Looking for the Master Plan

My passion, professionally that is, is helping people maintain and improve their health. Chiropractic care is the first line of treatment I use, obviously. It's what I've spent my career doing and it's the best way I know to get and stay healthy. But, there is more to being healthy than structural therapy.

Like I wrote about in an earlier blog post, us Chiropractors look at the "Triad of Health" a.k.a the Body-Mind-Chemical balance theory.

In this is a three part theory, Chiropractic adjustments handle the "body" piece, and other practitioners are typically taking care of the "mind" piece. But what about the "chemical"/nutrition piece? That's a huge part of health, obviously. And it became more evident through the years to me and my partner (Dr. David Monson), that this was worth exploring more in depth.

Why, you ask? Well, first of all, to improve the results we were getting with patients pain symptoms in general. So, we started the journey to learn more about nutrition therapy. I have to say, it's been a long and bumpy ride. Last year I added up the hours we've taken over the last 20 years and it was right around 1000 for each of us. Considering that a weekend seminar has 8-12 hours of training....that's a lot of weekends!

Taking seminars is work, but it can be so interesting. To me, the harder part is figuring out how to fit the knowledge into what you already know. And... how to implement it into your practice. I've taken enough seminars to know that when the brochure states "you'll be able to start using this on Monday morning." Well, that's wishful thinking at best. But still the quest continues... even for one more seminar or system that will make sense of all you've learned to date.

Sometimes, the one piece you're looking for is there all the time, but you may not have been ready to explore it. I believe that in my case, I have figured out what that is for me. See, the last year or so, I've been using Hair Analysis testing. Not that it tells all, but because it sets up a plan to follow, its a great place to start. And at certain intervals the test is repeated, maybe several more times too, until you reach a point of "homeostasis." That's a kind of fancy way of saying balance, but it has more to do with bodily systems and function.

One big reason I find this type of testing so useful for my baseline nutrition work is that it helps me set up a plan. In health care talk, we call this a "treatment plan." It's so easy to get caught up in patients changing symptom patterns that you overlook the core issues.

Hair Mineral Analysis works on the theory that the vast majority of people on this stressful polluted planet we live on have toxic overload of heavy metals which impede the healthy uptake of nutrient minerals and vitamins leading to poor glandular health. Glands, meaning thyroid and adrenal mainly, but not exclusively. So that's why the repeat testing, because you need to get rid of the bad/toxic/heavy metals first.....OR maybe you have to replenish as best you can the glands first if the persons adrenal glands are really tanked.

No the word tanked isn't a medical term, but I think you get the picture.

Anyway, I've been using this work for about 1.5 years and all results have been positive. It's a process, like all journeys to health, but the results are encouraging. And the latest case (I really don't like to think of my patients as "cases," they're people!) is particularly exciting. And I did get an okay to mention this individual's case in my blog. (I do respect my patients privacy!)

This individual has been struggling with high-stress situations for the last few years (was out of work, etc.) Even though he takes care of his health pretty well, the stress had taken a toll with sleep issues, mind-racing, and he was unable to relax. It was all really starting to affect his ability to perform at a new high-stress job, one with lots of overtime. When we reviewed his results, it revealed exhausted adrenal glands, blood sugar issues and plenty of other baddies. With the report and chart right there for him to see, we could map out a plan. First things first, we started him on new vitamins. The very next day I got a phone call from him saying that he already noticed a big change in his symptoms.

Over the next week other positive results started to appear. And this is the way it's been for pretty much everyone, myself and Dr. Dave included. Oh, there's ups and downs, but that's to be expected.

I don't really have a nifty wrap-up here.  Just that this is the most useful functional tool I've found to start patients on that are looking for a nutritional advice and want to get on a system. Because systems are what make the most sense. Otherwise, you're just symptom-chasing--Oh, you can't sleep--let's try this, etc... That is just a time waster. And I don't want to waste anyone's time, including my own.

Get Fit Or Die Trying? There Are Better Ways.

I was scanning the obituaries the other day (a sure sign I'm over 50) and saw side-by-side stories on two recently deceased individuals.

Both very different stories and very different people.

The first one was of a gentleman who'd passed away peacefully at the age of 94. He was a pioneering research scientist in the field of nutrition who was still working into his eighties. His specialty was Essential Fatty Acids, indeed he named them "Omegas."  Likely he really loved what he did for a living and practiced what he preached.

The other obit was of a women, who, apparently, also practiced what she preached. And died doing it. This gal collapsed of a heart attack at the gym, doing her daily workout. She was 44. One person remarked, "She was really healthy as far as we knew." She was considered quite "fit."

Hmm... that's doesn't seem quite right in my book. "Fit" means sound mentally and physically healthy. You don't drop dead of a heart attack at 44 if you're healthy.

So, what's my take-away from this? When it comes to exercise, don't overdo it. It's not the end all be all for "Fit"ness. In fact, fitness experts recommend at least a day off a week from active training. Walking doesn't count - a daily walk is beneficial.

And when it comes comes to nutrition, maybe look at the guy in the first obit again... he specialized in the field and lived until he was 94.

Now, I'm not saying food, or what we ingest is more important than exercise.

They are both very important and together make a world of difference. For most people who want to make a change, it's a lot easier to start exercising than it is to change eating habits.

For starters, it's cheaper. You just need to get a pair of shoes and appropriate clothing for the weather and take a walk.  Or if you can't walk, swim. Whatever gets you out of your chair. Then, when you can, add in some resistance training. As in, get some dumbbells to start with and do simple exercises.

That's enough to start. And you'll do great things for you body.

It's the eating healthy thing takes more work.

Someone told me recently that when asking their MD for advice on proper diet, he was told this: "Eat food that rots. And nuts."

Oh, if only it were that easy. I mean, that's a start, but that doctor is clearly someone who isn't trained in nutrition! It's a good sound bite, though.

Teaching people how to incorporate nutrition in their life is one of the things I help individuals with in my practice quite regularly. You can save a lot of time and money by seeking knowledgeable people. And we all like to save time and money!

Organic or Conventionally Grown Food: Is There A Difference?

I don't know if you heard about the recent Stanford University study which compared vitamin and mineral levels in organically grown versus conventional foodstuffs.

Here's the jist:

Produce, dairy and meat were analyzed and compared and they found that there was very little difference between conventional and organically grown items.

It's not hard to believe that not much difference was found, actually, because in most croplands in the United States, the topsoil has been severely degraded over the last 50-100 years. I'd much rather see differences between long-standing organic farmland such as the rice-growers "Lundberg Farms" in California and a box of instant rice from the shelf. With that, there's so much more at stake than vitamin/mineral status.

I've eaten organic products since picking up tiny, spotted apples in a Nutrition World at Har-Mar Mall in Roseville... that's Roseville, Minnesota, not California. This was way before the USDA standards were imposed in 2002. Matter of fact, America's oldest certification program, Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association (I love the acronym, MOGFA), was formed in 1971.

I think it's important to point out what national standards regulate. The following are prohibited in organic products: artificial colors, flavors and preservatives; added growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, insecticides, sewage sludge (do you remember the fight over that? the good guys won), radiation and genetically modified foods (GMO's).

Sounds like stuff you don't want in your kitchen, on your table, or in your mouth, right? So before I give you my opinion on the findings, I just want to point out that even if the thought of eating this stuff doesn't bother you, just having less of a toxic load in the environment they're produced in is better in general. Be kind to Mother Nature. As one of my patients put it recently, "It's better for the earth, too!"

But back to the study. It was a "meta-analysis," which means that the results of a bunch of papers were added up. One of my issues with the study was pointed out by the "Organic Consumers Association," an advocacy group based in Finland, Minnesota. They discovered that there were papers included in the study which pre-dated the onset of the USDA standards formulated in 2002. This harms the credibility of the data, obviously. If there are no standards in place, there's no way to compare products.

I would not stake my decision of whether or not to eat organic foods on this study's findings. The chemical residues and hormones in conventional products and the integrity of the farmland which is being threatened by the use of GMO crops is a much more important issue to base a decision. Where is that study, eh?

Well, it's time to go make dinner: Organic rice with tofu, homemade pesto with homegrown basil, yummy stuff. Must have some veggies in the fridge to throw in there...

What Does A Balanced Lifestyle Mean To You?

 What's the big deal about balance and what does a balanced lifestyle mean to you? 

It varies from person to person. And within each persons life, too. Let's start by looking at what the word actually means.

I looked it up. Along with weights and measures, there's this:

Balance = A means of judging or deciding

I liked that. What it tells me is that achieving some balance isn't impossible, and that it depends largely on the decisions we make regarding exercise, diet, and other things that are in control. We truly have the ability to change one of these parts, or components, if something isn't working.

Oh, yes, components.

Chiropractors have been talking about the components of a healthy (balanced!) lifestyle for around 100 years. We call it the "Triad of Health."

We break it down into the following three parts.

1) Structural - physical components, such as the spinal column, joints (This is the Body)
2) Emotional - or Spiritual (This is the Mind|)
3) Chemical - or Nutrition

That covers it, if you think about it. And they're all interconnected. If one is ailing, the effects will show up in the other two.

So, when I'm evaluating a patient, whether it's their first visit or fiftieth, or just listening to their concerns, I keep all of those in mind.

Because you have to keep it in balance.

Tips To Avoid Harmful BPA Exposure At Home

This week's post will be much shorter and easier to read, I promise. If you read last week's blog post, you know how dangerous exposure to BPAs are; and you also know that BPAs are in a TON of everyday items. 

So, here's my list of tips to Avoid BPA Exposure At Home.

I hope you find it helpful!

1) Food and beverage containers are the biggest source of BPA exposure. DO NOT store food in plastics that are labeled with a "7" (that little triangle on the bottom of the container that has a number in the middle).

FYI, most of the plastic sold out there in retail outlets for this purpose is labeled "5", which has NO BPAs. Also safe in this regard are numbers "2" and "4."

 

2) When requesting a "doggie bag," check to see if there is a number on the bottom (if it's a plastic container.) If it happens to be a "7," ask the waiter to line it with aluminum foil before the food is placed in it. I know, aluminum has it's own problems, but the BPA risk trumps it, in my opinion.

3) This one is commonly known. Do not heat food in a microwave oven using plastic containers. We don't know all of the risks involved with heating plastics, so it's just better to be safe than sorry. Personally, we don't have a microwave!

4) Throw out any battered, scratched or dented plastic containers, especially ones used for food and beverages storage. Just toss it. As number "3" above states, we may not know all of the risks. Just saying...

5) If you use canned foods regularly, switch to a company that stopped using BPA in 1999: Eden Foods. Organics cost more, but it's worth the extra cost. And Eden Foods isn’t necessarily making any more money - using a plant-sourced resin costs Eden Foods 14% more to produce. (And no, we don't own stock in the company.)

6) Especially for parents of bottle-feeding infants: Use powder formula. In the September/October 2010 issue of Mother Jones Magazine, liquid formula was cited as having one of the highest levels on BPA. Developing infants are highly susceptible to damage. You might want to check out the article for more information.

Hope you find this information empowering and enlightening! Share it with your loved ones!

Next week, I'll sort out the facts on a recent multi-vitamin study.

Healthy Eating and Healthy Living! 

Dr. Jeanne

http://northwestminneapolischiropractor.com  

Office: 612.259.7323  

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Breast Cancer: Could store receipts and canned goods put you at risk?

I'm sure many of you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are pink ribbons everywhere!

As a woman and a doctor, I know the fear the words “breast cancer” can stir up. The rising incidences of breast cancer in the US and other countries are staggering – and they mostly stem from not-so-wonderful lifestyle choices and habits.

I’m not going to repeat depressing statistics, as they can be easily found elsewhere. I will however, spend the next two blogs offering some helpful information to reduce your risk for this terrible disease.

First of all, it's no secret to the scientific community that the majority of breast cancer cases are driven by estrogen levels. Specifically, excess estrogen levels. When balanced, estrogen is actually an essential hormone in the body - even men produce it! 

 It does all kinds of wonderful things like help women conceive babies! It’s also essential for bone health (which is why women have increased incidences of osteoporosis after menopause, because there is a decline in estrogen.)

The problems arise when the body produces too much estrogen or comes in contact with yucky stuff in the environment that mimics or disrupts estrogen levels. Obviously, any imbalance in human physiology is not good… but excess estrogen is really bad. It can lead to an imbalance in the "steroid/hormone dance" (that's what it's actually called in the study of Functional Medicine), which can begin initiating cancer cells and tumor development.  

So why does the body do this then?  

I’ll tell you in a minute.

First, I bet just about everyone has heard of Bisphenol a -- or BPA as it's more commonly called. No? Well, let me explain. BPA is a monomer (chemistry term, sorry) that is used in plastics, dental sealants, canned goods – as well as eyeglasses, cell phone cases and the receipts you get printed out at the store! And because us humans come in contact with these everyday products all the time, it's estimated that over 90% of Americans have this substance stored in our bodies (in the fat, actually.)

So what does this have to do with Breast Cancer?  

BPA is a synthetic estrogen. When it comes in contact with your body and gets inside you, it ends up disrupting the normal balance of estrogen already in you by displacing the good estrogen.

Since it’s stored in the fat (and we have fat cells everywhere) - not only are BPA’s a BIG reason as to why losing weight is so difficult, they’ve have also been implicated in causing a world of hurt to other parts of our bodies.

Ready for this list?

When exposed to excess amounts of BPA, you might be at risk for:

1. Decreased brain function
2. Altered brain chemistry (anyone out there have sleep problems?)
3. Weight gain 
4. Behavioral changes depression and mood swings
5. Diabetes
6. Prostate cancer
7. Early puberty in our kids
8. Reduced sperm count to make aforementioned spawns
9. Down Syndrome
10. Altered immune function 

Sadly, as in life, there are no guarantees in health either. However, there is a useful test to measure estrogen to help determine if you’re at risk for developing cancer and tumor development. It's called "Estronex" and is performed by Metametrix Labs out of Duluth, Georgia.

It's an easy test - just one urine sample. It costs under $200. Based on their findings, your health care provider can develop a treatment plan for you. The test can be repeated six months to a year later to determine if further changes need to be made – so it’s a pretty good way to keep an eye on yourself.

While giving to charities is very commendable, maybe you should think about donating to your own health and well being this year. The level of breast cancer cases are increasing in men and women at the same rate. It’s time you take the steps to protect yourself so you don’t become just another sad statistic.

I will post next week about some pro-active steps you can take to lessen your exposure to harmful chemicals like BPA’s and hopefully reduce your risk to potentially life threatening problems.   

Yours in health,

Dr. Jeanne Masanz, DC

http://northwestminneapolischiropractor.com 

Office: 612.259.7323

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Dr. Dave's 1st Blog Post: Ergonomics and You

Hi, I’m Dr. Dave. As the “other half” of Boulevard Natural Healing Arts (Dr. Jeanne being the other!), I’ll be popping up this blog from time to time to offer up thoughts on my areas of expertise. 

Today's topic: Ergonomics! 

Almost everything I needed to know about ergonomics I learned from my piano teacher in the 4th grade. 

For those of you that didn’t take piano lessons, the basics are sitting up straight, not looking down at your hands, and keeping your wrists straight or “floating” over the keys.  

The funny thing is... typing at a computer and playing the piano are almost the exact same motion.  Now, this formerly free advice has turned into the big business of ergonomics. Who knew my piano teacher was so ahead of her time?

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is a fancy name for how your body moves and supports itself with the use of muscles, ligaments and bones in relation to mechanical supports and tools.  (I.e.: sitting at a computer.)

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you are most likely sitting at your computer incorrectly right now. This is by no fault of your own - most people don't even know that they are, or... that sitting at a computer incorrectly can put you at risk for health problems, including fatigue, body discomfort, headaches and emotional stress.  

So just adjust the way you sit at your desk and get no more midday headaches?

Yes -  if you know what you're doing. There are actually several other issues that have to be addressed to make a completely ergonomically friendly workstation.

As an Ergonomics expert, I've gone into many local businesses throughout the Twin Cities to set up work stations using SittingSafe® standards. That's step one.

The second step is showing employees the proper way to sit at computer stations to alleviate aches and paints and help prevent new problems stemming from poor posture.

The bottom line is this: You need allow your body to sit (or stand) correctly with the least amount of stress and then move the equipment to support and fit you, rather than forcing your body to adapt to the equipment.

It's time to get these tools to work for you.  You are allowed to move office equipment to fit your own physical size and shape, and if something doesn’t fit, see if you can replace it.   

For example: a mouse.   

There are a multitude of mouse sizes and shapes available - so change them up to prevent repetitive stress injuries. I usually recommend having 2 or 3 different ones to switch around if my hand gets tired. Like a carpenter has several different sizes of hammers, you can have a different mice (or is it mouses??)

So, if you find yourself slouching in your chair, hunching forward to see the monitor, or anchoring your wrists down on the desk when keying, not only would you be a pretty bad a piano player, you are putting unnecessary stress on your body and working much harder than you need to be at your computer.   

If you'd like more information about how I can help you or your business, let me know!

Yours in health, 

Dr. Dave

http://northwestminneapolischiropractor.com 

Office: 612.259.7323

Licensed vs. Certified: Theres a BIG difference

:

Did you know...

There’s a difference between being "Licensed" and being "Certified"?

I know, I know… I’m sure it's not a question you've been burning to see addressed in this blog, or anywhere else. However, I will occasionally see a doctor advertise him/herself as a "Certified Doctor of Chiropractic" or a "Certified Chiropractic Doctor."

The fact is, being “certified” means very little. I myself, along with my partner in life and business, Dr. David Monson, both have probably a dozen certifications between us. And although we learned very useful information earning them, as far as what we can or cannot do to assist people trying to maintain their health, or reduce musculoskeletal pain syndromes, it doesn't legally mean anything.

All that being said, certification isn't useless. It typically means that you've been to a weekend or series of weekend seminars, often passing a test at the end and have new services to offer patients. Some certifications are quite rigorous, and some require yearly classes to keep current. But what you really need to make sure of is that your doctor is licensed.

Licensure involves a weekend long test to become an official Doctor of Chiropractic – where – after 4 years of intense schooling, you get to put a little D.C. after your last name and start helping patients. Pretty cool, right?

The test is HARD. Plenty of it is hands on – you have to prove that you know all aspects of handling patients: from taking a history, through a physical examination, making a diagnosis, x-ray analytical skills, spinal adjusting, physical therapy questions… you get the idea.

Chiropractic licensing started with Kansas and North Dakota in 1913 and ended with Louisiana in 1974. And in my home state of Minnesota there was an attempt as early as 1905! (We’re so ahead of the curve!) By the mid 1920's, two dozen states had licensure and 43 by the end of WW2. It’s now available in all 50 states of the US, but it’s also interesting to note that each state has it's own "Scope of Practice." Kansas has probably the most lenient scope, and they can even call themselves Chiropractic Physicians. Not so in Minnesota. We are officially called Doctors of Chiropractic.

You can check out information on each states "Board of Chiropractic Examiners" website. Not too difficult to understand, even for this non-lawyer!

So, the moral of this story is that when choosing a health care provider, you should know the difference between Certified and Licensed, and if your doc is certified but not licensed – then he is or she isn’t a doctor!

Make sure you tune in next week - Dr. David is going to write a post about ergonomics and how it affects you.

Yours in health,

Dr. Jeanne Masanz, DC

http://northwestminneapolischiropractor.com 

Office: 612.259.7323

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Dirty Dozen: The 12 Most Contaminated Fruits & Veggies in the Market

It's official: summer's over.

On to fall colors, sweaters, boots, before you know it snow... ugh.

For now though, it's time to enjoy the abundance of fall fruit - especially that one-a-day wonder we call the APPLE. 

There are many ways to enjoy apples: in the raw, in a pie, in a sauce, in a slaw, and especially in a turnover!

What may not be good however, is the source of where your apples came from.

Did you know that conventionally grown apples are the most pesticide-laden produce in the market? 

According to the latest list from The EnvironmentalWorking Group, there are 12 fruits and veggies - when not grown organically - that are highly contaminated with harmful pesticides.

THE DIRTY DOZEN:


1) Apples                                                    7) Grapes (imported)
2) Celery                                                     8) Sweet Bell Peppers
3) Strawberries                                            9) Potatoes
4) Peaches                                                  10) Blueberries (domestic)
5) Spinach                                                  11) Lettuce
6) Nectarines                                              12) Collard Greens/Kale

Stuff you feed yourself and your kids everyday, right? That’s why it is especially important to always buy organic and avoid nasty chemicals.

The good news is the EWG also prepared a list of what they call the CLEAN 15: foods that are the least likely to need pesticides.

1) Onions                                                  
2) Corn                                                        9) Cantaloupe (domestic)        
3) Pineapples                                              10) Kiwi Fruit
4) Avocados                                                11) Cabbage
5) Asparagus                                               12) Watermelon
6) Sweet Peas                                              13) Sweet Potatoes
7) Mangoes                                                 14) Grapefruit
8) Eggplant                                                 15) Mushrooms                       
  
Here's another rule of thumb I use forced to buy non organic produce: If it has a thick skin, at least you know there is some protection from the chemicals and you can peel it off. 

Also, make sure to wash all produce with warm water and soap beforehand. (This is to guard against bacteria as well as chemicals.) You definitely don't want salmonella in your GI (gastrointestinal) tract. Remember all those nasty outbreaks around the globe the last few years? Dangerous stuff and no fun either.

Remember, just because you can buy non-organic fruits and veggies, doesn't mean you should.

Yours in health,

Dr. Jeanne Masanz, DC

http://northwestminneapolischiropractor.com 

Office: 612.259.7323

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On a diet? 5 Tips for surviving the Minnesota State Fair.

Ah... it's a beautiful late summer day here in Minneapolis. As most Minnesotans know, Labor Day is traditionally the busiest day at the Great Minnesota State Fair.

I've certainly paid my State Fair dues. Including my two visits this year, I think I've attended it over 50 times! That must make me some kind of expert... although not of the usual "what's the best new food-on-a-stick" variety.

In spite of all the fried food and ice cream available - when I head to the fair, I take my healthy habits with me.  Yes, I know that over-eating is a State Fair tradition, but here are some easy ways to still have fun without packing on the pounds.

Dr. Jeanne's tips on surviving the best State Fair around!

1. Eat something before you go

If you're filled up on high quality food before you hit the midway, you won't crave deep fried butter (as much.)

I'm not even talking an actual meal. Just something that will stick to your ribs a bit. If you have at least a little bit of food in that tummy, you will actually be able to hold off long enough to find a food you love - a Fair favorite (mine are the scones!) that you can devour and dribble all over your carefully chosen outfit. (Chosen, that is, to be expendable.) So, have some eggs, cheese, breakfast types of protein. Forget the cereal and toast. You'll get plenty of that type of nourishment later in the day. 

2. Order the smallest size of all food and drinks

It may be tempting to order the extra large twist cone at Custard's Last Stand, but if it's just you scarfing it down - your waistline will pay the price. Look for healthier options in between snack attacks. They actually had Salad-on-a-Stick this year. Delish!

3. SHARE whenever possible

This is my most important tip. When you share with your fellow fair-goers, you eat less and spend less while still getting a taste of all those yummy fair foods. It's a win-win.

While I'm at in, here are two more tips - though not food related: 

4. Wear comfortable shoes

Bring an extra pair, just in case. Walking will most likely be the only exercise you'll get all day. While not very stylish, socks with sandals are totally acceptable, too.

5. Bring a hat

Good for sun or even light rain. Also, wear sunglasses if you don't tolerate sun well. Butter queens don't squint, and neither should you. (Crow's feet? Not so pretty.)

Now, you may think these five fair tips might impede your ability to stuff yourself silly. Nonsense. Once you hit the fairgrounds, those smells will reach into your nostrils and pull out every bit of rational thinking from your brain cells. After all, we're not here to analyze our choices, right? This is one day we can just have fun.

So, eat something before, order smaller sizes and share when you can. At least you'll feel better about eating the fun food that will be calling out to you, looking for a tummy to call home. Who knows, you might even eat a few less french fries or one less pop or soda (depending on what part of the country you're from).

And remember, have fun!

Yours in health,

Dr. Jeanne Masanz, DC

http://northwestminneapolischiropractor.com

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