Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is an increasingly common diagnosis among school children. ADHD is a behavioral disorder that statistics claim to affect 8-10% of the school age population. Children with ADHD have a difficult time focusing on specific activities, paying attention to details, and tend to act without thinking. As the name suggests, there is also an issue with hyperactivity. The child tends to be "all over the place" and cannot sit still for any length of time. ADHD tends to affect boys more than girls. The diagnosis of ADHD is not a simple act. There is no medical test and it requires a complete evaluation by medical doctors, psychologists and counselors. At this time, the exact cause of ADHD is not known, but continuing research has linked ADHD symptoms to various biological causes. Deficiency of essential omega 3 fatty acids has been shown to affect brain function. Omega 3 fats are essential in brain and nerve development. When children's diets have been supplemented with these fats (fish oil, flax oil), research studies have shown marked improvements in behavior. In some instances, ADHD type symptoms have been related to cranial subluxations. The bones of the head are joined together by sutures. These "joints" are moveable and if they become fixated or stuck due to head trauma, the result has a negative effect on the cerebrospinal system. Correction of the cranial fixations via cranial / sacral therapy or cranial adjusting has been shown to help children with ADHD and other various learning disorders. It is also well known that certain food additives like artificial colors, dyes, artificial sweeteners and sugar may affect behavior. Eliminating these additives should be the first step in a successful ADHD care plan. A team approach, involving a pediatric chiropractor, nutritionist, behavior counselor and holistic minded pediatrician, may be the best approach to eliminating ADHD from a child's life.

Thought for the Week: "Parents and professionals faced with the challenging task of treating ADD and ADHD in children commonly face an unfortunate situation, in which behavior problems at home and/or school have placed yet another pressure to opt for medication as the primary treatment. There is little doubt that the majority of these 'medicated' children will have benefits in their attention span, behavior, and other components of their disorder. And yet, the benefits of medication come with built-in risks from misdiagnosis, side effects, abuse, and unforeseen long-term complications." -------- John M. Dye, N.D.

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: A recent case study published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, found a marked improvement in the symptoms of 3 1/2 year old boy presenting with ADHD, a history of birth trauma and ear infections using chiropractic care to correct spinal nerve stress. After one month of care, parents and teachers reported a decrease in hyperactivity, and in increase in attention. ---------- "Chiropractic Management of a Child with ADHD and Vertebral Subluxations, Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, Pamela Stone-McCoy, BS, DC, FICIPA, Lisa Przybysz, BS, DC

Just Say No to Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are one of the most commonly used ingredients in food today. Unfortunately, artificial sweeteners are also one of the biggest offenders to our body's overall health. Developed as a marketing ploy and designed to appeal to the calorie conscious consumer, artificial sweeteners were fast tracked for public consumption with little to no long term testing on their affect on health. In past columns, we have discussed the dangerous side effects of the use of aspartame (brand name, Nutrasweet). In this column, I would like to shed some light on a newer product that was designed to appeal to consumers who would like a more "natural" artificial sweetener. Splenda, also known as sucrolose, is being marketed as an artificial sweetener "made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar." In reality, Splenda is an artificial sweetener derived from chlorinated sugar. It was released to the public with only two human research trials, the longest of which was conducted for only four days. In a recent study reported on in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Splenda reduced the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50%, increased intestinal ph levels and contributed to overall weight gain. One of the more shocking revelations was that Splenda affected glycoprotein levels in the body which could cause certain medications to be blocked by the digestive system so that they are not absorbed by the body. According to James Turner, Director of Citizens for Health, a consumer education group, the most common consumer complaints concerning Splenda are: gastrointestinal problems, migraines, seizures, dizziness, blurred vision, allergic reactions, blood sugar increases and weight gain. In conclusion, this research report is one of many that validates avoiding the use of artificial sweeteners. If you want to feel good and be healthy, just say no to the sweet stuff. For more information, visit the website, www.truthaboutsplenda.com.

Thought for the Week: "Sugar is a type of bodily fuel, yes, but your body runs about as well on it as a car would." ~V.L. Allineare

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: "While other (healthcare) professions are concerned with changing the environment to suit the weakened body, chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to "suit" the environment." ------ BJ Palmer, D.C.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is typically associated with aging, but it can also develop due to joint trauma and repetitive motion to the joints over a period of time. Repetitive motion can be from activities such as sports or work related activities. Two examples would be throwing a baseball for 2 decades or using a hammer to bang nails for 20 years. Osteoarthritis results from the deterioration of the cartridge over the joints. As the bones start to rub together, pain and swelling occurs. As time goes on, the bones begin to misshapen, which can lead to bone spurs. This developement causes more pain and discomfort. Then pain increases due to cartilage breaking off in the joint. Sadly, Osteoarthritis, also know as Degenerative Joint Disease, is also part of the normal aging process. As we get older, joints start to wear down. The main problem with bone and joint degeneration is related to acceleration. The more friction on the joint, the more accelerated the degeneration. As far as osteoarthritis in the spine goes, spinal bones that are out of alignment cause excessive friction on the spinal joint, accelerating the degenerative process. This acceleration is why in some cases a 35 year-old may have the spinal deterioration of a 60 year-old. A traumatic accident that injures the neck or the back when someone is in their 20's will cause spinal misalignments, which then lead to friction on the spinal bones that, over time, will show up as arthritis. Smokers have an increased risk of arthritis due to toxins from the nicotine building up in the body, increasing inflammation. To keep the joint surfaces healthy, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements have been shown to provide nutrition for healthy joint surfaces. Omega 3 fats, as found in fish oils, provide an anti-inflammatory effect on the joints, easing discomfort. SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) has been shown to be just as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, but without the obvious health risk to the stomach, kidneys and liver. Resistance exercise strengthens bone density and helps keep motion in the joints, which also helps to counter the negative effects of osteoporosis.



Thought for the Week: "Give what you have to someone, it may be better than you dare to think." ----Longfellow


Chiropractic Thought for the Week: Chiropractic spinal adjustments, performed on a regular basis, reduce friction on the spinal joint. The adjustment puts motion into the spinal joint reducing joint friction. Spinal vertebral alignment correction should take place after any and all accidents that involve the neck and back. By correcting the alignment today, a reduction in degenerative changes from the accident will be the result. Preventative spinal adjustments maintain the health of the spinal joints, helping to ensure a healthy spine well into old age.

What's up Doc?

Comparing carrots to other vegetables is the same as comparing Superman to an ordinary person. Carrots are the superpowered heroes of the vegetable world. Full of many vitamins and minerals, carrots should be an essential part of the health conscious diet. Carrots are loaded with carotene. Carotene is the chemical compound responsible for giving carrots their orange color. In the human body, when carrots are digested, the carotene is converted to Vitamin A. Vitamin A is an important nutrient in bone growth, reproduction and immune system function. Vitamin A also plays an essential role in healthy vision, hence, the old saying that carrots are good for your eyes. Carrots are also excellent sources of Vitamin B and C. Carrots contain a form of calcium, called calcium pectate, that can help to lower cholesterol levels. Most of the carrot's nutritional value lies near the surface, so skinning a carrot takes away vital nutrients. A good scrubbing is all that is needed, which is one reason why baby carrots aren't as nutritious as full-grown carrots. Baby carrots are skinned and tumbled, plus they haven't reached the maturity of a full-grown carrot. The immature carrots lack the full amount of vitamins and nutritional content of full-grown carrots. Interestingly enough, due to the "tough" nature of the carrot (outer fibrous layer), the human body has a difficult time absorbing 100% of the carrot's nutrients during the digestive process. Cooking breaks down the carrots outer fibrous layer and allows the nutrients to get out to the body. Therefore, carrots are one of the only vegetables that is more nutritious cooked than when eaten raw. One exception to that rule is juicing raw carrots; the juicing breaks down the tough fiber wall of the carrot. As long as we are spouting odd carrot facts, research has found that when a raw carrot is cut with a knife or blades, the carrot increases its anti-oxidant value, making it even more nutritious than when bitten into with teeth. The sharp metal blade causes a stress reaction in the carrot, creating an increase in the carrot's phytonutrients. This reaction is a carrot genetic response to stress that actually creates healthier carrots. Scientists are researching ways to apply this knowledge to other vegetables, maximizing their nutrient value.

Thought for the Week: "Large, naked raw carrots are acceptable as food only to those who lie in hutches eagerly awaiting Easter."

~Fran Lebowitz

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: "Why is chiropractic like a three legged stool? The profession of chiropractic would be the seat, and each leg represents a different aspect of what we do. The first leg represents the philosophy of chiropractic. Our philosophy is one in which we believe that the body is perfectly capable of maintaining itself if the neural pathways between the brain and the body are open. The second leg represents the science of chiropractic. Most people don't realize that chiropractors, go through just as much classroom schooling as medical doctors. There is incredible research being done everyday to improve not only the quality of care, but advance its efficacy. The third and final leg of the stool is the art of chiropractic. This can mean several different things. There are many different techniques that can be applied to helping patients feel better...... The doctors actual skill is his or her art. I prefer to think of it as the latter." ----- Adam Rathton, Pennsylvania Health Examiner

Cardiac Risk Profile

Did you know you can assess how healthy your heart is, as well as your risk for a heart attack? The type of assessment that profiles the heart is called a Cardiac Risk Profile. A simple score sheet is used to evaluate the risk of suffering a heart related incident in the next ten years of an individual's life. The profile includes a questionnaire that takes into account controllable risk factors, such as diet, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and smoking. The profile also factors in uncontrollable risk factors, such as gender, age and genetics. The profile compiles the information given and determines a cardiac risk factor score. The lower the score, the lower your risk for heart disease. On the surface, the Cardiac Risk Profile sounds like a simple way to determine heart disease risk but, as with many other health conditions, there are other factors that may increase your risk of heart disease. For instance, extra abdominal fat increases the risk of heart disease, as does diabetes. Diabetes increases heart attack risk because of high blood sugar levels. The extra glucose in the blood causes blood vessels to thicken and lose their elasticity. One of the biggest contributors to heart disease is lack of exercise. Exercise on a regular basis will lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, increase circulation, reverse hardening of the arteries, decrease inflammation and contribute to weight loss (which also helps to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics). Research has confirmed that a little exercise (one hour a week) can decrease the risk of heart disease. As always, it is important to make sure you are healthy enough to start an exercise program. The Cardiac Risk Profile is a good way to start.

Thought for the Week: "When your heart speaks, take good notes." ~Judith Campbell

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: "Often when a new patient comes into a chiropractor's office and sees an infant or young child, the initial comment is: "I didn't know you treated children." Upon closer analysis, however, we realize that the spine is subject to stress and strain from the very moment of birth. Childbirth itself is probably the first shock to the spine and nervous system that the infant receives. The chiropractic profession places considerable emphasis on structural balance and has attributed considerable importance to the potential problems which can result from seemingly harmless childhood incidents. Think how many times your child has fallen. The profession has maintained that these childhood accidents can be the beginnings of early spinal degeneration. Chiropractors are trained to use gentle techniques and can use light force instrument adjusting." ------ The Enterprise Bulletin, Canada

Your Metabolism Questions Answered

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions in the human body that is needed to maintain life. Our bodies acquire the energy we need from food through metabolism. Chemical reactions convert the food to energy, which is used for every function (even thinking!) in the body. Metabolism is vital for all life. If there is no metabolism, a living thing can not live. For explanation purposes, metabolism is broken down into three easily discussed areas. First, we have anabolism. Anabolism creates the energy required for growth. Food products are digested so that the body can create cells, maintain tissue and store energy for future needs. Second, catabolism is the process that uses energy to break down tissue. In this process, cells breakdown to release energy for the body. This energy is used for movement (muscle contraction) and creating body heat to maintain our internal temperature. Lastly, we have basal metabolism. Basal metabolism is the amount of energy expended when the body is at rest. This is important for quite a few reasons, but the one that is the most relevant is weight loss. If you think of energy as calories (calories are the amount of energy the body gets from food), the higher the basal metabolic rate, the more calories the body burns at rest. The more efficient the body is at utilizing or burning calories, the more the body loses weight. Individual basal metabolic rate can easily be raised to make the body more effective at burning calories and losing weight. The most productive way of raising the basal metabolism is through exercise. Naturally, exercise burns calories at the time the exercise is being performed. Research has also shown that 2-3 hours after an exercise session, the body continues to burn calories at a higher rate due to increased metabolic activity. More importantly, muscle tissue requires energy (calories) to exist. The more tone your muscles become, the more calories your body burns at rest. Ultimately, with time and effort, your body can be a calorie burning, weight loss machine, just lying on the couch!

Thought for the Week: "Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."

~Edward Stanley

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: "....a vertebral subluxation can negatively affect general health by altering the neurological communication between the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. Although individuals may not always be symptomatic, chiropractors believe that the presence of vertebral subluxation is in itself justification for correction via spinal adjustment.

------- Wikipedia.org, The Vertebral Subluxation

Flax Seeds for Better Health!

Health Tip of the Week: The Flax plant, found in the Dakotas and state of Minnesota, is an annual plant that grows about a foot-and-a-half tall, with pale blue flowers and a small round fruit that has many "apple" like seeds. The flax is primarily used for its fibers and its seeds. The seeds of the flax plant are high in fiber, protein and the essential omega-three fatty acids. Flax seeds are often pressed into oil, called flax seed oil, but also commonly known as Linseed oil. Flax seeds also contain high levels of lignans. Lignans act as anti-oxidants and have been shown to help the body combat heart disease, as well as different kinds of breast and prostate cancer. Flax seed oil, like its counter part, fish oil, acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in the body. The oil of flax seeds, taken on a regular basis, may help to ease joint pain. Flax seed oil consumption has also been shown to lower cholesterol, decrease blood pressure and reduce cancer risks. A last fact that is not widely known is that flax seed oil is wonderful for the skin, and has been beneficial for people suffering from dryness, acne, eczema and psoriasis. Liquid flax seed oil is easily found in commercial shopping areas. One teaspoon per 50 pounds of bodyweight is the suggested daily dosage. The flax seed, itself, has a nutty taste and can be sprinkled on salads, yogurts, cereals and soups. Even ice cream!

Thought for the Week: "Wherever flaxseeds becomea regular food item among the people, there will be better health." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: "Chiropractic is a profession with a limited scope of practice that has broad body implications. Holding forth the concept that only the body heals, chiropractors can accept any case as long as they have a vertebral subluxation. For as long as a subluxation can be reduced, improving the nervous systems communication, the body itself may augment its own innate forces to heal."
--------- Fred Barge, D.C.