in caloric intake after 6 p.m. reduced cardiovascular health scores, as did each 1 percent increase in calorie consumption after 8 p.m.

 
The lesson: Eat plenty of good food throughout the day, but don't load up on calories late in the day compared to earlier. These findings add to previous research suggesting heavy eating in the evening hours may promote weight gain, slow metabolism, and even impair sleep. Talk to your doctor for more information.

 

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https://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=2205
 
5 Reasons Why Meditation Should Be Your New Year's Resolution
 
By Julie T. Chen, MD
 
The New Year is traditionally a time when many of us reflect on our goals and set resolutions for the year to come. From losing weight to getting more organized, these resolutions often come with good intentions, but aren't always followed through.
 
Inevitably, we become bogged down with life's many responsibilities and stresses, and many people lose track or even forget about the goals they set for themselves at the start of the year.
 
A New Year's resolution that's worth making this year is making room for daily meditation and reflection. Meditation is easy to learn and incorporate into your daily life, and can be practiced in as little as 10 minutes a day. While the benefits of meditation are more than one article can list, here are the top five reasons why making mindfulness your resolution will change your mental, emotional and physical health.
 
1. Accessible to All

It's a common misconception that meditation takes formal training or deep knowledge in order to practice. Meditation is for everyone, and can be accessed by anyone who is willing to carve out time for it. Begin by setting a designated time in the day for meditation, preferably when you know you won't be interrupted or rushed. Create a place in your home that's calming and free of distractions, such as a bedroom or backyard; and incorporate candles or other forms of aromatherapy if you find it relaxing.
 
Begin by sitting cross-legged or in a chair with your spine upright and head up. With closed eyes, put all of your focus on your breathing and try to be aware of wandering thoughts. If you feel distracted, don't get frustrated; bring yourself back to your breath work and forgive yourself. Start doing this for 10 minutes a day, adding 1 minute to your practice every week.
 
2. Reduces Stress Naturally
 
It's normal to feel under pressure at times at work, school or in relationships, but feeling stressed out on a day-to-day basis is unhealthy, as it takes a toll on emotional, physical and mental health. In a survey done by the American Psychological Association in 2012, researchers found that 20 percent of Americans experience extreme levels of stress, while 64 percent agreed managing stress is important (but only 37 percent of them felt they were managing it well).
 
Meditation is a wonderful way to reduce stress by calming the nervous system: Putting away stress-inducing thoughts, distracting devices and our work responsibilities while meditating slows down the heart rate and allows your blood pressure to drop. This "relaxation response" is restorative to the body and allows you to feel a sense of calmness that lasts throughout the day.
 
3. Sparks Creativity
 
If you feel you've lost your inspiration for creation, meditation may be key to helping you get back on track. Meditation gives your mind a "break" from the constant insight needed to churn out new ideas or solutions. Meditation calms the chatter in the mind and allows you to get back to content creation with a renewed perspective – and even creates space for further insight.

4. Maintains Good Health

Practicing mindfulness meditation could help you curb cravings and the urge to grab junk food. In fact, practicing meditation could even help you lose weight, as it emphasizes concentrating your time and energy on enjoying a meal instead of multitasking. Eating and watching TV, driving or surfing the Internet are just a few ways our attention shifts from the food on our plate to other priorities.
 
At your next meal, put away distractions such as your phone or favorite TV show, and instead focus on the flavors and textures of your food. By keeping awareness on your food, you're less likely to overeat or make poor food choices.
 
5. Sharpens Your Focus
 
Have you ever experienced a midday crash of energy? Instead of grabbing a coffee or sugary snack as a pick-me-up, give 10 minutes of steady breath-work meditation a try. It's common at times for our focus to blur, especially when we juggle so many daily priorities. Learning to meditate can significantly change your ability to focus whenever you're feeling distracted.
 
Try taking 10 minutes out of your workday to sit quietly and in a comfortable position, and center your thoughts and energy on the sounds and feelings of your breath. Observe how deeply you can breathe in and out, and how your breath feels when your abdomen rises and shrinks. By paying sole attention to breathing and blocking out distracting thoughts and sounds, you can sharpen your focus for the next task at hand with peace of mind.

Resource
 
"The Impact of Stress." American Psychological Association, 2012.

 

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Medicare Action Alert for chiropractic patients and supporters!

Take Action at: http://cqrcengage.com/aca/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=501119

 If you've been watching the early Presidential race, you've heard about the proposals for expanding Medicare to Medicare For All. Whether or not that happens, the current version of Medicare covers but discriminates against chiropractic, and now there is a bi-partisan bill in Congress to change that!

Currently Medicare covers chiropractic adjustments for acute conditions, but unlike almost all other insurance does not cover all the other things chiropractors are licensed and trained to do, including examinations, x-rays, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Please take just a minute to read the following alert from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and use the link to send an email to your Congressperson. For extra credit, you can also call them and express your views. Thanks!!

--Dr. Mha Atma Khalsa

The Time for Medicare Parity is NOW!

 chiropractic care.
On Tuesday, July 9, Reps. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 3654, The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2019. This ACA-backed bipartisan legislation provides patient access to all Medicare-covered benefits allowable under a chiropractor's state licensure. For doctors of chiropractic, the bill would fully recognize DCs as "physicians" in the Medicare program, acknowledging the level of education and care they provide and also bringing coverage of their services in line with how other physicians in the Medicare program are treated.
Success in the quest for Medicare modernization and parity in respect to chiropractic services is not possible without your support! Please take a moment today to visit the ACA Legislative Action Center and send a message to your federal representative urging them to co-sponsor HR. 3654.

H.R. 3654 is the result of many years of work by the ACA (American Chiropractic Association). Thank you for your vital support!